Noisy rattle in Jake Brake switch

[steffo]

I bought a 2005 Quad LB 2500 with the G56 6 speed in August. I had to go up to Colorado to find one with a stick. I had them put the Jake brake on it for me before I got up there. I flew up and picked the truck up on a Saturday evening just before they closed, and I didn't notice until I got out on the road that the switch for the Jake brake made a horrendous rattling noise at any speed over 50, and the faster I went the worse it got. I drive fast so it got pretty bad!



I didn't have time to go back and wait til the dealer who sold me the truck would be open again on Monday, so I just drove home, holding onto the switch to try to keep the rattle from driving me mad. Took me about 3 weeks to get an appointment to take it in to the local Dodge dealer, they said it needed a new switch. Took them about 4 weeks to get that part in and last week it finally got it put in. Well, the noise is definitely less, but still VERY annoying. Anyone else have experience with this? I can take it back in and tell them to get me another one, but I wonder if there is some other (better) solution that someone out there has found for this issue?



Thanks, and I am new here so I hope I posted this in the right place and format and everything. Thanks in advance for any help. I really like my new truck, but this rattle is a big annoyance that is cutting into my enjoyment of it.

 

[klenger]

Welcome to the TDR.



No noise from the switch in my truck.

 

[RockinJ]

Purchased and installed my Jake in August . . . so far, no rattle from the switch. While I have seen a number of posts in the past year with this particular complaint, I gotta' believe that the later production switches are OK.

 

[Slow Six]

Mine rattled almost from the start. I got a mid thick O-ring and stretched it over the shifter knob and around the Jake switch. Stopped the rattle and usually lasts about a year before it breaks and I put on another one. There was some discussion of this quite awhile back and this seemed to be one of the more common and easiest fixes. I used a switch from a 2 speed axle for mid duty trucks and it rattled the same as these. The black O-ring is hardly noticeable.

 

[HCuervo]

Noisy switch

I've got a J brake and the switch is quiet. What is annoying is that the gear numbers plates keeps spinning around.



HCuervo

LAkeland, FL



2004. 5 silver, exhaust brake, sat/gps, ETH.

 

[Rosco]

Has anyone ever eliminated the shift mount switch and gone over to a regular Jacobs on/off toggle swith like the big rigs use. When my 06' 48re arrives I think I would prefer to use the toggle switch as opposed to the big push/pull switch on my auto gear shift lever. Plus, the Jacobs toggle switch have a cool looking "Jake Brake" backing plate on them.

 

[MLee]

Course, mine was all after market, and the switich rattled like yours, took it apart and added a little tension on the movable parts, no more rattle. Just a shade stiffer. Maybe it would work for you.

Marv.

 

[jelag]

The switch used on an engine brake is not the same switch and shouldn't be used for the exhaust brake..... When PacBrake started to sell the exhaust brakes, they used a dash mounted switch... . based on the how busy the dash is and where it could be mounted..... we had lots of people say "we want something different" and someone had the idea of the shifter mounted switch... ... .



I finally put one on one of my trucks and really liked it... . now all my trucks have a switch mounted on the shifter... ... to be honest I've never seen the Jacobs unit... ours is a billet aluminum part that is powder coated black and the switch doesn't rattle... I've seen a lot of two speed shifter switches used... they are very inexpensive and function well...



I guess its to each his own..... but for the me, the shifter switch is great... I've since taken the same switch housing and am now working on some driving lights to hook up on my 05...



Just my thoughts... .



Jim @ Pacific Clutch

 

[Cattletrkr]

I went to a local auto parts store and bought a $2 lever switch. Just a short little plastic thing. Doesn't look as nice as the metal one I had for two weeks before it drove me nuts. No metal = no rattle. Lever style switch is much easier to activate as well. Just a quick flip of your thumb and it working.



When dad had his '02 he went to a farm equipment dealer and bought a $16 switch that he thought wouldn't rattle. Had to put a rubberband around that one.

 

[MMeier]

The knob on my switch will rattle at times also. All I do is twist it a bit clockwise and the noise goes away for a bit. No big thing!!

 

[Doubleclutch]

jelag- OKAY JIM... now you did it again

Suppose between rains, you might snap a photo of this switch?

I have no experience with the Jake switch, but have had three Eaton-Fuller (red mushroom Pushme/Pullyou) switches that have rattled like crazy. The only fix for this problem (REAL fix) is disassembling the switch and rebushing it to eliminate the play, which causes the rattle.

PacBrake makes a rocker switch for their brake. Has anybody heard of rattle problems from the rockers?

Greg

PS-Jim... Nice Brake!

 

[RankRam]

Doubleclutch I have the PacBrake rocker switch and it has never made any noise, I highly recomend it, also the brake is great.



On Edit: Here is a pic of the PacBrake switch, I have more in my readers rig pics.

#ad

 

[jelag]

The billet aluminum switch that we use... is pictured on the pacbrake web sight... . www.pacbrake.com or at this sight... . http://www.pacbrake.com/PDF/L5299.PDF



Hope this helps.....



Jim @ Pacific Clutch

 

[MLee]

Geno's Garage has a new gear shift knob that has the switch built into the top. It is a rocker as I remember. I believe a TDR member came up with the concept.

Marv.

 

[steffo]

Thanks for all the help!

Thanks everyone. And especially Marv. I looked up that Geno's garage knob and that looks really nice. It doesn't say that it works with the newer trucks, but I don't see why not. I am going to give them a call!



Stef

 

[jacqnbill]

I tied and wrapped a piece of black thread around the switch shaft between the knob and switch housing and no rattle. I had the same problem with a U S Gear splitter switch.

 

[HCuervo]

Rattle

Thanks for the suggestion. Will try it this weekend.

HCuervo

 

[steffo]

I called Geno's, spoke to Andy who was very nice and helpful. I told him my problem and that I was interested in their knob with the switch to eliminate a rattle. He warned me that the one they sell, whihc I was all ready to buy, rattles too! So, no help there. BUT, I find all kinds of cool toys for my truck over there at Geno's Garage so the visit will probably cost me plenty.



Can I use the Pac Brake switch for the Dodge Jacobs brake? I certainly wll try thread and O rings first, but I am really not thrilled about either of those and would rather just have a nicer switch!

 

[Rosco]

I would prefer something like this http://www.ronthebusnut.com/detailDisp_EXH-B SW.html over the gear shift mounted switch. Remember though, I have a 48re auto not a six speed. If I had the six shooter I would stick with the gear shift switch.

 

[TPCDrafting]

I have the red two-speed switch and it rattled when I got it. Every time I change the oil and lube the chassis I put a little dab of grease on the shaft of the switch. No mess and no rattle.