Exhaust Brakes

[ALittlejohn]

I am looking to install an exhaust brake on my 2000 dodge 2500 5 speed transmission and can't make up my mind on the in line D- celerator or the jacobs exhaust brake. Can someone tell me which one is better.

 

[JWhitcomb]

I like my Jake and have had no problems. I suggest you install a control switch on your gear shift shaft. You can do the install in about two hours.

 

[RustyJC]

The Jacobs exhaust brake is well-designed and control is integrated into the ECU. Ours has been trouble-free since it was installed by the dealer prior to our taking delivery of the truck.



Having said that, the only real downside I can see to the Jacobs brake is that it's turbo-mounted. If I ever want to upgrade to a larger turbo with a 4" outlet, I'll have to switch over to a remote-mount exhaust brake.



Rusty

 

[smartineau]

Go to the



Products and Accessories/Engine and transmissions



Then scroll down to which exhaust brake



Tim the Tool Man Taylor posted a bunch of links to exhaust brake questions that should be most helpful.



steve

 

[Sixpack]

I have the Jacobs and it works very well. As Rusty stated it is a turbo mount and the only draw back that I have noticed is my EGT's climbed somewhat faster after I installed the brake. However that was fixed when I installed Rip Rooks 4" turbo back exhaust. This d@mn bombing thing, it never ends! Good luck with your choice Phil



BTW Welcome to the TDR!

Lots of info and if you can't find it just ask!

 

[Loren]

I have had the U. S. Gear D-Celerator for eight years, first on the 1995 truck and then on the 2000 truck. It’s been troublesome.



I’ve had numerous failures that have caused the brake to either operate when it shouldn’t, or fail to operate when it should. Both problems are serious. The first failure I experienced was fixed under warranty. It was a failure of the pull-coil relay. This caused the brake to close, then open, then close, etc. The only reason it opened is because of the circuit breaker in the wiring. This occurred even after the brake was selected OFF.



The next failure was a broken control rod when I tried to adjust it. The threads were “frozen” from heat and corrosion. The part was so expensive and/or difficult to obtain, I wound up trading the unit in for a new one at a cost of about $450.



The latest failure was a master control box. The troubleshooting for this involved numerous calls to U. S. Gear’s very helpful technicians. It also involved unnecessarily changing a $20 relay and a $5 circuit breaker, before the technicians would acknowledge that I did know what I was talking about. The new master control box cost $114.



I don’t want to leave the wrong impression about their technical help. It’s excellent. Unfortunately, you will probably need it a lot.



I’d choose a different brake.



Loren

 

[Mad Bomber]

Ex brake

The B-D ex brake works better at a lower RPM's. That's the reason I went to the B-D but to each there own. It's been totally flawless for 3 years

 

[Mad Bomber]

Ex brake

Originally posted by Sixpack

This d@mn bombing thing, it never ends! Phil





Yes Phil it keeps going and going.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

Brake

I have PacBrakes on both of my trucks. Both of them have been completly trouble free. One is controlled by the computer and the other is throttle controlled. Both work well but it depends on the application. Very heavy towing in the mountains seems to work better with the throttle controll. Seems you can buy the Pac for less than the others and thry have been building exhaust brakes MUCH longer than them. IMHO

 

[Boondocker]

Jake Brake

The Jacobs Exhaust Brake is the only one warrented by Dodge. That doesn't mean others, such as Pacbrake aren't just as good, it's the Cummins / Jacobs business relationship. I've had mine with a shifter switch (gotta get this) for a couple of months. Haven't got to tow with it yet though, but looking forward to it. I have a 6% grade on my commute, it's nice to be able to decelerate going down that grade, even at low rpm. I use it whenever I can substitute it for the service brakes.



Mechanicsville Dodge had the best price.

 

[CAKUZ]

I have the PacBrake on my 03 and had one on my 95 CTD. I am completely happy with them. Works great and very dependable, top quality products. No problems at all.



I really like the PacBrake on my 03 CTD better because it comes with a 12V air compressor that can be used to air up tires, etc and run the "Big-Rig" Air Horns I plan to install.

