How to get the most from your exhaust brake and service brakes.

[Mopar1973Man]

As most of you know I've just barely changed out my brake pads on my truck for the first time. I finally replaced my factory Mopar pads at 187K miles. Now a lot of you where shocked at the distance I got from my stock brakes. Well here is a short video of how I come to stops using the exhaust brake mostly. I used sub titles in the video to show what function is occuring.

More videos to come! Ok... Here is another video of traveling down Goose Creek grade. Its a 7% grade with tight corners marked for 25 MPH. I travel up and down this grade all the time and never have to use the service brakes on the way down. But here is the video...

[dripley]

since installing mine i dont have to use the service except to biring us to a complete stop. i just changed my fronts out and will have to see how long they last. factory rears still on. i have noticed lately though that it is a little harder to stop though. not bad for 230k on the rear though. the eb has been one of the best upgrades that i have installed.

[99mystic]

Which EB would you guys recommend?

[dripley]

i have a Banks on mine. one reason for the choice was i already had a banks quick turbo and power elbow. install was simple. remove the elbow and install the brake in its place. when cold cranking the engine the brake will come on and help with warm up. thats a plus. but after warm up you must get above 30mph for the brake to operate. once above 30 i will engage and stay on until 15 mph providing you dont touch the throttle. if so it will disengage until you go over 30 again. this is alittle aggravating becaus e i believe ther are others that dont do this. might try to figure out a way around it one day.as far as braking goes ibelieve it works as good as any of the others but i dont know because i have never driven another one o these trucks with a differant brand on to know. on my most recent trip with the fifth wheel i weighed 22.7k and the brake greatly inproved stopping ability. it will slow the truck on its own with ample breaking distance. i came over the Blue Ridge Mountians and the only time i had to use my service brakes was when i got stuck behind slower traffic. once slowed i let the ebrake do the work. ther are other folks here with differant brands and i am sure they are happy with there's. except for the 30 mph thing i am happy with mine.

[99mystic]

Thanks for the info.

--- Update to the previous post...

When the eb is engaged can you get on the throttle for a sec or two? Or will it have to be turned off?

[dripley]

mine disengages the instant you touch the throttle. ther is also about a 1.5 second delay after letting off the throttle for to engage. it is all handled thru the electronic brain. i am pretty sure this close to the same for most any ebrake. i pretty much leave mine on 100% of the time.

[Mopar1973Man]

mine disengages the instant you touch the throttle. ther is also about a 1.5 second delay after letting off the throttle for to engage. it is all handled thru the electronic brain. i am pretty sure this close to the same for most any ebrake. i pretty much leave mine on 100% of the time.

Mine is the same but... I added a second switch on the stick so as I travel down grade I use the toggle switch instead of the throttle because then the toggle switch is a instant response instead of 2 second delay with the throttle. Since the throttle is no touched and the timer is expired the toggle switch always give instant reaction!

[dripley]

mine will do that also. i have the switch installed in the kneebolster and come to think of it it will come on the instant you flip it on. would not mind having the switch on the shifter one day. providing it is small enough. Geno's garage has a shifter knob with a micro switch in it that is pretty nice. $50 or $60 though and i think i will just wait. besides i try not to get in a position to need it on instatntly, but that doesnt always work.

[99mystic]

That is good to know, thanks guys.

[Mopar1973Man]

Hmmm...

[dripley]

i dont want any thing that big on my shifter. unless i had a split axle. Hmmmmmmmm..

[99mystic]

Where would be the best place to get an eb?

[dripley]

when i looked for mine the price did not vary much from place to place. seems new things from the major companys do not vary in price that much. i dont know that one place is better thant another. mine came thru extreme diesel, but everywher els was within 2 to 3%of the same price. i called banks when installing and thye told me i would have to direct my questions thru extreme diesel since ibought it from them. i didd not like that it is still their product. you can buy it straight thru them though and avoid that, but it costs a tad more. didnt like tha either. or you can search the want adds here. there was someone selling one for $700 a while back, brand new in the box. warranty is probably no good though. thats if you want a banks if not just start shopping around and see what you find. i cant really recomend one vendor over another.

[99mystic]

Thanks. Are there any issues i should know about when installing?

[dripley]

installing the banks brake into the banks exhaust was very simple unbolt the elbow and bolt in the brake. it came with t tap connections for the wiring. if you use them be sure and pack them with dielctric grease or the will corrode. splicing and soldering is much better but more time consuming. check out your vacume lines and replace any bad fittings while you are in there.