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Banks Speedbrake on a Duramax

MARKW8
Explorer
Explorer
Anyone here using one? Any problems? How do you like it?

Thanks, Mark.
28 REPLIES 28

gery_L
Explorer
Explorer
I just returned on a round trip from Arizona to Oregon up thru the 395 AZ/CALIF/Nevada boarder and back thru Tahoe. There are multiple major grades 8000'+ and many 4,6 and 8 mile 6%+ grades.
This was my first trip after installing the Banks speed brake and IQ on my '06 Duramax 3500 pulling my 40' loaded 16k lb toybox.
What a difference. Used the manual mode set on High with brake applications in order to assist in quick hard braking when/if needed (and was needed, especially thru Reno and Sacramento... Some crazy driving going on there....). And switched to auto set between 50 and 55 mph at the top of any grade.
Last year on same trip, I hurt the brakes due to demand. This year, almost didn't need them coming down the grades. This system worked flawlessly, and maintained the desired speed manually shifting between gears as needed.
As stated before, the only regret I have, is waiting to now to install it.
2008 '40' Dutchman Victory Lane 5th wheel Toybox
2006 Chevy Silverado 3500 Duramax Diesel 4x4 Dually

DUO_CORE
Explorer
Explorer
Duramax Tuning

Really good tuner.
2006 Silverado Duramax/Allison CC DRW 4x4 175,000 mi.
EFI Live
DSP5
TransGo Jr.
B-100 made in a Bio-Pro 190
2006 Day Dreamer 5th Wheel

larry_barnhart
Explorer
Explorer
I guess we are lucky with our grade braking towing a 22920lb combined load because it works great for us but the higher loads the newer truck can handle ours would need some help.

chevman
chevman
2019 rockwood 34 ft fifth wheel sold
2005 3500 2wd duramax CC dually
prodigy



KSH 55 inbed fuel tank

scanguage II
TD-EOC
Induction Overhaul Kit
TST tire monitors
FMCA # F479110

hoopers
Explorer
Explorer
I had the speedbrake on an 09 duramax. Worked great. Did have some trouble with faulty cabling, but other than that, it worked great...probably better than my stock, 2011 chevy EB.
2014 Winnebego Vista 30T
2017 Ford Expedition
Texas gulf coast, Colorado, or on the road camping somewhere

MARKW8
Explorer
Explorer
Lenny K wrote:
MARKW8 wrote:
Thanks for the replys. Went to Summit Racing this evening and ordered it. $608.00 plus tax. Just got the speedbrake with no extras.

Mark


Mark, I tow in the medium setting and found that when going down a real steep incline I can force a downshift by quickly turning it to the high setting and back with no use of the brakes. The brake is very aggressive in the high setting.


Thanks.

Mark

Lenny_K
Explorer
Explorer
MARKW8 wrote:
Thanks for the replys. Went to Summit Racing this evening and ordered it. $608.00 plus tax. Just got the speedbrake with no extras.

Mark


Mark, I tow in the medium setting and found that when going down a real steep incline I can force a downshift by quickly turning it to the high setting and back with no use of the brakes. The brake is very aggressive in the high setting.
Lenny and Ros
2009 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 LTZ Duramax 4x4 CC Dually, Banks Speed Brake
2012 Montana 3400 RL 680 Watts Solar, 440 Amps of Batteries, GP-ISW2000-12 Inverter, Trimetric 2020, EMSHW50C, Sailun Tires

DustyR
Explorer
Explorer
I went with EFI live with 5 modes. I included two haul modes, light and heavy both with turbo brake. The only time the turbo brake is energized is when "Tow/Haul" is selected and the engine is over 2000 RPM and braking heavily. Does it make a difference when needed? I can definitely say YES!
2016 Open Range 319RLS
Tow Vehicle: 2008 Silverado 2500 HD
Duramax, Allison Transmission.

MARKW8
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks for the replys. Went to Summit Racing this evening and ordered it. $608.00 plus tax. Just got the speedbrake with no extras.

Mark

glazier
Explorer II
Explorer II
I had one on my 08 it worked great holding speed while towing down hill. I had the switch on mine with the 3 settings, along with the foot brake activation. I ran it in Medium setting while towing my 10K plus Jayco, never a problem it always made me feel confident and under control. The Onstar will not give diagnostic reports with the Speedbrake installed, I didn't care about that. I think it is a very good product, I highly recommend it.
2017 Grand Design Momentum 328M
2015 Chevy 2500HD LTZ Duramax CC/SB/4X4
B&W Companion Slider

msjdbman
Explorer
Explorer
MARKW8 wrote:
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


When I bought mine, the BD unit was about that same amount less than the Banks. Must be Banks got a little more aggressive with pricing. Check Thoroughbred Diesel and a few others....perhaps the BD unit has come down in price too. I'd almost bet the BD unit is cheaper now than when I got mine...that's the way it usually goes:S
2008 Duramax/Allison LT2 Crew cab Standard Box. Hellwig Air Assist. BD Diesel VVT Turbo Brake. 2003 Coachmen Chaparral 295 IKS

hook47
Explorer
Explorer
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.
2008 Chevy 3500HD LTZ 4X4 CC / Banks IQ with Speedbrake & Economind tuner /2013 38RESB3...I know, the TV color doesn't match the MS!

Devocamper
Explorer
Explorer
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.
08 NU-WA Hitchhiker Discover America 339 RSB Sold
18 Host Mammoth
07 Chevy 3500HD LT1 EXT Cab LB DRW D/A Sold
18 Ram 3500 SLT Crew Cab DRW 4x2 6.4 4.10's

MARKW8
Explorer
Explorer
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

MARKW8
Explorer
Explorer
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.