Banks Speedbrake on a Duramax

To add to what I have already said, I found that the only use I have for the SpeedBrake is for towing in hilly terrain. I use it in auto and with the brake pedal feature disabled. This way it is only energized when I remove pressure from the accelerator and am over my set speed. Once the speed decrease below the set speed it disengages until the speed goes over the set speed. I found that it was too "busy" when used in any other mode, and there is a lot of ways to set it up. When traveling on the flat the truck's brakes and the MS's disc brakes will slow you down just fine.

I have the banks speed brake on my 07 duramax LMM and have been pleased with it, it is too aggressive at any setting without the trailer but with the load of the trailer it works great. I use the auto setting most of the time. The only problem I had was after the installation the connector on the Allison transmission started leaking and had to be replaced , not a big deal but I think it was due to plugging and unplugging the harness during the install.The Speed brake holds speed during long downhill grades like advertised. I have the IQ interface. Do not get the GPS card that did not work well at all, I sent it back for a refund.

msjdbman wrote:
Another alternative is the BD Diesel VVT turbo brake. It is a pretty easy plug and play set up. I've had mine for almost a year and love the thing. I will admit, I don't have alot of miles on it, but what little I have used it I've been extremely pleased.

Thanks, I just heard of this a couple of days ago. It sounds good but is $80 or so more than Banks.

Mark

hook47 wrote:
I have used the Banks SpeedBrake for the last 4 years and tow above the OP's weight by a good bit. It has performed flawlessly and I wouldn't want to tow without it. It is a module mounted in the engine compartment and intercepts the OEM computer's signal and modifies it. It will not over rev the engine, no more so than the stock grade braking feature will over rev the engine; stock it will go to 4800 rpm in grade braking mode. With or with out the Banks the computer won't let you downshift if the result would be to over rev the engine. I have tried to downshift and it wouldn't do it until my speed was slow enough to not over rev then it would downshift.
I would also recommend the IQ monitor and a thermocouple to monitor EGT's.
I have found that setting the SpeedBrake in Auto mode where through the IQ I can adjust the target speed up or down by either 1 mph or 5 mph at a time works best for me. When I exceed the set speed and ease up on the accelerator the SpeedBrake takes over and starts to adjust the VVT and engage the grade braking feature. It will adjust these 2 parameters to maintain speed; usually never reaching the same high rpms that just the grade braking would get to.
I tow at a touch over 27K GCW and going down a 6-7% grade I can keep a constant speed for as many miles as needed and if necessary lower the set speed through the IQ and it will slowly reduce speed.
It is simple to install and is worth the money. Best bought through Banks; warranty questions and help goes through the reseller first but if bought through Banks they deal with warranty issues directly. Costs when I was buying wasn't better through resellers.

Thanks, (also to Lenny K) this is info I was looking for. I'm not at all interested in a tune.

Mark.

Another alternative is the BD Diesel VVT turbo brake. It is a pretty easy plug and play set up. I've had mine for almost a year and love the thing. I will admit, I don't have alot of miles on it, but what little I have used it I've been extremely pleased.

JIMNLIN wrote:

gmcsmoke wrote:
stay away killerbee. he's the biggest hack and scam artist out there.

Lots of GM owners disagree.
I've seen these type posts about Banks and other aftermarket products/tune programs also.
I was told the same thing in '03 when I asked about the new Edge box on the TDR website for the new HPCR Cummins HO. 11 years and 240k miles later this box has had zero issues for my Cummins. I'm sure others disagree.

perhaps you ought to do a search on duramaxforum or the diesel place and let me know how many disagree with you.

I bought and installed the speed brake, minus the IQ, this winter and I'm really impressed. As posted by hook47, going down 6-7% is effortless. No requirement to be stabbing at your brakes to get the Tow Haul to downshift to those high RPM's. Should have done this years ago.

I have used the Banks SpeedBrake for the last 4 years and tow above the OP's weight by a good bit. It has performed flawlessly and I wouldn't want to tow without it. It is a module mounted in the engine compartment and intercepts the OEM computer's signal and modifies it. It will not over rev the engine, no more so than the stock grade braking feature will over rev the engine; stock it will go to 4800 rpm in grade braking mode. With or with out the Banks the computer won't let you downshift if the result would be to over rev the engine. I have tried to downshift and it wouldn't do it until my speed was slow enough to not over rev then it would downshift.
I would also recommend the IQ monitor and a thermocouple to monitor EGT's.
I have found that setting the SpeedBrake in Auto mode where through the IQ I can adjust the target speed up or down by either 1 mph or 5 mph at a time works best for me. When I exceed the set speed and ease up on the accelerator the SpeedBrake takes over and starts to adjust the VVT and engage the grade braking feature. It will adjust these 2 parameters to maintain speed; usually never reaching the same high rpms that just the grade braking would get to.
I tow at a touch over 27K GCW and going down a 6-7% grade I can keep a constant speed for as many miles as needed and if necessary lower the set speed through the IQ and it will slowly reduce speed.
It is simple to install and is worth the money. Best bought through Banks; warranty questions and help goes through the reseller first but if bought through Banks they deal with warranty issues directly. Costs when I was buying wasn't better through resellers.

I have a turbo brake on my 06 Duramax from DuramaxTuner.com. You can have them program one for your truck for $300. I absolutely love mine. You can go on Youtube and watch Nick from Duramaxtuner give a demonstration. Search "duramaxtuner turbo brake". ATPtrucks.com is another good place to look. Give these guys a call. The really do know their stuff when it comes to Duramax;)

gmcsmoke wrote:
stay away killerbee. he's the biggest hack and scam artist out there.

Lots of GM owners disagree.
I've seen these type posts about Banks and other aftermarket products/tune programs also.
I was told the same thing in '03 when I asked about the new Edge box on the TDR website for the new HPCR Cummins HO. 11 years and 240k miles later this box has had zero issues for my Cummins. I'm sure others disagree.