Exhaust Brake Question

[MnTom]

My "new to me" truck is a 2005 Ram 3500 auto and it has a Banks exhaust brake and a CBC Smartlock on it. It is vacuum operated, but doesn't work. There is vacuum to the actuator when needed, but it appears the diaphragm leaks. A new actuator from Banks is $137.76 (part #55062). Anybody replace one? Just wondering if anyone has any experience with the Banks brake.

 

[Mopar1973Man]

I've seen the PacBrake for the 3rd Gen truck and it driven by air pressure. I didn't think that they still manufactured vacuum driven exhaust brakes after ditching the vacuum pump in the 3rd Gens. 

 

Have to tried to apply vacuum with a hand pump and see if the vacuum holds then?

[dripley]

I have a Banks brake on mine with the same problem. Me, I would spend the $140 for a new actuator. I dont know that the Banks is any better or worse than the others out there since I do not know anyone close enough by to compare. Mine worked fine up until the day it just quit. Been in for about 6 or 7 years I believe.

[MnTom]

Michael, this set up has its own vacuum pump that gets mounted to the engine and is belt driven. https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.bankspower.com/sdc/manual/97055-Dodge Exhaust Brake System-v9_web.pdf

Dripley, that's what I was thinking too. I have considered converting it to air pressure, but then I wold need to engineer a mount for a cylinder. That would be way more work than it needs to be. Besides, when I get back to Mn I have a lot of other stuff to do to my truck and trailer, including installing air ride to the trailer.

[dripley]

That is a good bit different than mine. Mine runs off of engine vacuum and is twice as big as your actuator. If I know Banks that means mine should cost twice as much!!

[Mopar1973Man]

Wow after reviewing that manual it like WOW. That is a lot of extra stuff for exhaust brake set up.

 

The PacBrake I seen n a 3rd Gen had everything including the compressor, tank and most of the setup stuff in the passenger fender. Very small package and only taps the ECM for throttle signal. 

 

As for replacement, I would just get another valve and just replace it. 

[MnTom]

5 minutes ago, Mopar1973Man said:

Wow after reviewing that manual it like WOW. That is a lot of extra stuff for exhaust brake set up.

 

The PacBrake I seen n a 3rd Gen had everything including the compressor, tank and most of the setup stuff in the passenger fender. Very small package and only taps the ECM for throttle signal. 

 

As for replacement, I would just get another valve and just replace it. 

Don't forget the CBC trans controller! The trans controller actually works pretty good. This truck even with the Tow/Haul engaged still allows overdrive to work. With the controller I can lock out OD and have the converter locked in second. That would be a good thing if I get the brake working. The actuator is about 1/10 the cost of a new brake.

[hd99fxr3]

On the 2006 and up t he ask is programmed for an EB. So automatic trans trucks are programmed to lock the TC via the on off switch. So there are two wires going into the ecm. One for throttle signal and one to control TC lockup. Just put pacbrake on my truck in December. 

[AH64ID]

Did you replace the actuator?

 

I suspect my Jacobs has a diaprahm issue but Jacobs no longer supports the brake. I'll likely be ordering a PRXB here in the near future. 

 

The Jacobs and Banks appear identical, but both companies claim they are different and I can't interchange parts... that would be the cheapest way. 

[MnTom]

No, I haven't done anything with it yet. I am planning on fixing it when I get back to Minnesota in about a month. Does the Jacobs brake work off of pressure or vacuum? The Banks is vacuum operated.

[AH64ID]

It’s vacuum. They literally look like identical kits. 

[MnTom]

I suppose the Jacobs would be about 1/2 price too....... Just looked at a Jacob's. The actuator looks the same, but the mount is different and it is spot welded on, so, not interchangeable......

Edited April 27, 2018 by MnTom

[MnTom]

I FINALLY got the actuator on! So far so good. I really like the EB! Gonna make it much better when I have my trailer on! Now to see when I get my trailer back.........