Jacobs E-Brake users.......

[V6power87]

Are you letting the ECM control when it comes on or did you hook a switch up to the red wire?



How hard is it to get to the ECM plug if you choose to have the ECM turn it on?



How does the jacobs exhaust brake compare to BD, PAC, and the others?



What does it sound like... just a "whooosh" or





Thanks guy's.

 

[Mr. Brewski]

I rode in a truck over the weekend with an E-Brake - Sounds just like a big Jake Brake but a bit quieter. When the valve opened you could hear a WHOOSH from the pressure letting loose, but it sounded very cool. Look up http://www.mechanicsvilledodge.com for good prices on the Mopar brake which is an E-Brake/Cummins unit - they quoted me $575 + shipping ($11 to Seattle)

 

[Posm]

I have had the E-brake for 70K and think it is the most usefull add-on I have. The ECM attachment was the most difficult part of the install, but it is not bad. Just follow the instructions. Make sure you have selected the right pin and push out the rubber plug. Then push in the single wire until it clicks and is secure. I had to trim 1/16 or so of insulation to allow it to go in.

The brake sounds like the real thing but not as loud. I would put it on par with V-8 gasser with glass packs on the down shift. I put on the shift lever switch instead of the dash switch, which I would highly recomend. It becomes second nature to turn the thing on and off when coming to a stop light. I know you could run the brake with no ill efects at a stop light, but the noise is anoying at idle. I love mine on cold morning warm ups too.

 

[V6power87]

Do you have to keep the rpm way up by 2800 or does it still work good at say 2000rpm? I know when it is on it isn't going to "put you through the windsheild", but is it a very noticable feel even unloaded?



I bet it would sound great with a straight piped exhaust!

 

[Posm]

The higher RPMs help. If I have a high load without brakes( like a 6700LB hay baler @ 70 MPH) I will down shift earlier. If I am driving unloaded I just go with the RPMs where they are. It works very good down to 1800 or so. I got 90K out of my first set of brake pads and they were not worn out, just noisy. I thought that was pretty good for as much towing of equipment without brakes as I do.



I would like to get the straigt 4" myself. I now need tires and think I should be ready for a clutch and a front-end rework in the next 6 months (40,000 miles). I have been happy with my clutch so far 115k but know they do not last forever.

 

[Mr. C]

The only thing I can think of to add is be very careful when reinstalling the wiring harness back on the ECM, those pins are very small and if you bend em you'll be in for a real headache. I had no problem with mine but I do rember thinking things could get ugly. The connector is kind of hard to reach but not impossible,I did not have to remove anything to get at it, just get a bright work light!

I had to be a little creative with the wiring on mine cause I've got an automatic but I wanted the ECM to run things and I like the way it has worked out, you wont have that problem since you have a stick. You will definatly find that you don't use the foot brake as much.

Good luck,

Mike

 

[claymike]

I have had mine in for over 42k now. The installation was fairly simple I had more trouble mounting the vacuum switch on the firewall. Just about the time I was plugging the wire into the ECM the neighbor started his lawn mower and I could not tell if it snapped in or not. After reading all of the posts on how hard that part was it went in so easy. I did make a drip loop at the bottom of the ECM so any water would not run in. Did not use their switch but hooked it into an Eaton Fuller shift knob.



Like Posm said this has been one of the most useful add on I have.



Mike

 

[MikeR]

It still works great at lower rpm's, no, you don't need to wind it that high. And yes, it still work great unloaded. I used mine all the time unloaded.



As far as comparisons to Pac and BD? The Jacobs is reported to have the least braking effect of the three, but I don't see why more braking is need because the Jacobs slows you down almost too much anyway, I couldn't imagine needing more.

But I'll tell you what... no one has ever had one fail/stick or give vacuum problems. Unike many Pac's and BD's.



I don't have the brake anymore (won't fit with the HX40), but I did have the ecm pin plugged in and I used a BD style stick-shift lever mounted switch instead of the inconvenient mounted Jacobs switch.



-Mike

 

[csevers]

exhaust brakes

I have pac brake and it works well I rarely go above 23k rpms when down shifiting it does work with low rpm's to just not as much I should have baught one years ago like the sound also a very loud vssssssssssssssssssssssssss with glass pack muffler when going between buildings. Well worth the investment I find that instead of helping me brake better I just drive that much harder and need the brake to keep it under control. Runing on back roads in 5th gear hard and brake on just like race truck!





motor on dude

 

[merryman]

I have had the E-brake for 35K and had a pac brake for 125K on the last truck. I consider them to be the ONE indispensible add on if you are towing a load. The only trouble I have had was a valve that stuck or got crudded up on the pac brake about 3 times a year.

That said, I would not be without one even if I did not tow. I use mine all the time--it is great for slowing for what ever reason, a curve in the highway, or a stop sign in town. It helps more at higher RPM, but it helps right down to idle speed.

On my last truck, I replaced the rear shoes at 106K miles, but did so only because once I brought the new shoes home and pulled the axels, I couldn't see not installing the new ones even though the old shoes were still at least 30%. When I sold the truck at 126K miles, the front pads were still near 30 - 40 %. I can't say how much credit goes to the exhaust brake, but it was some.

On installing the E-brake, I removed the bolts holding the fuel filter housing on and could "bend" it towards the "fender" enough to work on the ECM behind it.

Vaughn

 

[V6power87]

Thanks for all the info guy's..... I think I will probably get the Jacobs brake.



Has anyone had any side effects to the use of an exhaust brake, like blown out manifold gaskets, carbon or soot in the inlet manifold, etc.

 

[klenger]

Here's a link to my web site. I have several pages about the Jacobs e-brake.



IMHO, the ECM control works great. To see how I mountd the switch, look here.

 

[V6power87]

Well..... I went and bought the Jacobs brake from Cummins NW here in Portland.



I installed it today, even unloaded it slows the truck good!! I love how it sounds with my straightpiped exhaust