Exhaust brake

[REndres]

I was at the Cummins shop recently buying filters for my first oil change and asked for price and availability of the Jacobs exhaust brake kit. I bought my 05 3500 6 speed in august and the kits were on back order then from Jacobs. The parts guys gave me info , $1072 and would have to order it truck down statice and see when they could ship it. I then decided to talk to the service guys and get info on the installation and was surprised the tech was trying to talk me out of installing one. His opinion was that they were hard on turbos and ineffective,you can do just as well by downshifting.

What do you guys think?

 

[klenger]

I think he had no idea what he was talking about or just doen't like to install them.

 

[Sarge]

I think the guy drives a gasser, never tows anything of substance, and likes doing brake jobs... ... ... ...

 

[MacHaggis]

I'm with klenger. Ineffective? If you use it right (i. e. , doing high turns, above 2200), it'll throw you into the shoulder belt like a foot brake would in the lower gears. Hard on turbos? There's a delay before the Jake kicks in that lets the engine defuel and the turbo spin down a little. Not a problem.



I wouldn't be without one again. Only cautions I share are 1) to turn it off on loose gravel and wet or otherwise slick roads and 2) if you're working it on crooked windy roads with traffic behind you, don't forget to use your brake pedal lightly to give some occasional brake lights to any folks behind you. It works that effectively.

 

[REndres]

He also didnt like them because they were noisy. I told him that would be a plus for me.

My first clue should have been when he asked me if that kit still came with new exhaust springs.

 

[MacHaggis]

Noisy, too, eh? This guy really has a problem, doesn' t he? Inside, you'll hear the vacuum pump running when you're at idle, and a little hiss at idle before you're up to temp. Outside, you'll pick up a tick you'll hear at idle from the pump, and a hollow whoosh when the flapper's closed. And it'll get real throaty inside and out when you're riding it. I don't hear a problem.

 

[klenger]

Noisy? I wonder if he's confusing the exhaust brake with a real Jacobs engine brake.

 

[Grizzly]

Would you post your truck profile so that we can have an idea of what you are hauling. As far as exhaust brakes, you may not need them if you are not hauling much of a load. However, if you are hauling a significant load, you can use exhaust brakes. especially if you intend on doing mountain driving. I do not have them due to the size of my camper, however if I had a 30' 5er, I'd get them.

 

[puebla]

The Jacobs exhaust brake was my first mod. I highly recommend an exhasut brake. I had no idea how wonderful an exhaust brake is when you're towing a heavy load. I towed 22K trailer from Denver, Colorado to San Diego, California in my 05 CTD 3500 NV5600 4x4 and I rarely used the service brakes... . even in traffic. The Jacobs plugs into the factory ECM and when decending down a steep incline, the Jacobs allows you to program the Jake to go on at a certain mph via the stock cruise control. That is... program your cruise control to 40 mph... and when the weight starts shoving you down the hill. . the Jake will turn on and slow you down, once the speed hits 37 mph... the Jake will shut off.



Great product, best $900 bucks I've ever spent!

 

[HBarlow]

Only a man who has never owned or driven a Dodge-Cummins with an exhaust brake could make such a silly statement. He is clueless. Enthusiasm for exhaust brakes among those of us who tow or haul with our Dodges is almost like a religion.



You only have to descend a steep mountain grade one time with a trailer behind you to appreciate an exhaust brake. The brake provides greatly enhanced control and safety, saves your truck's brakes, and makes little noise. My Gen II '01 Ram has had a Jacobs brake since the day I bought the truck from the dealer and with 261k miles the original rear brake pads still look good.



Harvey

 

[puebla]

The two best bang for the buck mods I have done to my truck are: Exhaust brake and Buckstop Heavy Duty front bumper.



Eventually, the aftermarket will catch up with us and offer a "real" Jake brake, like the big rigs... .



That would be better than life itself! So we can hear our engines roar to life when the Jakes go on. Doesn't matter if it's only a 1 stage Jake system, as long as it's head mounted like the big dogs... .

