Question on exhaust brakes...

[Big Bry]

The exhaust brakes that I have seen mount right to the backside of the turbo. You know that 45 degree elbow on the exhuast sid of the turbo? Well it replaces that. As far as adding a 4" exhuast, it won't affect it. The new exhaust mounts to that elbow on the turbo anyway. Exhaust kits start at that point so there is no nead to worry. I have a Banks power pack on my truck and it is sweeeet! Not to loud but put a load on it and you can really here it come alive. So the answer to your question is: No, an exhaust brake will not affect you if you decide to put on that 4" exhaust.

Happy trucking!

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Bryan De Boer
I L-O-V-E MY D-O-D-G-E
White 2000 Ram 2500 Quad s/b With a Banks Power Pack

 

[KevinK]

Quadzilla,

I see from your sig. that you have what appears to be a stock auto. It's my understanding that in order to add an exhaust brake to a truck with an auto transmission, the transmission needs to be upgraded with a beefier TC and/or some sort of device to force TC lockup while using the brake. I'm also interested in an exhaust brake, but don't have any transmission mods.

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2k 3500, QC, 4x4, SLT+, auto, 3. 55s, 4" exhaust w/muffler, 14sq. cm Holset turbine housing, Westach gauges (EGT, Boost, transmission)

 

[Scooby]

Quad,

Call Bill Kondolay and he'll give you the straight scoop on exhaust brakes and autos. If you run around town unloaded don't use an exhaust brake on an auto - better to replace $60 brake pads than a transmission. If you tow heavy weight in the mountains, you'll want to be able to control (and maintain)lock-up, esp. in 2nd gear - a stock auto won't do that. I was convinced I wanted an exhaust brake now for driving around unloaded and through some mild mountains, but I won't do it until I start towing serious weight.

Give him a call - there's no pressure to buy anything - you're just talking to a pro... it can't hurt!

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'01 2500 SLT+, QC, LWB, 4X4, 3. 54s, AT, SPA guages, Alpha Liner,DTT VB, SnugTop XV shell with BedRug, Grovers, Roadmasters... every option but running lights!

'98 DUCATI ST2 "Bombed" 944CC with Ducati Performance Carbon Fiber Exhaust, F. I. M. Chip, K&N and "modified" air box.

 

[quadzilla]

You are right, I do have a stock auto that I plan on upgrading in the future a ways down the road. I will try and give Bill K. a call anyway. Once of the primary reasons I wanted an exhaust brake wasn't so much for the actual brake ability at this point. I have a remote starter on my truck and only let it idle a couple of minutes before I jump in and take off. I would like to let it warm up a little more and the exhaust brake engaged would allow me to do that. I do tow once in awhile, and plan on doing more of that as the kids get older and we get a nice 5'er or T. T. For now I will call Bill and see what he says.

Bigfoot077,
I think I understand what you are saying, but the descriptions of the complete exhaust systems state that they are from the turbo back. It doesn't say from the elbow back. Maybe I am wrong. That is why I asked to be sure.

 

[Jeff Clark]

Quad, 4" exhausts are really from the elbow back. Most exhaust brakes mount in place of the elbow, between the turbo and the exhaust pipe. The only exception (that I know of) is the US Gear Decelerator. It mounts in the exhaust somewhere under the truck.

The 4" that is offered by the various manuf. is 3" at the turbo and flares to 4" immediately after. Only if you switch to a HX-40 will you need a 4" exhaust brake, of which your choices are limited.

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98. 5 3500 QC 4x4, Driftwood/Mist Grey, 5 spd, 3. 54, 19. 5 Alcoa's, Ranchhand bumpers, DeeZee toolbox, "Scotty Air", TST PowerMax2, VA, 275's, Autometer Gauges, Centerforce clutch, Upgraded fuel lines (JRE and Aeroquip), MagHytec Diff Cover, PacBrake, Cowl Induction Hood

 

[FIGHT'N IRISH]

I have a manual trans. and rarely tow. The majority of my time on the road is the interstate, until I get home which is in the steep mountains of western Md. Would I have to do any trans. mods or do I even need an e-brake... Looking to get long life out of my pads... And as always, Thanks for any input

 

[quadzilla]

I would like to get an exhaust brake. I have been looking at a couple of different ones and haven't made my final decision yet. My question is this. Where exactly do they mount on the exhaust? I have the stock exhaust on right now, but may be upgrading that in the future. I know the brake is probably size dependent, so is there a way to adapt a 4" brake to my current system so that I could upgrade to a 4" exhaust system later on?

