New PRXB PacBrake Installed

[jelag]

Last week I pulled off my current PacBrake and installed the new PRXB. This brake uses a patented feature that holds the back pressure as the truck slows down through the RPM range. Nothing else changed on the truck except the brake..... On Friday I left Spokane with the intent to run down to San Diego with a trailer that weighs around 18,000 lbs.....



I'm now sitting in the motel room after running I-5 through the Siskiyou's, several 6% down grades of 5-7 miles and the Grapevine as you head into LA.



With the old exhaust brake I'd have to use the service brakes to keep this much load and trailer under control... now the truck actually slowed down several times where I had to turn off the exhaust brake... . I used the same gearing that I used with the old brake... If I go up the hill in 4th than I go down in 5th... . etc...



I'm amazed at the holding power of this brake... . They've got a winner with this product..... I ordered enough to do my trucks... 00 F 550, 01, 04, 04. 5 and 05 3500 Dually's. From my point of view the extra money for the PRXB is worth the money in extra safety margin, and longer brake life... My 04 is still running the stock pads after 115K miles... .



I'm going to offer the take off's if any of you are interested.....



If your looking for an exhaust brake for your truck test drive a truck with the PRXB before you buy... .

 

[dualspt]

Only for stick

Jim, you did not mention but I believe Pac themselves have said this is for only the 6-speeds.

 

[TCDiesel]

Jim, you did not mention but I believe Pac themselves have said this is for only the 6-speeds.

The stock TC cannot take the new added holding pressure, Everyone I talk to that try it on stock TC destory it quickly.

 

[LightmanE300]

I think that's a pretty unrealistic statement - first of all there are so very few of us that have access to a diesel shop that would even install an exhaust brake - let alone one that has that particular new pac brake and you can test drive it... Although it is some nice wishful thinking



Can you elaborate a bit more on how this brake differs from the previous pac brake?

 

[Gypsyman]

Personally I would order a brake from anyone but Pacific Clutch and Brake. When I was first working with the 5" inline PRXB I stopped to talk to the "brake experts" :-laf at Pacific Clutch. Now mind you they are a Pac Brake dealer. I've never recieved so much incorrect information from two people in my life. By the time I left they told me that I needed 80 lbs of back pressure and would have to install another 5" PRXB inline behind my current one to make them work correctly. What a joke!



Lightman, there are a couple of threads that cover the design of this brake. I even started a thread here that covered what I found and the changes that I made to get the application times down and the braking force up. It works flawlessly now and the application time is down to one second flat. Excellent performance and it holds backpressure almost all the way down to idle.



Richard

 

[Winston Wolf]

The stock TC cannot take the new added holding pressure, Everyone I talk to that try it on stock TC destory it quickly.

What's up with all the FUD peddling? Without some data to back up a statement like that, you strike me as somebody with an axe to grind at someone else's expense.



Care to set us straight? Got any real data? Or is it just a bias and/or hidden agenda at play here?

 

[Winston Wolf]

I think that's a pretty unrealistic statement - first of all there are so very few of us that have access to a diesel shop that would even install an exhaust brake - let alone one that has that particular new pac brake and you can test drive it... Although it is some nice wishful thinking

Aren't you guys being a little nit pickin' on jelag? Jeez.



If my buddy was "first on the block" to have a PRXB installed, I think he would let me test drive it. And I would do the same. Is that too farfetched for ya?

 

[TCDiesel]

What's up with all the FUD peddling? Without some data to back up a statement like that, you strike me as somebody with an axe to grind at someone else's expense.



Care to set us straight? Got any real data? Or is it just a bias and/or hidden agenda at play here?

Yeah, several companys tested it with the stock TC all Three GM ,Ford, DC,all three suffered Quick destruction,Also I am a Pac installer check their Web site type 55434 in the dealer locate You will see T&C in Blaine MN. Pac will not warranty any stock Trans that the PRXB is installed. I am installing it in a 6 speed 04. 5 Tomorrow.

