sticking exhaust brake

[THess]

Hey everybody. I have a slight problem with my pacbrake. In the cold weather it doesn't come on right away even though the power is turned on and the throttle switch is on. This is bad because one of the best things that the exhaust brake is good for is warming up my truck in cold weather faster. Recently the only thing wrong hasn't just been that its hard to get the brake to come on, but sometimes when it does come on it stays on no matter what. Even when I turn off the power to it. This makes the truck super weak, and EGTs of course get high. All of that exhaust pressue trying to come through that little hole sure does a nice job of warming it up though. :-laf I just keep my eye on the pyro and try to just idle around until it unsticks itself, usually within a mile or so. I understood the system was supposed to be free from maintenence, is there something I'm missing.

 

[NoSeeUm]

Mine was getting that way. I sprayed pentrating oil on all the moving components and the actuator shaft. Works again like day one.



Jim

 

[Mad Bomber]

From what I understand it's a good idea to use it ALL the time so no carbon can build up. BTW that's also why I'm 100K + with oe brakes

 

[CDonaldson]

PacBrake has their own lube, you can get it from them. While penetrating oil is good for loosening it up, shouldn't you actually lubricate it after getting it loose?



CD

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

I have the same problem. I searched for solutions on here..... took the brake out and used pacbrake's lube inside and out..... still having problems. I think it's time for a new cylinder. 150$ from pacbrake. still cheaper than a new brake. (mine was an e-bay buy)





Try shutting the truck off momentarily when it sticks on. Thats what i have to do and it works everytime.

 

[dan.poitras]

Try injecting some air brake alcohol in . the air system. Mine does this occasionaly when below freezing and this has always worked for me.

 

[THess]

Thanks for the tips. I use mine almost all the time too. It really does save the service brakes.

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

Try injecting some air brake alcohol in . the air system. Mine does this occasionaly when below freezing and this has always worked for me.

Where would I get that stuff, and inject it where?

 

[tom sweeney]

i replaced the cylinder on my Pacbrake for that very same reason... . it would not engage until the engine compartment warmed up enough..... changing it cured the problem for a time,however,by the time i traded it in,it had returned to the same old practice of "sticking"... . which is usually attributed to a bad/cracked cylinder... . i did use the Pacbrake lube to no avail... . so your BEST shot of solving it straight away is to change out the cylinder IMHO.

best of luck to you... ... ... ... ... tom

 

[dan.poitras]

Where would I get that stuff, and inject it where?

Up here in the north you can get it at any heavy truck dealer or truck stop.

You spray a small amount into the air compressor's intake while it it running.

Not too much mind you.

 

[GSchroeder]

Your cylinder piston seals are worn out and bypassing the vaccum. You will need a new cylinder. This common after 100,000 miles or so. About $125.

Gordon

 

[dan.poitras]

Your cylinder piston seals are worn out and bypassing the vaccum. You will need a new cylinder. This common after 100,000 miles or so. About $125.

Gordon

The pacbrake cylinder in question works with air pressure. At least it does with my 03

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

Your cylinder piston seals are worn out and bypassing the vaccum. You will need a new cylinder. This common after 100,000 miles or so. About $125.

Gordon

$125? where was that price quoted from? pacbrake told me 154$