Which Exhaust Brake to Buy?

[forr]

Please help! I'm looking for advice on an exhaust brake setup for my '01 3500 H. O. w/ 6 spd. Anyone out there install one yet? I'm looking for any info. on installation nightmares etc. as well as product performance superiority (if there is any). I haul a 24' trailer and as much as 18k.

 

[Archive]

forr... I think they are all good... and this board has strong supporters of each brand.



I have the E Brake by Jacobs(Cummins brake), and I love it. Towing like you do, it will be very nice. I use mine all the time, towing or not.



I have seen the pacbrake for about 550, e brake for 550, and not sure about BD or US Gear. The last time I researched them, I believe the BD had the best braking.



Any way you go, I would recommend the shifter switch from BD or a similar switch. I installed one and wonder why it took me so long to do it!

 

[Barry]

Not all products that vendors offer are good. The BD brake is exceptional. I would not hesitate to buy another. Mi dos pesos.

 

[dmurdock]

pacbrake

i installed the pacbrake... like everyone says, once you use it you won't tow without it. install was pretty straightforward, hardest part for me was getting the little plastic plug out of the ecm harness so i could plug in the wire from the pacbrake (i have the one which is activated by the ecm vs the one which is activated by a switch on the accelerator... )

 

[QRTRHRS]

forr,



Installation is pretty easy. You might need a little heat on the elbow clamp or downpipe bolts. Mapp gas will do if you don't have a real torch. About the only recommended maintenance is to use the brake on occasion to limit carbon buildup which would cause sticking. I also use mine constantly so no carbon problem with mine. My BD has 24k trouble free miles and a lot of use. The BD shifter switch gives good service but does rattle. Search the archives for cures of that.



Beware of locking up your rear wheels using the brake on a slippery road. Mostly that is a winter problem. Find a safe place to check that out once you get the brake on.

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

I had a BD Exhaust Brake installed in May along with the 60lb exhaust springs. I have now towed twice with it and as has been said on this Forum I wouldn't be without it. My last tow was without trailer brakes and it was nice to have the exhaust brake. BTW last Mon. 7/23 I used it extensively without the trailer coming down off Mt. Hood in both directions.

Happy Trails

 

[Archive]

Originally posted by Barry

Not all products that vendors offer are good. The BD brake is exceptional. I would not hesitate to buy another. Mi dos pesos.

I would not hesitate to buy another E brake from Cummins. If you have had a bad experience with a different brand, please elaborate.

 

[Bob Cochran]

I installed the Jacobs exhaust brake. While I had a little problem with the threads in the casting not being threaded all the way through the exhaust brake. Nobody's perfect and I don't know of anyone else having the problem other than me. Instructions were excelent and everything else fit and worked as advertised and not hard at all. Would not hesitate to install another one on any truck I have. I use all the time and love it specially for towing. When not towing helps extend OEM service brake fron disk pads. Sure the others are good too!!!!

 

[bombero]

I installed and love my Jacobs Brake. I think I paid $550 from Mopar 4 Less.

 

[TomGolden]

Any that will work with HX40 & 4" Jardine?

Someday I'd like to have some tyoe of E brake on my truck, but have always heard there are none that can work with an HX40 and/or 4" exhaust. Just wondering if this is still true or not?



Thanks,

Tom