exhaust brake

[justatruck]

Hello all, In looking for an exhaust brake for my 04. 5 3500DRW 6sp 4. 10s I've had a few guys trying to talk me out of the US gear inline brake. I wanted to get a generic 4" brake w/ air operated valve. People are saying that these brakes are very loud when they actuate and that if I don't allow it a delay it could hurt the engine by causing rail pressure spike? I don't care about the actuator noise part, but am a little concerned about the latter, although it doesn't make much sense to me. On my '02 HO I never cared for the ecm's delay on the pac brake, so on my new truck I thought I'de bypass all that and just wire in a throttle switch, overridden by a manual switch on the shifter. It seems to me that the US gear brake must hold better than others, but I don't want to mess up my new ultra sensative sissy truck... . Sorry, I like my new truck... I just liked my '02 more... wish it had been a dually. I'de appreciate any advise. Thanks in advance.

 

[Dean Upson]

Why not just get the Jacobs brake that is made for your truck? It sure works good for me and has the blessing of my D /C warantee. The vacuum/air issue has been beat to death here and each seems to have it's benefits.

I have a little portable 12 volt compressor that I carry in the tool box just in case . It cost around $40 and I have never used it. Bottom line for me was the warantee issue and I had the Jacobs unit in my 98. 5. I love it.



Dean

 

[justatruck]

Thanks Dean, I still may go with the Jacobs unit but I guess my question was 2 part-

Does wiring up ANY brake so that it comes on right away really hurt these trucks and secondly I guess I was looking for someone to tell me what a great idea the USG brake was and how much they loved there's... the $400 price savings for a product that may have more holding power is substantial for me.

Also, I just may need a different turbo in the future.

 

[klenger]

I have the Jacobs too. Works fine. $1090 + shipping from http://www.klenger.net/dodge/general-reference/mechanicsville-dodge.html

 

[justatruck]

I can't be the only one that wants instant braking... any other thoughts?

 

[jelag]

If you install any of the exhaust brakes and connect to the ECM as provided for... ... you'll be fine... . The program in the ECM prevents any problems with your fuel pressure system.....



However let me explain... . even if you turn on the exhaust brake under full throttle conditions, you won't damage your engine.....



A brake that direct mounts to the back of the turbo will be the most effective from 2 points... less connections to leak... . and a faster responce time... .



We sell the pac brake..... because they've been around a long time doing this..... if you have any specific questions I'd be happy to answer them...



Jim

 

[mbaston]

Pac brake has an add on that stops the ECM delay but you still have a bit of a compressor delay. The other option is to have the air tank add on. They say not to do both however.



I have the air tank the delay is not real noticable.

 

[guava]

Just repeating what I was told by a diesel mechanic that does a booming business and is quite reputable.



He recommends the US Gear brake for two reasons:



1. It mounts in-line and away from the turbo allowing any turbo you want to run and any size down pipe. You also prevent any air disturbance at or near the turbo. This makes sense to me but I have no experience to say whether it would adversely affect the turbo/air flow and cause loss of efficiency.



2. The design of the US Gear brake doesn't have an orifice and this causes the braking effect to start at a lower RPM than the other types of brakes. US Gear uses a by-pass valve set to open at a preset pressure.



Pac-Brake also makes a remote mount brake. The only complaint I've heard about the US Gear is the noisey activation. The people I've talked to that like the brake simply say they are happy with it and it works great, doing what it's supposed to do.

 

[Doubleclutch]

If you think about how an exhaust brake works, it has nothing to do with fuel pressure. It's the turbo that's in need of protection. Were you to have instant "on" of the exhaust brake following a heavy boost condition, what happens to the turbo, and all the pressure it's developing? The time delay in engerizing the butterfly valve in your exhaust allows the turbo to spool down as the throttle pedal is lifted. See "turbo barking" in other posts.

Greg

ps I'm in the market for a BD inline 4" brake.

 

[JRMora]

Originally posted by justatruck

I can't be the only one that wants instant braking... any other thoughts?

I am sure I am missing something here, but I'll opine anyway:



With a manual transmission and "instant braking", won't you be fighting the brake everytime you lift off the gas to shift?



I am looking at the Banks brake and talked to the guys at DPP and they said you could get it with or without a tank (air reservoir), but they said that with the tank and the brake switched on, you'll get braking immediately upon throttle lift off (with the brake engaged) as soon as you shift. Without the tank, it takes a second for the brake to build up pressure so it doesn't engage when shifting. I don't want anybody to see ME lurching down the highway!



Anyway, that's what I heard...



Juan

 

[mbaston]

You can just turn the brake off while shifting or if you don't need it.

 

[Fred Swanson]

Justatruck, I have the 4 inch Pac with Air, with reserve tank and shifter switch, the delay is very minimal. If you want to check it for yourself, give me a call anytime.

 

[TX Gooseneck]

I'm kicking myself for not buying one when I got the truck. I talked to a guy that hotshots out of Indiana, he told me of a cummins shop in Houston that has it for $999 installed. I forgot the name of the place

 

[Briman]

I have a Pac Brake. The ECM delay on the 04 and newer is non existent because of a change to the flash (programing). I need to turn my brake off when up shifting (shift lever switch) or keep my foot in the throttle a little bit to keep the brake from coming on. My brake is an in-line brake and works far better than the turbo mount Jacobs did on my 03. I have a reserve air tank and the brake activates very quickly.



One of the guys on this board uses a banks brake without any controls except a shifter switch, totally manual operation. I think thats a good way to do it too. Although I sometimes like the ECM control of the brake while using the cruise control.



Any brand will probably float your boat.



PAC brake with air tank and shifter control = $925.

 

[Diesel Nut]

I love my turbo mounted Jake. Another note on the "instant brakeing " is with a manual transmission you don't want to fivht the brake DOWN shifting. I feel it's really hard on the clutch if you are trying to engage the clutch with an engine under the full effect of the brake. Just my opinion

 

[CBrittan]

As so many exhaust brake users are discussing this, maybe somebody could tell me why my "Mopar Jake" squeals or whistles when slowing my truck.



Before I go back to my dealer for a fix, I am wondering if anybody has suggestions. I note that the vacuum line from the pump to the brake has no clamps. Is it possible I have a vacuum leak and that is causing the whistle?



Otherwise, is there a "typical' or "usual" noise associated with an exhaust brake?

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

The dealer hard wired my first Jake e-brake. Thus, it was an slight pause on or off system. I didn't know any better until I stripped it off to sell before I sold the truck.

• What I did like about it is it did come on line faster.
  
  
  
  What I didn't like about it is: occasionally I'd forget to turn it off and since it wasn't wired to the ECM it was on.

The ECM fired setup:

• Handier for leaving on whilst going down hill where there is a variety of off and on situations, i. e. just leave it on instead of turning it off and on.
  
  
  
  For warming up the rig you can turn it on and let the ECM monitor it.
  
  
  
  Don't have to worry about leaving it on.

 

[jam1on1]

my dealer told me you can now get exhaust brake for the 04. 5 from the factory only for the 6 speed , he said next year for autos that came from factory