Jacobs Engine Brake Install

[MRann]

I am looking to install the Jacobs Engine Brake on my 2006 3500 DRW w/ the 48re Auto Trans. I spoke to a dealer yesterday and thier "senior" technician told me it would ruin my transmission. Any advice would help. I pull my 30' 5er (12000 lbs) approx 20,000 miles a year out west and down into the moutians of Va. Later last evening I spoke to another tech at a local Dodge dealer who advised it would work fine. Anyone in the Phila Metro area that can recommend a dealer who knows what they are talking about ?

 

[InfernoB]

I don't pull anything, and have over 28K on mine. 54K on truck, 48RE still works great. Brake in on position 90% of the time. I think they are on sale at Cummins?

edit spelling: Brake..... Break is what happens when the brakes fail.

 

[JHenry]

[ I spoke to a dealer yesterday and thier "senior" technician told me it would ruin my transmission. Any advice would help.



When I bought the Jacobs brake for my '06 (6 speed), the box was labeled "Jacobs-Cummins-Mopar". Why would engineers for all three companies approve the brake for your truck if it would ruin it?

Your are listening to the personal opinion of this technician, which is obviously wrong.

 

[AH64ID]

I am looking to install the Jacobs Engine Brake on my 2006 3500 DRW w/ the 48re Auto Trans. I spoke to a dealer yesterday and thier "senior" technician told me it would ruin my transmission. Any advice would help. I pull my 30' 5er (12000 lbs) approx 20,000 miles a year out west and down into the moutians of Va. Later last evening I spoke to another tech at a local Dodge dealer who advised it would work fine. Anyone in the Phila Metro area that can recommend a dealer who knows what they are talking about ?

The I wouldn't let that tech touch my truck. . Your 06 is designed for an exhaust brake. . The Jacobs is the one endorsed by Cummins/Mopar.

 

[meanmatt]

I put one of these Jakes on my truck at 900 miles . I'm at 30,000 now with no problems . Bought it from my local Cummins dealer for about $600 less then the what the Dodge dealership wanted . I did the install my self on a saterday afternoon. The hardest part was making sure the pins was pushed all the way into the ecm . Routing the belt is a little bit of a tight sqeeze . The exhaut system is mounted is mounted very well so you don't have alot of movement basicaly one way in and out with the brake itself. I do not have any regrets doing the install myself . especially with the amount of money saved verses just having the dealership do it.

 

[Motorhead]

If an exhaust brake is installed on an automatic truck, there needs to be provisions to keep the torque converter locked during brake operation. The tech didn't know what he is talking about. The Mopar-jacobs exhaust brake should have electronic provisions to keep your converter locked.
If a guy just installs a generic brake on an automatic truck without a converter lockup provisino, YES it will ruin the trans.

I personally would go with the Pacbrake PRXB. MUCH better set-up and NO funky vacuum pump to fail and leave you stranded by the side of the road. My $0. 02

 

[KKaminski]

That "senior" tech doesn't know what he's talking about.



My '03 has had it on from new (although I've only had the truck for 3 years) and I wouldn't go without one.



The only problem I have with it is that when the air cylinder starts to leak, you cannot rebuild it. So I'm calling Pacbrake today to order a new one ($70. 00 was the price quoted me)

 

[nunya]

36K on my 06 48RE with Jake installed by dealer when new. I use it all the time and towed 75% of the time, been all accross the US in the mountains and it does do the job. I have had no issues at all. I did buy a spare belt of the proper length for the brake install just in case! I believe 06 is the 1st year approved for the install with the electrics in place for lockup... . my Juice att shows lockup. Go for it, I know you will love it

 

[MRann]

Thanks for the great input. I knew I could count on the site for good advice.

 

[ABarry]

Some people have had problems with the vaccume pump failing. My 06 came stock with the exhaust brake, works good. however If I was adding one I would consider the prxb because of the air compressor which can be used for other things. also make sure you order and extra belt if you get the jake brake, it is not a stocked item at most dealers.

 

[BHaden]

I had mine dealer installed (for warranty) and has about 48k on it. The last few weeks I thought it didn't have quite the retarding effect it should. Yesterday while travelling from San Diego to Flagstaff, Az pulling a 5k trailer I noticed it gradually getting weaker until it finally stopped working about 100 miles from destination. I thought the infamous vacuum pump failure had struck, but not... The rubber vacuum hose 90 degree elbow they installed below the brake booster had cracked slowly over the last few weeks and finally failed completely leaving no vacuum to the brake canister. It looked like pretty cheap rubber. A few minutes with a pocket knife got it fixed, but I'll change to a better grade of hose when I get home. You might want to get something better when you install it, so it doesn't bite you in a couple years

 

[BigRedRam]

Jacobs E brake vacuum pump failures

My 05 CTD 6 speed has 152,000 miles on it now. The only failures have been the vaccume pump. First one at 45 K under warrenty and the second one at 95 K. The dealer wanted $800. Didnt buy it because I thouight it should be coverd by the 100K Cummins engine warrenty. Found out I could by the pump from Cummins if I had the part number. Part number is 3965925, cost wat $160. Only takes about 20 min to put it in.

 

[HBarlow]

The original poster already received the correct information he asked for but I'll summarize the answers.

An exhaust brake can always be installed on any manual transmission Cummins engine but early 12 valve engines required the installation of stronger exhaust valve springs to hold the exhaust valves closed against the brake.

In model years '06 and '07 the Cummins 5. 9 engine's ECM was programmed and the 48RE built by the factory to operate with an exhaust brake. If it is wired via the factory wiring harness and operated through the ECM/PCM an aftermarket brake can also be used.

'07. 5 and later 6. 7 engines use the turbo as an exhaust brake so an add on exhaust brake is not needed.