Exhaust brakes

seattlefirervr wrote:
This shouldn't be a debate, if your diesel truck does not have an OEM exhaust brake, then seriously consider installing one. You will save on your personal stress and brakes all the way around.

My truck is not new enough to have one so I will save my money. Changing pads on my brakes is no big deal every 90-100K. JMHO.

This shouldn't be a debate, if your diesel truck does not have an OEM exhaust brake, then seriously consider installing one. You will save on your personal stress and brakes all the way around.

For folks with experience using a 7.3 exhaust brake, brakes for this engine must use very low backpressure to keep the lifter seated. This low pressure means low braking power, and isn't a good example of modern exhaust brakes.

http://www.jacobsvehiclesystems.com/faqs/view/3/

All the newer diesels have them.
I waited several years to get one for mine. What a mistake! I should have put one on the first week. I tow over the passes here a lot and it's the best mod I have ever done.

5.9 Cummins and wouldn't be without my Pacbrake.

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

All new pickups with diesel engines have exhaust brakes on them.
I will be odd man out on this and that's fine. My 93 and 06 do not have EB's and I don't miss them at all. (yes I have driven trucks that have them)
Been to Co many, many times and my brakes never even got warm on my 06. Came down Steamboat this year and I hit my brakes only a few times coming down from 11,000 feet.
Even my 93 engine brakes just fine.
I'm only at 16 gross and I know that's not much compared to some that tow their house on wheels. Maybe that's the difference between me and people that "have to have" and EB

I guess I am odd man out X2. Had an exhaust brake(Decelerator) on my '99 Ford and it worked okay. But I had to repair something on it often. Or it would stick closed at the bottom of a hill and I'd have to pull over and let it cool off. When I traded for my '06 I let the brake go with the truck and have done just fine with this truck. The turbo acts like an exhaust brake and keeps my speed under control, even pulling doubles and grossing 22000lbs thru our Colorado mountains. After 8 years the brake pads are original and still around 70%. Same with our 5th wheel-8 years old with original brakes.
I let the transmission do it's job and only touch the brakes when speed gets too high for the road. They never get hot. And I have traveled over most of our passes, even Red Mountain. JMO

ah64id wrote:

ChuckV1 wrote:
I have a 2005 F350 with a 6.9 International diesel which hss a EB.

Which engine?

I think he meant 6.doh. You know, the "9" and the "doh" keys are right next to each other. :B

:):)

I have a 2007 Dodge with 5.9L CTD........first trip across USA from CA to FL truck was stock (no EB).
While in FL had an EB installed...US GEAR D-Celerator EB. Simple design: 4" butterfly valve that is opened/closed electrically via an automotive solenoid.
Has a 2" bypass butterfly to control backpressure. Push button on dash activates it.....left off on go pedal and it closes.
Truck/5vr weigh 22,000#-----EB holds combo at 45 mph on 6% downgrade.

Sure makes for a relaxing tow in mtns. and saves on brakes.

Some folks have had problems with bushing binding on butterfly shaft but I've had no issues in 6 yrs.

I sure like mine all though I guess it is a turbo brake or something. It sure works good. Just camp back from a trip with lots of ups and downs and even with just my TC on it was very nice. Up to 8 percent grades the tow haul, cruise control and exhaust brakes did all the work.

I have on my 2005 5.9 and wouldn't be without it, it's a brakesaver and makes driving much safer. I also like how it works with cruise control for speed control up and down hills.

Turtle n Peeps wrote:


I will be odd man out on this and that's fine. My 93 and 06 do not have EB's and I don't miss them at all. (yes I have driven trucks that have them)

Been to Co many, many times and my brakes never even got warm on my 06. Came down Steamboat this year and I hit my brakes only a few times coming down from 11,000 feet.

Even my 93 engine brakes just fine.

I'm only at 16 gross and I know that's not much compared to some that tow their house on wheels. Maybe that's the difference between me and people that "have to have" and EB

Very odd man out. I gross between 16-20K and wouldn't be without one. A diesel engine, especially any 5.9 Cummins, will not engine brake enough to do any real good. The intake is wide open and the energy released from the 17.2:1 compression at TDC is the same or greater than the energy required to compress it.. which means you don't get any braking effect.

Where and for how long did you use one?

It's not that the EB is any stronger than the service brakes, it just provides a better form of speed control on descents. I have driven steep windy mountain roads and not used it and it's not as comfortable of a tow.

I have also done trips with folks that don't have them, gas and diesel alike, and they don't every maintain a constant speed down a grade and are always on the brakes.

The 2006 Dodge towing guide recommends a EB for towing over 10K lbs as well.

ChuckV1 wrote:
I have a 2005 F350 with a 6.9 International diesel which
hss a EB.

Which engine?