exhaust brake

[Bob Cochran]

I remember getting mine in 2001 directly from Jacobs. I have no idea how competitive their pricing is or if it even is. I would check though to cover all bases.

 

[Buffalo]

Pacbrake PRXB, Inline EB???

I have an '03 with the NV-5600 (manual) & am interested in the Pacbrake PRXB, INLINE, EB. This is the one that mounts in the exhaust piping, in front of the muffler (not on the back of the turbo). I want to do this because, the stock turbo is a bit small & if I buy an EB that mounts on the turbo, & I want to change the turbo at a future date, I would have to buy a new EB.



The best pricing I've found has been $1,200. 00 plus, there is a $100. 00 off coupon if purchased before Sept. 1, 2010.



Does this sound like a good deal?



I think Alligator Performance had their Pacbrake (turbo mount) for a bit under $909. 00. I can't figure out why the inline version is almost $300. 00 more.



Any thoughts would be appreciated.



Joe F.

 

[AH64ID]

Many aftermarket turbo's will accept the factory exhaust elbow, which means they will accept the exhaust brake. The elbow mounted is much faster reacting since it has to compress a lot less air.

Not sure on the price part?

 

[WalterJ]

Greetings Mbutrch,



I had the Banks Exh Brake installed on our '4. 5 RAM 3500, SRW, 2 years ago for RV'g with our 14K# 5'er, (22K# GAVW). It was a lenghty install, many parts & pieces. Bottom line, Banks is most efficient in our opinion. They designed their exhaust valve to add NO additional restriction to the exhaust path during normal operation. Others add varying degrees of restriction. The controls are vacuum operated, including a pneumatic piston at the transmission to force near max. line pressure to the torque conv. to assure optimal lockup when braking.



Our 22K# rig maintained 58 mph downhill a 6-7% grade, towhaul mode, which felt very much in control without using service brakes. Due to being a '04. 5 truck, the exhaust brake ceases operation below 1100 RPM. I tested it also on a 4-5% grade in 2nd gear, which limited my speed to about 48-50 mph.



Braking effect is directly proportional to engine RPM. I don't measure exh press. My truck never warms up in Wisconsin Winters at low speed driving, expecially not in idle! Turning on the exh brake, closes it to enhance engine warmup, then opens at 140 deg. coolant temp. Very nice setup that Banks designed, and their customer support is top rate. We now have their Economind Diesel Tuner, so we go up a little faster and down a lot slower!

 

[Buffalo]

AH64ID,



I may have been mis-informed but, that is how I heard of the "Inline" brake. When I mentioned that I "may" want to upgrade the turbo, in the future, it was recommended to go to the Inline system. Now, I don't know who's right???



Your comment about the Inline system being slower to pressurize is what I thought would happen but, I've had at least two people mention that they couldn't tell any difference between an Inline & turbo mount system.



I'm not trying to "challenge" your comments, as I highly respect what you have to say. I always pay special attention to your posts as they are often very informative & appreciated. Thanks for posting your thoughts. More food for thought.



Once again, does anyone know if $1,200. 00 for an Inline System is a good price??? Sometimes, it's a major PITA when a main priority is "getting a good deal"!!!!! It's HELL to be CHEAP!!!!!



Thanks.



Joe F.

 

[AABEN]

I too am wondering about an exhaust brake for my truck. Currently do not have a controller with my DTT and was looking into the Banks one. A friend of mine with a current mods and a 6 speed worked great. He has tows 35' toy box and it works great. I believe the Banks uses engine vacuum, not a seperate pump. I have hot street car with a high lift cam... anyway I have a SSBC vacuum pump and it runs evertime I use the brakes. Somewhat noisy outside the car. What are your thoughts



Thanks

Where are you going to get the eng vacuum ?

 

[AABEN]

Greetings Mbutrch,



I had the Banks Exh Brake installed on our '4. 5 RAM 3500, SRW, 2 years ago for RV'g with our 14K# 5'er, (22K# GAVW). It was a lenghty install, many parts & pieces. Bottom line, Banks is most efficient in our opinion. They designed their exhaust valve to add NO additional restriction to the exhaust path during normal operation. Others add varying degrees of restriction. The controls are vacuum operated, including a pneumatic piston at the transmission to force near max. line pressure to the torque conv. to assure optimal lockup when braking.



Our 22K# rig maintained 58 mph downhill a 6-7% grade, towhaul mode, which felt very much in control without using service brakes. Due to being a '04. 5 truck, the exhaust brake ceases operation below 1100 RPM. I tested it also on a 4-5% grade in 2nd gear, which limited my speed to about 48-50 mph.