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

I can vouch for the effectiveness. I've had a two rigs with ebrakes and will have one on my 97 as soon as I can scrounge up a good deal - hear ye, hear ye



Now I'm lost without one. They are absolutely great for driving with a loaded or unloaded in the mountains. I even use it in town a bunch. Especially if there is a sign on the city limits that say "no compression brakes" brrrrrrrruuuuuuppppppt - nanner, nanner... . ah grow up :-laf

 

[HBarlow]

Yep, I gotta confess. I always make sure to engage my exhaust brake when I read a sign prohibiting use of an exhaust brake.



I spent more than 27 years in the service of my country protecting freedom. I intend to exercise that right whenever I please.



Harvey

 

[klenger]

Yep, I gotta confess. I always make sure to engage my exhaust brake when I read a sign prohibiting use of an exhaust brake.



Harvey

I don't think you will find any signs prohibiting use of an exhaust brake. There is a page on the Jacobs website inviting anyone to report any signs that prohibit "Jake Brakes" because it focuses on a single brand of engine brakes. The politically correct signs can only limit noise to a specific dB level. The exhaust brakes on our trucks do not make anywhere near enough noise to be in violation of the noise laws (at least with a stock exhaust brake).

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

I knew that they were not really meaning exhaust brakes, i. e. theres a big difference between a exhaust brake and compression brakes. But I can't resist anyway.

 

[Mhannink]

The two best bang for the buck mods I have done to my truck are: Exhaust brake and Buckstop Heavy Duty front bumper.



Eventually, the aftermarket will catch up with us and offer a "real" Jake brake, like the big rigs... .



That would be better than life itself! So we can hear our engines roar to life when the Jakes go on. Doesn't matter if it's only a 1 stage Jake system, as long as it's head mounted like the big dogs... .

they will probably never offer a real jack like some want for the reason that its ineffective the compression needed to make it worth while is not near high enough in the 5. 9 it needs to be like 20 or better to make it useful it also sounds like some of u are confusing a jake and an exhaust brake the dealer who didn;t like them included heres a basic idea of how it works http://www.jakebrake.com/products/how-the-jake-brake-works.php

 

[REndres]

I have been studying this site since the 3rd gen came out and always thought the exhaust brake was a big thumbs up and thought it would be a great benefit to owning this truck and you guys have reaffirmed that. My truck is only 2 months old ,I plan on getting a 5er and also still planning on getting an exhaust brake after the input you guys have offered up. I was very unimpressed with the knowledge ,or lack of, with parts guys and the service guy I talked to (Cummins Northwest). Those guys should study this forum and get an education.

Have any of you guys done your own install? Is $1072 the right price? Go with Jacobs rather than Pac?

Thanks for the input.

 

[Mhannink]

yeah the exhaust break is probably the one best thing for a truck emty or loaded we have a one ton duallie 94 w/ the pac brake and loaded or emty its awesome stops real good when i drive i hardly touch the brakes just push the pedal on the floor and let it pull it down all the way

 

[Cattletrkr]

... don't forget to use your brake pedal lightly to give some occasional brake lights to any folks behind you. It works that effectively.

Some stupid woman in an SUV yelled to me at a stoplight that my brakelights weren't working. How would she know??? I never touched my pedal while she was behind me. She was next to me by the time I got stopped. She was following extremely close behind and was probably getting sick of slamming on the brakes to avoid hitting me. :-laf I didn't care, she was dumb. I need a new trailer and what better way to get one than to have someone else pay for it. I did however check my lights when I got home, they all worked flawlessly of course.



That was 2. 5yrs ago in my '01 with Jacob's brake. Nobody's yelled at me in this one. They do "wave" a lot though...

 

[RMachida]

Have any of you guys done your own install? Is $1072 the right price? Go with Jacobs rather than Pac?

Thanks for the input.

I installed mine, a Pacbrake, in a short afternoon (< 3hrs). What took the longest is jacking it up and removing the wheels and fenderliners to ease access to the ECM and exhaust.



I would heartily agree with others that this was by far the best addition I've made.