Should I order up a 04.5 with a jake, or should I install a pacbrake

[PJereb]

What do you guys think? I am not so hot on the vacuum pump that is powered by the belt with the Jake brake. It looks rather cheesy, I know on older powerstokes they had a pump that looked very similar for the brake booster. With the pacbrake I would have onboard air for tires, ARB, bags, whatever

 

[klenger]

I won't attempt to answer your question, but the Dodge/Jacobs brake is a dealer or DIY accessory only. Can't order it from the factory as far as I know. If I'm wrong, I'll be ******.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

?

According to the price I got from my Dodge dealer on the Jacobs Brake (around $1300) I can save hundreds by buying the Pac Brake. The Pac uses a electric compressor and it seems to be a good one. Buy a Pac, pocket the diffrence or get gauges with the money you save.

 

[MMeier]

Happy with my Jacobs brake, bought at time of delivery and only paid $649 for it , INSTALLED!! Oo.

 

[SRadke]

I'm not going to vote but I'm happy with my Pac.



-Scott

 

[amsoilman]

I will not say anything bad about the Pac Brake, but I can say without a doubt, the Jake is a SUPER unit! Have had one on my truck since the truck had 3,000 miles, and now has over 24,000.



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[Dean Upson]

I never had the Pac-Brake.

I have had the Cummins/Jacobs/DC unit on my 98. 5 and on my present truck and have been very satisied with the product. I like the fact that they were developed by Cummins for this engine and is warranteed.

Youucan most likely talk to your dealer about the cost of the unit, especially if it is part of the sales deal. That worked for me.



Dean

 

[JRensel]

Around here in the Pacific NW, many folks prefer BD. I have a cowboy buddy with an 03 dually who drives 1000s of miles a month and he doesnt like his Jacobs, it has a 2 second delay before kicking in. He had a BD on his old truck, and wishes he did now. According to the folks at BD, they all do it.



I just bought a new BD for my 04 and will install it myself, just like the last one. The compressor is useful for other stuff too, and simply compare the installation manuals for a minute, the Jacobs is very complex vs. the BD. Different strokes, but I want my brake on right now when I let off on the fuel. The BD manual can be obtained as a PDF online, in color and is better than the B&W version they ship with it.



Never had a Pac Brake, can't talk about them but go to the BD web site and take a close look at the specs for all of them. You get what you pay for, but sometimes you are paying for a lot of complexity.



Jack

 

[KLockliear]

From a performance standpoint, I'd recommend an inline brake, not a turbo mounted brake. I believe BD, Pac and US Gear all sell inline brakes.



We use the US Gear units at our shop, but a brake is a brake. Just make sure you get it for the right size exhaust (ie, if you are going to upgrade the system at some point, do it and get the larger brake from the get go).

 

[yogibear]

I started with a Pac Brake on my 00, then SlowKurt installed a BD when he put the B1 on it. Now have a Jacobs on my 03, they all work real good, you get used to the 1. 5 sec. delay, don't even notice it anymore. Got the Jacobs from dlr. for 299. 00 + 50. 00 install. I agree with Ken, if you plan on going with larger turbo, go inline right away, saves a lot of time, money and problems.



Larry

 

[smartineau]

I went with a Pac, and am very happy. I'm sure that if you had a Jacobs brand you would also be happy.



I liked the price difference, as was mentioned buy guages with the savings. Also with the compressed air, I now have air horns, and a way to top off a trailer or truck tire so that I can get to town. Or at least a safe place to change a tire.



steve

 

[PJereb]

Well I think I have ruled out the Jake unit, solely because it has the delay. Since I will be driving my pickup in commute stop and go traffic, I want to have an exhaust brake that instantly starts retarding when I let off of the accelerator pedal. That delay also sounds like it would be less than ideal when downshifting at lower speeds around town.



I don’t get it, what the hell is the point of the delay? It has been said that is to prevent the brake from coming on during a shift.



When you are up-shifting the brake would probably be off, so it would not cause any problems, but even when you had it on, it would not activate unless you let the throttle all the way off during the shift.



When you are down-shifting, you are revving the engine to match the speed in the next gear down, so the brake would never be activated during a downshift.



It just does not make any sense, why have the delay? A second and a half is a long time when you are rolling up to something/somebody you would rather not hit.

 

[yogibear]

Are you sure the Pac Brake don't have the delay?? I thought I remember reading that it did. My memory is not very good tho. Thats why I don't claim to know it all, I might, but can't remember!!



Larry

 

[JRensel]

I have heard Pac Brake has a delay too, not sure how long. I have no first hand knowledge of it however, and I certainly would defer to any other member who could tell us.



Why the delay is a good question. Do in line mounts have a delay too, just from being further down the line?



In line mounts are better if you are gonna alter your manifold or turbo, and some shops here push them. I have no intention of doing so, and the simplicity of putting a turbo mount (BD) in is attractive to me. BD says there is no performance difference between in line and turbo mount and the shops I spoke with just said it made sense that the flows were more laminar in the in line. But who knows. Also putting in an inline means you are cutting into the stock exhaust and it is aluminized steel, therefore opening a rust and corrosion point. When you add the problem of having to weld one end, I just went with the turbo mount.



Jack

 

[Dean Upson]

My 98. 5 had a Jacobs brake and a delay also and I have never found that to be a problem.



Dean

 

[Driver72]

The delay can be eliminated. On my "96 CTD, the Cummins installed e brake was giving me problems. The Cummins/Jacobs supplied relays would crap out about every 3 months or so. In the middle of nowhere Idaho, the relay went bad again. A mechanic, from the mine I was delivering to, gave me a Bosch 5 pole relay to try. It worked great. The delay was gone and the relay is still in the truck. I sold this truck to a brother and he swears it is the best optional item for a diesel. I agree. I believe the relay supplied with the Jacobs e brake must have a designed in delay.



I far as a specific brand; I don't like the vacuum pump add on. The air comp makes more sense, especially because I plan to add Firestone or K-man air suspension.

 

[MPalachuk]

We install Pac brakes and we are a dealer . The Pac brake does have a delay, the delay is biult into the computer. But they offer a kit that uses a throttle switch instead of the computer. This takes the delay out, But you loose the auto warm up kick out at 170 degrees. So you turn the switch on to warm up and off when you want it off. They are designed 28% bigger on the inside to make up for the shaft and butterfly in the hole. Instalation tekes a few hours, and they go on to the turbo so no exhaust modifications, Nice if you have a big exhaust on.

 

[PJereb]

Well I found the reason for the delay on the pacbrake website.



So there is a real reason for the delay.





"ECM By-pass



The engines ECM has a built in delay for exhaust brake application. This delay is required to allow the fuel rail to clear before activating the exhaust brake. This mechanical kit was developed to reduce the delay and speed up the application time of the exhaust brake. The Pacbrake compressor used in this kit has a delay in activating the exhaust brake, which is suffi cient in allowing the fuel rail to clear. Pacbrake also offers an optional air tank kit (C11941) to speed up the application of the exhaust brake should you prefer this option. Under no circumstances should both systems (ECM By-pass and Air Tank) be installed, engine damage will result. "

 

[jeffsmith]

Had a BD on my 97 12 valve Automatic. It wasn't adjusted right. it would kill the engine when at idle. I have a Jacobs on my 03 and it seems to function very well.



Matt... ... ... ... . You decide.