 

[Winston Wolf]

Okay, that helps. Thanks for the clarification TWest.



Also wasn't sure if by TC you meant turbo charger or torque convertor. Sounds like torque convertor (still a newbie here).



So maybe the issue is just with autos. Please post your impressions with the 6 speed if you don't mind.

 

[BIG BOB]

Anyone have any experience with the PRXB and a DTT 89% TQ, transmission and Smart Controller? Will they last?

 

[JBlock]

SHoot a price on your brake, joe B -- email address removed --, is setup for automatic. I got a ddt controler on order.

 

[jelag]

To answer a couple of questions.....



1 - the old brake has a hole in the valve that limited the backpressure... . on the new brake this hole is blocked off until the brake hits the magic 60 psi. At that time spring pressure overcomes the backpressure and opens the port. . and allows some of the back pressure escape... on the old brakes, as the rpm decreased you'd get to the point where the exhaust could escape through the hole in the valve too fast and the back pressure would fall off... thus the retarding HP of the brake... The new brake holds the back pressure at a full 60 psi to a much lower rpm..... allowing for more retarding hp at lower rpm.



2 - we always try and keep a truck around for customers to try... . and all trucks on the property have an exhaust brake except an old ford that won't handle it... Several times I've hooked a load to one of the turcks for a quick test drive... I changed out my trucks because they are working trucks... my 2000 F 550 now has 350K miles, my 04 Dodge 3500 has 118K miles... .



3 - I've attempted to be an honest upfront vendor of these products and if you wish to take shots at me... . thats fine. . I have large enough shoulders to handle the extra weight... . we've been associated with PacBrake for over 20 years and enjoy the relationship. . PacBrake to my knowledge was the first offer an exhaust brake, first to offer a direct mount exhaust brake and is the largest manufacture of these items.



4 - we have an instructional video for those who are interested... this is a simple installation that takes 5 or 6 hours with simple hand tools... .



5 - we've tried to not sell those customers with A/T vehicles unless they upgrade the transmission so they get full benifit out of the exhaust brake... we don't do transmission work, I just don't personally believe that a customer would get their monies worth from this product without that upgrade... .



I hope this answers your questions... .

 

[LightmanE300]

If my buddy was "first on the block" to have a PRXB installed, I think he would let me test drive it. And I would do the same. Is that too farfetched for ya?

It is too far-fetched for me because there are hardly any diesels around here, and nobody I know has an exhaust brake, let alone the latest and greatest. I'm just saying the chance to actually test one of these brakes before buying is pretty slim for most folks. If you happen to live near a dealer or know someone with one that you can try, you're lucky. I've never even been in a truck with an EB, but I know I want one. Riding the brakes down a grade with weight pushing you down is not a great feeling!

 

[Winston Wolf]

PRXB Done!

Put my PRXB (#C44045) on this weekend. Haven't towed yet, but so far very satisfied. Nice sound too!



I went with the ECM bypass and shifter switch. The install was pretty straightforward. I thought I'd spend more time mounting the brake and the compressor, but ended up spending the most time with the electrical. All told, about 5 hours start to finish with a few breaks.



Got a great price too (thanks jelag!).

 

[CRoth - BD-Power]

Guys let's be realistic here, don't get sucked into the hype that this is the new holy grail of exhaust brakes. As our BD Brake has used the same regulating technology for over 10 years. If you are looking to upgrade from the older technolgy to a new style then I would say do it. As the difference between a brake with a hole in butterfly and ours is quite a bit.



And your automatic transmission will not fall out of your truck if you use it. Just make sure you have the proper transmission addons and you'll be fine.

 

[Winston Wolf]

Well, I don't know if I "got sucked into the hype" or not. I've never driven an exhaust brake before much less owned one. So I have nothing to compare to.



But I can say I was impressed with the quality of hardware, ease of installation, and initial driving impressions of the PRXB. That is not to say anything bad about competing products. This thread was about PRXB specifically. And since PRXB is new and we haven't seen too many comments, I thought I'd weigh in with some initial impressions.