Braking effect is directly proportional to engine RPM. I don't measure exh press. My truck never warms up in Wisconsin Winters at low speed driving, expecially not in idle! Turning on the exh brake, closes it to enhance engine warmup, then opens at 140 deg. coolant temp. Very nice setup that Banks designed, and their customer support is top rate. We now have their Economind Diesel Tuner, so we go up a little faster and down a lot slower!

Jake does the same .

 

[AABEN]

Sounds like you lost the vacuum pump. If you still have the OE belt I would bypass the pump.



Don't let the dealer replace it, unless warranty, becuase they charge over $800 for the pump that Cummins charges about $200 for.

You can go to GENOS and get the Gould replacement vacuum pump for 359. 00 or you can get the diaphragm for 169. 00 == good luck ==

 

[AABEN]

Anyone have a good source for the Jake? Cummins is currenty asking far more bucks than the dealer does.

Genos has it for 359. 00 or the vacuum pump diaphragm for 169. 00

 

[Bob Cochran]

I really cannot compare the inline with the elbow mount(Jake goes in place of the elbow). I do know my Jake works for me and I am dragging 14,000 5er through the Salt River Canyon here numerous times. I am going to hazard a guess that all quality exhaust brakes work just fine for most of us. I also suspect that say for a given grade you might go down in 4th gear for one exhaust brake and 3rd with another. You just have to learn the characteristics of the one you have.

 

[Shadrach]

Pick a good brand name that you can get for a good to you price. I bought a Pac not only because it is a good brake, but I wanted air for other things ( as opposed to a vacuum operated brake ) and because I got a great deal on it. BTW I am very pleased with how it works. Shadrach

 

[AH64ID]

AH64ID,



I may have been mis-informed but, that is how I heard of the "Inline" brake. When I mentioned that I "may" want to upgrade the turbo, in the future, it was recommended to go to the Inline system. Now, I don't know who's right???



Your comment about the Inline system being slower to pressurize is what I thought would happen but, I've had at least two people mention that they couldn't tell any difference between an Inline & turbo mount system.



I'm not trying to "challenge" your comments, as I highly respect what you have to say. I always pay special attention to your posts as they are often very informative & appreciated. Thanks for posting your thoughts. More food for thought.



Once again, does anyone know if $1,200. 00 for an Inline System is a good price??? Sometimes, it's a major PITA when a main priority is "getting a good deal"!!!!! It's HELL to be CHEAP!!!!!



Thanks.



Joe F.

It really just depends on what type of turbo you want to run. You are guaranteed to have no issues with an inline, but can find good sized turbo's that use the 3rd gen exhaust elbow.



I have never ran a inline, but it will take longer to compress, but that time may not be noticeable.



I am very fond on my elbow mounted, over an inline because I like where its mounted. Its the reason when I look at turbos I look for the ones that use the elbow, but I have never heard of any complaints form an in-line.



I am quite certain you will be very happy with your decision.

 

[Silver_Ram]

I had the Jacobs on my truck & it worked very well. I switched to a bigger turbo and installed the BD inline vacuum brake, I reused the PacBrake shifter mounted switch. It works just as good and it works right away. I don't have the 2 second delay the Jacobs had. The BD has its own module and is not hooked to the ecm.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

PacBrake PRXB by ALL means. NOTHING will slow you down as good Especially at the lower engine RPMS



The common Banks selling point of "less restriction" is just sales hype. If you have ever looked into a turbocharger you know that there is MUCH tighter restrictions in the turbo and just before the exhaust elbow, Exhaust gasses are at near maximum speed just after the turbine wheel. The idea that the exhaust elbow has to be larger than the exhaust pipe is downright silly. I put together a 2001 24V 6 speed Dodge that puts 500hp to the rear wheels through a PacBrake and a 4" exhaust. IMHO

 

[befrazier]

I just got my PRXB installed and seems to work great. I can't wait to hook on to the 5er and see what it will do.

 

[befrazier]

I finally got to pull the camper and try out the PRXB with a load on. I noticed it sounded alot different at higher RPM's with the load on, than without the load. It sounded the same with load compared to without load at the lower RPM's. At higher RPM's it almost sounds like it is cutting out or something. Kind of like a bad carburator on an old gas truck, but of course I am slowing down with no throttle. Maybe that butterfly valve is just flapping around in there, not sure how it all works? There is no jerking or anything like that and maybe this is normal. Just wondering if it is?



Brian

 

[Barry]

So other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?



You think it maybe over pressuring?



Anyone else chime in???

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I have not had that problem with my 04 with the PRXB There is a difference between high RPM and low RPM exhaust note. I assume that the spring controlled bypass valve that allows excess pressure past at high speeds has a different sound. Unless the valve is loose or the spring is broken???

 

[skr06quad]

I am considering installing a Jake myself. Can anyone tell me if I need to do anything to calibrate (or inform) the computer, or will it recognize the new equipment when I connect it?

 

[Barry]

What is your truck?