I am sure the vaccum operated Jacobs is a good product also but many hours of labor is involved installing it. Took me only a couple hours to install the PacBrake. Good instructions and fairly simple.



Of course DC would like for you to spend your money on thier Jacobs brand and that it "protects your warranty", the same as thier over priced Mopar parts, filters, lubracants etc protects your warranty. BS !!!!!



Got my PacBrake from Harry Piers. Best price I found and great people to deal with.

Oo.

 

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by CAKUZ

Of course DC would like for you to spend your money on thier Jacobs brand and that it "protects your warranty", the same as thier over priced Mopar parts, filters, lubracants etc protects your warranty. BS !!!!!

There's no need to trash other products than the one you chose. Jacobs is an independent company - remember Jacobs chucks on electric drills? It is not a captive Dodge accessory brand.



Clessie Cummins sold Jacobs the production rights to the engine brake system he developed after leaving Cummins. Jacobs markets their engine and exhaust brakes back to Cummins who uses them in OEM applications, one of which is the Dodge Ram. Therefore, the Jacobs brake is available as either a Cummins accessory or a Mopar accessory. Take your pick, but don't base your decision on the invalid assertion that the Jacobs brake is a Mopar-owned product - it's not.



Rusty

 

[Sixpack]

Originally posted by CAKUZ



I am sure the vaccum operated Jacobs is a good product also but many hours of labor is involved installing it. Took me only a couple hours to install the PacBrake. Good instructions and fairly simple.



Oo.

It took me 2. 5-3 hrs for install, taking my time all the way ... .



Instructions were very clear even for the undereducated (me)!

 

[CAKUZ]

Originally posted by RustyJC

There's no need to trash other products than the one you chose. Jacobs is an independent company - remember Jacobs chucks on electric drills? It is not a captive Dodge accessory brand.

Rusty;

I am not trashing any product, including Jacobs as many of the Tractor-Trailer trucks I drove for nearly 30 years had the Jacobs 'Jake Brake', an excellent product. The point I was trying to make is DC keeps saying in effect to buy the products they sell to protect your warranty and that gives many people the impression that if you use a different brand product it will void your warranty. Again, BS!!! If auto manufactures, not just DC, would have competive prices on thier parts and accessories many of us would buy the dealer brand. Example; I recently had Geno's send me some Fleetguard oil and fuel filters at a good price. We often see on the TDR forums where some members have been charged 3 - 4 times as much by dealers - for the exact same filter from Fleetguard but has MOPAR printed on it.

When I hit the lottery Jackpot, I'll get all my parts, etc from DC. Until then I will spend my hard earned cash on the product I think is the best quality for the price.

Good luck with your Jacobs brake as I am sure it will give you excellent service, and remember, your warranty is protected with it.



SIXPACK; You are correct, should not take more than 2-3 hours to install Jacobs OR PacBrake on the 2nd. generation CTD. Guess I had the 3rd gen. on my mind. The 03 -04 models do not have a vaccum pump. I understand it is an "all day" job and several 6- packs to install the vaccum pump that comes with the Jacobs for the 03-04 CTD Rams, where the air compressor for the PacBrake installs with 3 screws into holes allready in the firewall.



I love my Cummins Turbo Diesel Engine and PacBrake !!!!!!

 

[Mad Bomber]

Ex Brake

Cakuz, that's how Phil got his name (6 Pack) LOL

 

[RustyJC]

I guess the point that the Jacobs e-brake can be purchased from Cummins somehow got missed. Mopar is not the sole source of Jacobs e-brakes.



Rusty

 

[rweis]

I do a remote AIR operated US Gear D-Celerator and am happy with it. I was leary about having electrics and water and salt and sand mixing.



Bob Weis



ps: I use the bed mounted air compressor to clean, adjust tire pressures on truck and RV, and run the e brake.

 

[Sixpack]

Re: Ex Brake

Originally posted by E Wagener

Cakuz, that's how Phil got his name (6 Pack) LOL

:--) "Burp"!