Jacobs Exhaust Brake

[GeorgeStocum]

My truck is a 2003 - 3500 5. 9L, I currently have 109,000 miles and am about to purchase my 4th vacuum pump to support the exhaust brake. Once the vacuum pump gets about 20K+ miles on them they fail and no longer produce a vacuum to support the exhaust brake. Has anyone else had simular problems where the vacuum pump 'dies' after 20K miles. Does anyone know if there are rebuilt units available or possibly can I purchase only the vacuum portion of the assembly and not the bearing and the pulley assembly. Or, is there another pump assembly that is compatable with the Jacobs exhaust brake that has a longer life than the 20K miles I am experiencing. Any help would be appreciated. I can be contacted with -- email address removed -- or 607-687-3469, thanks.

 

[jelag]

George, when we had Fords we had lots of problems with their Delco vacuum pumps... we found we could extend the life by pulling the line off the pump, and giving it a shot of engine oil once a year or so... . usually about a table spoon or two... . this would lube up the reed valves in the pump and make it run longer... We also did this on the early Dodges when we'd get an exhaust brake that wouldn't work because of lack of vacuum...

On the Ford and Dodge the brakes would get soft as well as the vacuum ran the brakes as well... .

There has a number of posts here about the life of the vacuum pump, but no one has shared with me if my suggestion that we used on the early Dodges and Fords works on this pump... .

I know of no service kit but some of the guys state that the pump is cheaper from a Cummins Dealer than Dodge...

 

[sag2]

When I went to Aspen/Durango Hybrid training they used a slick electric vacuum pump for the brake booster when the Hemi engine is off. I looked it up and it is PN 5186000AD and retails for $149. 00. I don't know if it would work with the exhaust brake but it is the first thing I thought of when I saw it.

 

[DE Jeeper]

I was in the same boat as you . I went through 4 pumps too. My solution was to buy a PAC from Jelag. May not be what you want to hear, but it is the sad reality.



Aaron

 

[VZarich]

30k on mine. No problems. The vacuum pumps don't like vacuum leaks and don't survive very long if the system develops a leak. I find them to be very reliable if the system is maintained properly. If you regularly check your vacuum lines and make sure that the system is sealed they last a long time. I have seen a plenty of them with 150,000+ miles on them with no problems.

 

[AABEN]

I have over 45. 000 on my Jake and no trouble.

 

[jmadison]

i have 55,000 miles on mine with no problems.

 

[GeorgeStocum]

Thank you, I will check for a vacuum leak. Do you know how to do that. I assume I need to add pressure to the system with some 'smoke' to see where it is coming out. But how do I do that. Thanks again.

 

[GeorgeStocum]

The Dodge prices are outragous, Cummings Northeast gets about $90. 00 plus shipping and taxes. So I will go there once again.

 

[ENafziger]

Mine took a dump at 35k miles. I understand that it's better not to have any vacuum leaks, but the pump runs all time anyway, right? I don't think I have any leaks either, as it was dealer installed, and I've inspected things several times.

You can go to the local Cummins dealer and probably get a replacement pump a little cheaper. Part number is 3965925, and price around $100.

--Eric

 

[jelag]

George... . you need to edit your information..... so we know where your from and a little about you... .

BTW I see you've only posted a few times... .

Welcome.....

 

[CKelley1]

they all fail as ours fail we change them to bd. the bd works many time better than the jacobs because it maintains 65 psi back pressure across the entire rpm range you can change it your self in about three hours with very few tools you can reuse the switch and the two wires coming from the ecm. the only extra thing you will need to buy is a standard serpentine belt to replace the extra long one that drove the pump. i like the mod so well i changed our three 06's before the pump failed

 

[GeorgeStocum]

George... . you need to edit your information..... so we know where your from and a little about you... .

BTW I see you've only posted a few times... .

Welcome.....

The next time I will, thanks.

 

[GeorgeStocum]

they all fail as ours fail we change them to bd. the bd works many time better than the jacobs because it maintains 65 psi back pressure across the entire rpm range you can change it your self in about three hours with very few tools you can reuse the switch and the two wires coming from the ecm. the only extra thing you will need to buy is a standard serpentine belt to replace the extra long one that drove the pump. i like the mod so well i changed our three 06's before the pump failed

Thanks for the input.

 

[2-ND TIME]

Exhaust brakes

Has anyone loooked into using a small compressor to operate them? I have had one for 7 years and haven't had a problem other then the contacts on the relay get oxidized and need to be cleaned this time I will put some Vaseline on them. I don't know what the pressure would need to be but one for an air ride seat should do with a small tank and a regulator. Would need to reverse connect the lines but that isn't a problem. Might be cheaper then new vacuum pumps?

 

[DPalmquist]

83,000 on mine with no problems yet.