Exhaust Break

Cummins12V98 wrote:

up2nogood wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

mike24 wrote:
I had a 2008 GMC Dually and put a B&D electronic variable vein brake on. It was the best thing I did to that truck. Going down 8 - 10 % grades if I would set the speed at 25 mph it would not go past 27 mph. I traded it in on a 2015 dually chevy, and the exhaust break is piece of junk inless I do not know how to work it because it always goes 7-8 mph faster than I want I hate it.

Try manually selecting the same gear you came up on a similar grade. Example I select 4th set cruise 55-60 on 6% grades and it holds most really well. At times it will hit a steeper section and speed up a bit so I will touch the brakes for a couple seconds to return to desired speed and then set cruise again. This method really works great.

I have 4:10's and a combined weight of 32K+.

We agree :B

WOO HOO :B

:B :B

up2nogood wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

mike24 wrote:
I had a 2008 GMC Dually and put a B&D electronic variable vein brake on. It was the best thing I did to that truck. Going down 8 - 10 % grades if I would set the speed at 25 mph it would not go past 27 mph. I traded it in on a 2015 dually chevy, and the exhaust break is piece of junk inless I do not know how to work it because it always goes 7-8 mph faster than I want I hate it.

Try manually selecting the same gear you came up on a similar grade. Example I select 4th set cruise 55-60 on 6% grades and it holds most really well. At times it will hit a steeper section and speed up a bit so I will touch the brakes for a couple seconds to return to desired speed and then set cruise again. This method really works great.

I have 4:10's and a combined weight of 32K+.

We agree :B

WOO HOO :B

My truck's Downhill braking assist works fantastic at holding my setup back. Make it a 15000lb load and I'm sure I might feel different about it. I wonder how the 15+ setup compares to mine?

Cummins12V98 wrote:

mike24 wrote:
I had a 2008 GMC Dually and put a B&D electronic variable vein brake on. It was the best thing I did to that truck. Going down 8 - 10 % grades if I would set the speed at 25 mph it would not go past 27 mph. I traded it in on a 2015 dually chevy, and the exhaust break is piece of junk inless I do not know how to work it because it always goes 7-8 mph faster than I want I hate it.

Try manually selecting the same gear you came up on a similar grade. Example I select 4th set cruise 55-60 on 6% grades and it holds most really well. At times it will hit a steeper section and speed up a bit so I will touch the brakes for a couple seconds to return to desired speed and then set cruise again. This method really works great.

I have 4:10's and a combined weight of 32K+.

We agree :B

mike24 wrote:
I had a 2008 GMC Dually and put a B&D electronic variable vein brake on. It was the best thing I did to that truck. Going down 8 - 10 % grades if I would set the speed at 25 mph it would not go past 27 mph. I traded it in on a 2015 dually chevy, and the exhaust break is piece of junk inless I do not know how to work it because it always goes 7-8 mph faster than I want I hate it.

Try manually selecting the same gear you came up on a similar grade. Example I select 4th set cruise 55-60 on 6% grades and it holds most really well. At times it will hit a steeper section and speed up a bit so I will touch the brakes for a couple seconds to return to desired speed and then set cruise again. This method really works great.

I have 4:10's and a combined weight of 32K+.

the bear II wrote:
I have a 2007 with Duramax engine and Allison transmission with exhaust brake.

After the first trip towing our 5th wheel with this truck I will never buy another tow vehicle without an exhaust brake. Here's the reason why:

North of Los Angeles on I-5 there is a grade known as the Grapevine. It's 6% to 8% and about 6 miles long when headed north downhill. With my old non-exhaust brake truck I would have to be in first gear and use the brakes no less than 15 times to keep from going too fast and over revving the engine. In second gear I would lose the brakes by the time I hit the bottom of the hill.

With the exhaust brake engaged, the new truck holds our 15,000 lb 5th wheel at 55MPH all the way down the hill. I never have to hit the brakes.

The exhaust brake makes for a very rewarding downhill experience.

X2!

I had a 2008 GMC Dually and put a B&D electronic variable vein brake on. It was the best thing I did to that truck. Going down 8 - 10 % grades if I would set the speed at 25 mph it would not go past 27 mph. I traded it in on a 2015 dually chevy, and the exhaust break is piece of junk inless I do not know how to work it because it always goes 7-8 mph faster than I want I hate it.

My 6.0 PSD had the VGT braking when tow haul mode was selected on the 5R110 transmission. There was no was no other way to enable the EB other than being in TH. I wanted the ZF6 and was talked out of it with this being a big improvement. Until that time I always preferred manuals, but I was never disappointed in my 5R110. Most the 115k miles were loaded 17-19k lbs GCW with either a bumper pull toy hauler in tow or carrying a truck camper while towing an enclosed trailer. Both combination resulted in the same GCW and overall length (just by accident, not intentional).

I frequently cross the Siskiyous, Snoqualmie and Stevens Passes and never had issues up or down. The same truck had made three round trips from the Pacific coast to the Mississippi river crossing the Continental Divide at Homestake Pass and Sherman Summit with no drama or difficulty.

My new 6.7 CTD with the Aisin also has no trouble even though I am now 3000 lbs heavier. I'm sure the 4.44 gearing verses my old 3.73 helps as well.

It looks like all the brands have increased the effectiveness of their exhaust braking in the last few years as GCWR's have increased.

Little Blue wrote:
We have a 2008 chev ext cab diesel dully. Any one have a similar truck with an installed exhaust break?

Thanks

GM has never used a conventional exhaust brake on their diesels.
The Dmax/A VVT (variable vane turbo system) grade braking was very weak up till the '11 models came out with much improved VVT braking programs.

As LennyK says the Banks speed brake is all you need. Its a simple plug in software that increases VVT angle and hold it closed for more aggressive exhaust braking......just like GM has done with the newer '11 and up Dmax/A.
Check out the Banks speed brake software program.

I'm not up on GM computer programming but some GM owners has mentioned a GM dealer can flash certain year model computers on the Dmax/A for more aggressive VVT exhaust braking.

Bedlam wrote:
Both of my last two trucks ('05 Ford and '15 Ram) used VGT as their exhaust brakes. Both have had no trouble keeping speed in check on descents with TH and EB activated. If the GM of that era uses a fixed vane turbo, you will love the control you gain from a Banks, PacBrake or BD.

Your Ford had good exhaust brake capabilities? My 2003 was a 6 speed manual which maybe is the difference but it had NO downhill exhaust brake capabilities at all. It was not even in the same ball park as my Ram, and we are towing 4k lbs more weight with the Ram. Just curious.