Jacobs E-Brake

[Wiley T]

2001 HO/6: Just had the Jacobs E-Brake installed on my truck by the dealer. (Dodge/Cummins Part)

Question: When the Jake Brake is on, at idle you constantly hear a load air leak. The noise is obvious inside and out. The brake seems to work great on the road and really slows the truck down. I'm not sure if it should remain engaged while sitting at idle?? I trust the installation but want to check up on it.

 

[Thomas]

Sounds normal to me.

 

[Wiley T]

Is the air release coming from the Jake brake itself? I have not layed under the truck to see if there is a line or is it coming from the housing? Will this damage the motor while negaged at idle. My nechanic gave me the paperwork that came with the unit but did not give me the installation instructions. I'm rying to learn how this works. In the three paragraph operating instruction it states that it will aide in the warming of the engine when engaged which leads me to believe it's closed while at idle????

 

[Lurch]

There should be a switch to turn it off. Having it on at idle will help warm a cold engine, however you need to turn it off to cool down for shutdown.



Lurch

 

[dresslered]

Wiley-

Sounds like you brake is working normal. I've added a two-speed axle switch on my gear shift lever so that I can toggle my brake on/off at stop lights and in turns when the road is wet. You are not hurting anything by leaving it on. I would only suggest to turn it off during cool-down.

 

[Wiley T]

Thanks,



It's sounding like everything is normal with my install. I trust my mecahnic but he told me he/ including the dealer has never installed one. I wish there was a way to muffle that air sound beside shuting the unit off. I was thinking about installing a shifter mounted control switch. Any direction on where to get one. I guess any semi parts supply would have one????

 

[Thomas]

They are available from NAPA. I don't have a part number. You will also need a bracket.



BD Brakes are offered with the shifter-mounted switch as an option, so that is another source.



Here is my switch:



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[Wiley T]

Thanks to everyone for the info and help. I'm looking forward to the towing season. Currently towing a 382 Formula powerboat, tipping the scales somewhere around 12K loaded. The abilites of these trucks are unbelievable. Have 30K on a 11 month old truck. Loving every mile... .....

 

[R Anestis]

Give Piers a call at, he has shifter switches too. Check out his web site, its on there:click here -Ron