Thanks

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Names: Truck-Quadzilla, Driver-Craig
2001 Quad Cab 2500 4x4, Short Bed, ETC, Auto, 3. 54 gears, SLT+, Sport, <font color=#228B22>Forest Green Pearl</font>, Camper Special, Trailer Tow, 305/70R16 Cooper Discoverer AT Tires on Stock Rims, <font color=#919191>Grizzly Double Bend Chrome Side Bars</font>, <font color=#F4A460>Catch-All Front Floor Mats</font>, Avital Remote Starter, APC Super White Headlamp Bulbs, <font color=#696969>Weather Tech Vent Visors</font>, DC Mudflaps, <font color=#B23AEE>Turbo Un-silenced</font>, <font color=#CD0000>K&N Filter</font> in Stock Airbox, Vacated Muffler, ISSPRO Mechanical Gauges (EGT, 50psi Turbo Boost, Fuel Pressure), stock powerplant.

Other Mopars:
1978 Ram 4x4 - 440, <font color=#009ACD>Convertible</font>, <font color=#FFD700>Club Cab</font>, <font color=#8B4500>Step Side Bed w/wood floor</font>

1968 Plymouth GTX - 440 <font color=#FF4500>Six Pack</font> w/air grabber, 4 Speed, 3. 91 8¾ rear, Black Buckets, Console, <font color=#0000EE>B5 Blue</font> Project Car - 70% complete

 

[Big Bry]

quadzilla, Yeah, what Jeff said about the elbow. #ad


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Bryan De Boer
I L-O-V-E MY D-O-D-G-E
White 2000 Ram 2500 Quad s/b With a Banks Power Pack

 

[Pete Peterson]

Fight'n Irish, No mods are needed with your stick. And it will help save on brake pads. It is a strait hookup for you. Pete

 

[KevinK]

I was just wondering why an auto on a gasser doesn't have the same problems with compression braking. I've got a 2500 Suburban that I use to pull an 8500lb. travel trailer up and over passes all the time. I constantly use compression to hold me back on hills. I've never heard that the transmission will overheat or that the TC needs to be forced into lock up. What's the difference?

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2k 3500, QC, 4x4, SLT+, auto, 3. 55s, 4" exhaust w/muffler, 14sq. cm Holset turbine housing, Westach gauges (EGT, Boost, transmission)

 

[KevinK]

radixr,

I agree that the exhaust brake has the potential to produce much more retarding hp. I believe that if a gasser and a diesel with an e-brake will both hold the same load at the same mph on the same grade, then the gasser is producing the same retarding hp as the diesel. If the diesel were producing a much greater retarding hp, the diesel would basically come to a dead stop. It seems that in real world applications, they are generally producing nearly the same retarding hp. I certainly don't know that much about exhaust brakes, so these are just my thoughts.

Kevin

 

[radixr]

Kevin,

I think the answer to your question is that an exhaust brake produces much, much greater retarding power than that produced by any engine without an exhaust brake.

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1996 Dodge 2500 4X4 SC, SLT, Cummins 12V, 5-spd. , JRE 4" exhaust (my kitty ran away into the woods and the muffler fell off!), TST 280 HP/685 Ft-Lb Uprate Kit, AFC Spring Kit, Horton Fan Clutch, Jacobs/Ram Exhaust Brake, MagHytec Differential Cover, Prime-Loc, Rancho RS9000 Shocks, Combo Gauge, K&N Air Filter, Brite-Box, Geno's finger-touch oil pan drain plug, Optima Yellow Tops, no turbo silencer ring, full-time fog lights.

 

[KevinK]

Any more thoughts from our transmission experts out there?

 

[quadzilla]

Kevin,
Downshifting and letting the engine compression slow you down is a completely different thing than applying an exhaust brake. The exhaust brake is an extra unit that uses exhaust back pressure to slow the engine down. I agree with you on your statement about both vehicles having the same retarding horsepower if they can hold the same load (including vehicle weight). But the exhaust brake can produce up to 190 retarding horsepower. That is much more than the engine can produce on its own by lift throttle and or popping the OD off or even downshifting if that can be done safely. But in order for an exhaust brake to work effectively with an automatic transmission, the torque converter will have to be forced into lockup. The extra force the TC will be subjected to are the area for beefing up the transmission, I am assuming. I am not a transmission expert by any means.