Jacobs or Pac brake?

[BSkinner]

I can get a Jacobs e-brake installed on my 2003 for $1,314 and a Pac brake installed for $950. I won't be towing heavy for a couple of years but do live in the mountains where the e-brake could come in handy coming down the mountain. My thinking was to buy it now to get it on the financing and to help warm up next winter. My dealer has experience installing both brakes which is why I would consider these.



I've scanned DTR and other groups and tried to digest all of the opinions but it gets confusing after awhile. From what I've been able to digest, there is no problem with Jacobs as far as the truck warranty is concerned. Warranty for 3 years/100,000 miles, defaults to open if something goes haywire. 3 1/2 inch outlet which is smaller than Pac's 4" outlet.



Pac. Cheaper (always good) and it looks like a cleaner install. If the regulator fails the butterfly could stay closed and has to be manually moved to open. This happened once to a friend's 2001 6 speed. 3 year/100,000 mile warranty. Requires periodic lubrication of actuator and the electronics have to be covered when washing the engine.



If anyone has any comments that would help me make my decision, I'd appreciate them.



Thanks,



Bob

 

[Casey Balvert]

Go with the Jacobs and offer them $900. 00 installed if they want to sell you a truck. If they don't want to sell you a truck go elsewhere. FWIW



Casey

 

[dan.poitras]

I like the pacbrake. I have installed air horns and an air tank which utilizes the same air compressor. Both brakes use the same ecm input and output, but the pacbrake also incorporates a clutch switch. Pacbrake's actuator cylinder is more streamlined .

Your choice.

 

[Briman]

I went 110K miles with no troubles with my Jacobs on a 2000 CTD. It was on almost all the time. The front break pads went the same distance as well. I don't think the new Jacobs has as much stopping power though, just seat of the pants feel. What about the BD?



PS: I had to pay $1125 for mine and I put it on.

 

[amsoilman]

I opted for the Jacob's brake, as I received the "special deal" of $299. 00 when I purchased the truck. I installed it myself as I didn't want the dealer to do it. The instructions that came with it was supurb! Works very well. As a side note, I just finished installing a BD E-brake on a 2002 CTD yesterday for a customer and when I finished the install, both he and I compared his with mine. Other than the 2-second delay on the Jacob's, they pretty much felt the same.



I might add, the instructions for the BD are not very good!, as it is not designed only for the CTD, so therfore harder to follow etc.





Wayne

amsoilman

 

[Prairie Dog]

I'm curious how the Jacobs can have a 3. 5" outlet since the stock elbow is 4" and has to (I think) mate with the stock down pipe. I know the stock down pipe starts out 4" and is immediately reduced to 3. 5". Does the Jacobs come with a new down pipe?



Scotty

 

[BSkinner]

Originally posted by Prairie Dog

I'm curious how the Jacobs can have a 3. 5" outlet since the stock elbow is 4" and has to (I think) mate with the stock down pipe. I know the stock down pipe starts out 4" and is immediately reduced to 3. 5". Does the Jacobs come with a new down pipe?



Scotty

Scotty,



I possibley made an error on the outlet dia. I've taken a lot of notes off of various forums on e-brakes so may have gotten confused.



Thanks to everyone else who posted responses to this thread.



Bob

 

[jelag]

Both the Jacobs and PacBrake have been designed by engineers that have years of experience doing this... ... If you were to test both brakes on a dyno you should find the following results...



1 - both should show little or no back pressure allowing full flow of exhaust during normal operation (brake off)



2 - both should have close to 60 psi of back pressure which is the highest standard set by Cummins... . Using common formulas the amount of retarding HP can be computed... .



3 - both connect to the ECM (engine computer) in the same fashion so both should work and function the same... .



4 - one brake uses a vacuum pump that connects to the engine that will take some HP to run... . the other uses an electric air compressor and only cycles when the exhaust brake is engaged.



5 - one exhaust brake is nitrate coated for long life... ...



6 - I suggest that you go to both web sights and see the benifits yourself... .



7 - other than the 2 above..... all other manufactures rely on outside vendors to design, engineer, and build their products... . and they often will say things in their information that is not 100% correct... ... .



If you have specific question on the PacBrake, I can answer them... . PM me if you wish.....

 

[Carlton Bale]

Originally posted by Prairie Dog

I'm curious how the Jacobs can have a 3. 5" outlet since the stock elbow is 4" and has to (I think) mate with the stock down pipe. I know the stock down pipe starts out 4" and is immediately reduced to 3. 5". Does the Jacobs come with a new down pipe?

Scotty,

The brake casting and the stock elbow casting both have a 4" diameter inlet and a 3. 5" diameter outlet. They are direct replacements for one another and no exhaust downpipe swap is required.

 

[artie]

Carlton is there any updates on the 48RE auto/brake warranty OK from D/C and will there be a completely new part number or just changes in the instructions for mounting the in cab switch?

 

[Carlton Bale]

Originally posted by artie

Carlton is there any updates on the 48RE auto/brake warranty OK from D/C?

The only update I have is that testing is behind schedule. My guess is that it will June at the earliest before an announcement is made. I really wish I had better news.

Will there just changes in the instructions for mounting the in cab switch?

You're correct; there will be no new part number.

 

[DBVZ]

Carlton,



Do you have any comment on the reports on the TDR about Dodge dealer installing e-brakes on 48re trucks? The comment was made about Pac Brakes, but the issues should be the same for Jocobs.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Originally posted by Carlton Bale

Scotty,

The brake casting and the stock elbow casting both have a 4" diameter inlet and a 3. 5" diameter outlet. They are direct replacements for one another and no exhaust down pipe swap is required.

OK, I'm confused then.

About 3 inches after the pipe comes out of the housing it's reduced to 3. 5", there is a weld at this point as it attaches to the down pipe. Is this first 3. 5" part just used to adapt to the elbow? Seems like you just could have flared the 3. 5" down pipe instead of adding the welded on piece.

By the way, why only 3. 5" to the muffler and then a full 4" after that? Why not use a full 4" elbow and downpipe?

Thanks for all your insight Carlton.

 

[Carlton Bale]

Originally posted by Prairie Dog

OK, I'm confused then.

About 3 inches after the pipe comes out of the housing it's reduced to 3. 5", there is a weld at this point as it attaches to the down pipe. Is this first 3. 5" part just used to adapt to the elbow? Seems like you just could have flared the 3. 5" down pipe instead of adding the welded on piece.

By the way, why only 3. 5" to the muffler and then a full 4" after that? Why not use a full 4" elbow and downpipe?

Thanks for all your insight Carlton.

I'm not sure of the specifics regarding the exhaust system after the turbo elbow / exhaust brake elbow. I'm positive that the turbo has a 4" outlet and that the elbow / brake has a 3. 5" outlet. After that, I believe the diameter may decrease to 3" to the muffler.



As far as DC using a 4" diameter exhaust, the general requirements are to produce the necessary level of backpressure at the lowest cost. Reliability is also a factor. My guess is that a 4" pipe offered no performance gain and cost more. For the welded section, perhaps it's was more reliable? These are just guesses because I'm not directly involved with anything after the exhaust brake.



-Carlton

 

[Prairie Dog]

Thanks Carlton. So now that the ex-brake seems to be complete in it's design process, what are your working on now?

 

[Carlton Bale]

Originally posted by Prairie Dog

Thanks Carlton. So now that the ex-brake seems to be complete in it's design process, what are your working on now?

We offer exhaust and/or engine (compression) brakes for our ISB, ISC, ISL, ISM and ISX engines. There is plenty to keep me busy when I'm not working on the Dodge exhaust brake!