Who has the best deal on e-brakes?

[SLittle]

maddog RAM'er



These exhaust brakes do not make any external noise other than a slight hiss out the exhaust pipe, sorry, however inside the cab there is a nice sounding rumble when the brake activates that does sound like the big rigs, just much more quiet.



Since I installed mine I never have brake dust on the front wheels anymore when I wash the truck so I am assuming the brake pads will last longer.



Scott

 

[SlyBones]

maddog,



I would call Bill Kondolay at DTT and chat with him. I dont know what the wear and tear rate of a TC is by using an exhaust brake. what you are deciding is whether its better to replace brakes twice a year or a transmission every X years.



You could consider getting just a DTT smartcontroller. This will not give you the braking effect an ebrake will, but will hold the TC locked up when decelerating and give you the engine braking the manual guys have w/o a brake.



I hear the BD brakes are adjustable for the amount of back pressure. I dont know by how much. Maybe it can be set fairly low. Give some better braking w/o being too hard on stuff.



Here is a idea for BD. PacBrake, etc. Make this driver adjustable from in the cab. Have a low and high setting that can be selected with a toggle switch. Then us automatic guys can select from the towing mode and the non-towing mode.

 

[MrFixit]

As for the Banks unit and more Power, I spoke to a rep. yesterday and he said the gain in HP is only for the powerstrokes, not the cummins. Banks ebrake is $950 and they want $750 for their 4" system elbow to tip

Was hoping someone would try the banks brake because I am curious how it works. I don't want to be the guinea pig on this one.

 

[Bob Wagner]

Bill K sez

Brake pads are cheaper than transmission repairs



Keep using the service brakes

 

[scliny65]

Thanks again guys!



I am kinda bummed that it won't be loud like the big guys , but some is better than none!



I like the dual setting idea Sly. From I have learned reading the posts here, that sounds like a really good way to save the TC's

life for a little while longer.



Next up on the bomb list is the leveling kit, trackbar setup,

shocks (BTW: I will be asking a poll question later today about shocks, so stay tuned. ) , and a wheel and tire upgrade.



Got to admit, that truck just looks too silly with the stock rubber on it.



Once again, thanks all!

At least this way the "bombitis" disease can be pointed in the right direction.

 

[SlyBones]

Maddog,



If you want loud then you need to go straight piped. You and the neighbors will have all you want. -- next is a 4" exhaust system turbo to tail, with maybe a 5" tip. Not quite as loud, and very cool sounding. -- cheapest method is a 3" in/out Walker muffler and about a 4' piece of 3" pipe to replace the cat. Not as cool sounding as the 4", but much better than stock, and fairly inexpensive. -- In any case removing the Kat and getting a flow thru muffler will give a nice sound increase you are after and help lower EGT's.

 

[scliny65]

Sly,

I am considering a 4" exhaust from turbo to tail.

But I do not want to lose the cat.

Also, I don't want to be totally obnoxious with the noise levels

(although I have heard you can hear the turbo spin down when

straight-piped )

Just want a deeper, more pwerful sound. (yeah, like the CTD needs to sound even more powerful than it does now!)

Also, I don't want to attract too much attention from the local law enforcement



I was thinking of getting a high flow cat and a Gibson system from there on back.

Of course there WILL be a 5" stainless tip.

I have yet to add a full set of gages (EGT, Boost, etc etc... )

But I consider these "essentials" and not "bomb" parts.



I have all winter to plan this out, and the real fun will commence in the spring. Yippeee !



Thanks to all for their ideas, experiences, and suggestions.

I am a relative newbie to the CTD world, but thanks to all the

great people here, especially the founders, I am really enjoying

learning about this outstanding vehicle.



PS: You can keep your Duramax's.

I don't care if it is more powerful.

The CTD is the greatest thing since the invention of fire!

 

[SlyBones]

Not that I want to talk you into keeping the cat, but I found thats where the sound came from. When I got my truck the stock muffler had broken baffles. Rattled like crazy. -- Never heard of the TDR and did not have a clue -- So local shop ( BD fans ) installed at 4" BD catback exhaust. Drove it that way for the last year. Not much louder that stock, not much deeper tone, etc. Just did not have that sound I heard from the others trucks. So I got a DC test pipe and swapped it in there ( thanks Scott, Rob and Cliff ). Now it sounds much better, still not too loud, make a big difference in EGT's too.



Anyways I find this is not at all like my '96 1500 with the 5. 9 and a flowmaster catback. My gasser was noisy all the time. The nice thing about the diesels is they seem to be only as loud as the right foot lets it. Drive nice and easy out of your neighborhood and they will all tell you how great your truck sounds.

 

[CharlieMiller]

exhaust brake and exhaust size?

Seems to me I remember something about exhaust size and exhaust brakes. I guess what I'm asking is do any brakes work better or not all with a larger 4" exhaust? I would like to eventually go to a larger exhaust (turbo back) and wonder if that will have any bearing on which exhaust brake to use or not use?

 

[scliny65]

Sly,



That doesn't sound too bad. How loud is it when idling?

The other reason I was considering keeping the cat was just due to legality. But i guess getting the test pipe and just swapping back and forth for inspections would work okay.



Thanks again!

 

[Okie-Go]

I talked to the parts guy here in town and the dodge brake is 675. 00 Of course that is not installed.

 

[Bill H]

For the Jacobs/Dodge call Mechanicsville Dodge in Viginia 800-559-6698. $540 plus $9. 95 shipping. Easy install, hardest part was getting to the ECM.

Also used the shifter switch from Piers. Both work great.



CharlieMiller,

As long as you haven't changed to the HX-40, I think any turbo mount e-brake will work. I have the Jardine 4" exhaust from turbo back and the Jacobs brake mounted perfectly.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.



Bill

 

[DragsterRob]

Packbrake

I am curious about the price of the pacbrake, I am about to buy an exhaust brake in the near future, and was wondering about the pacbrake. I am looking at the one from Mopar or Pacbrake.

 

[Paul]

I have around 60,000 miles on my PacBrake. It works OK, BUT I have changed the cylinder twice and the micro switch once. The switch doesen't bother me but the 2 cylinders ??????

 

[tntway]

best price on pacbrake....

that i've seen is www.massdiesel.com



not affiliated in any way.....