Anyone out there using an exhaust brake in their truck? I just bought an '06 F550, and I'm considering installing one. My previous truck (not a Ford) had one, and it makes a huge difference in slowing the truck down. Any recommendations- manufacturer, model etc?

 

There is one user on here that I know likes his BD exhaust brake. Most people actually get a tune that enables "you" to use the vgt turbo turbo to act as a "jake" brake and that can actually build up enough pressure like an exhaust brake would to help slow you do and they can be fairly aggressive as well.

 

I think if you need to rely on a exhaust brake then you shouldn't be driving a truck.

I disconnected the one on my truck didn't want to work half the time. I can drive without it. When you have a 10% grade you use gears to decend the hill.

I think you guys confuse what a exhaust brake is. All it does is create some back pressure to cause some resistance on the engine. It is not a JAKE brake. A JAKE brake releases compression via holding the exhaust valve open.

A exhaust brake is NOT a JAKE brake. No light duty truck will have a Jake brake.

If you want braking power buy the best quality brake pads and make sure the rotors are in good shape.

 

I think you are confused as to what I was saying. I wasn't calling an exhaust brake a "jake" brake. I was talking about tuning a VGT turbo to act like a "jake" brake break or using that term to help visualize what I was talking about,

I didn't say that a light truck would have a jake brake or imply that they ever had a jake brake.

What I was talking about had to do with programming the turbo to act a certain way, I wasn't talking about a physical component. I was also using the term Jake brake in quotes(like this "jake" brake) that should(atleast it does to me) indicate that it shouldn't be taken in the literal sense that it is for lack of a better term type of sense.

Edit: I forgot to mention that the term "Jake" brake as used in these sense about turbo braking is what the diesel tuning industry also calls this option. Rather or not you agree with this description as accurate or not, I can't help that(there are a lot of terms that are used that aren't accurate, or maybe I'm just not PC enough to accept them), it's a term that is used in the industry.

 

The name Jake brake is actually a patented name from the Jacobs Company that invented and designed the Jake Brake.

Mercedes uses a turbo brake on the MBE4000 they barely do anything in a class 8 truck.

I have BD brake on my F-450 I would have never bought one this one was on my truck. When it worked it was okay but it wasn't great. It can stay disconnected.

 

I don't know how to plainly say this except to be an ***, because it doesn't seem like your getting it. I am not talking about the physical jake brake, I am talking about a tuning option to allow for turbo braking that people in the tuning industry equate it with the physical jake brake as such they refer to it usually as an aggressive tow w/ "jake" brake option. They refer to it as a "jake" brake because that is the closest thing that people with diesel trucks would be able to relate to with it's operation. Other then name, it doesn't have anything to do with the physical jake brake at all. One is a actual physical component, the other is just a computer program that alters the behavior of the turbo. Both accomplish the same end result, but the approach is totally different.

Once again, I am not talking about the physical component that you keep on mentioning. I do apologize for coming off as an ***, but it just doesn't seem like I can politely get that across.

That's nice, but in this case that's an apple and I'm talking about oranges.

That's more on topic. So we have one that likes it and one that doesn't. The only other brand I know is the Pac-Brake, but I don't know anyone that uses that on the boards. I have no experience with either one, just have heard of both of them.

 

I don't have an exhaust brake on my truck, and I have no experience on the field at all, only what I read about it. The theory is to make/build exhaust back-pressure on a diesel engine, and the actual back-pressure will "brake" the pistons in the engine. If I good remember Ford's number is somewhere at 30psi, and that 30psi pressure what is against the piston, exhaust components, etc.
Now my .02 on this is : the 6.0 has some week points in the exhaust components - I'm sure everyone knows what I'm talking about. The flex section in the turbo up pipes. I personally had to replace mine a few months back, and it was a PITA to do. Now the question is: I believe the exhaust brake works great, but I'm just wondering how comfortable would I be to give that extra 30psi "stress" to an already known week component.....

 

The ones you buy for a Ford are a remote mount exhaust brake you have some serious lag time between the time some backpressure is built up and you can feel it do something.

A exhaust brake is pretty much only effective if its mounted on or close to the turbo like a Pac Brake.

It is one of the reasons why the exhaust brake works better on the Cummins is the EB is close to the turbo it can build back pressure quicker.

As for using the turbo vanes as a turbo brake not a good idea.

The best retarding system you can get is a Telma brake sorry not available for small trucks. It should be offered in small trucks but its not.

It is a frictionless braking system uses electromagnetic field to slow the vehical down. Very very effective the only draw back is they use quite abit of juice (electricity) and they are heavy.

It is used on fire trucks especially single axle fire trucks and single axle trucks with 35,000lb gvw. The fire trucks around here can be fully loaded and decend 10% grades with very little to no use of the trucks brakes. The Telma holds that well.

In my mind a exhaust brake is a bandaid. Your better off going to Walmart and buying XXL womans underwear and make a parachute you can drag behind your truck to help slow you down.

If you want your truck to sound like this is aint going to happen. A Series 60 Detroit with straight pipes is the loudest you can get.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6_GH25fHes

 

I don't see the issue. I've used that tune for a year hauling ~16k worth of horseflesh and trust me that cargo is very sensitive to hauling "issues". Never once did I have a problem with using the turbo as a brake. Just so you know, I put on about 35-40k a year(ironically I was a little over last year despite the outrageous diesel prices).

 

At BD we have been designing exhaust brakes since the late 80's. Like mentioned there are options for modifying the stock heat riser valve too. If you have any questions on exhaust brakes and/or the pros and cons of the EBPV mod please do not hesitate to ask. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
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Sorry but I had to correct you on a few points there, the OP is looking for information on an Exhaust Brake and that was just... I am not even sure?

 

Kenworth I notice tends to get off topic a bit.

 

Sorry Dave but your guys controller that operates the exhaust brake doesn't work. Mine stopped working and when it did work it only worked when it wanted to. Another guy I know says his works every once in a while.

When it comes time to change the exhaust on my F-450 that EB is coming off.

In my mind its not worth the 1500-1900 dollars. If you know how to drive a truck you don't need to spend that kind of money on something that works marginally.

Like I said learn how to drive if you can't handle a truck and decend 10% grades just using the trucks brakes and gearing better stick with driving a car.

The first thing you learn when you start driving commercially is you never depend on a JAKE brake or any kind of retarder or exhaust brake.

Not my money if you really want to spend upwards of 2000 dollars to make you think going down hills is safer go right ahead. I rather save that money and use common sense when decending a 10% grade. If you are heavy decend the hill 2nd gear or 1st gear if you have to. Been driving 1 ton to gravel trucks long enough to know you take decending hills slow. I'am not scared of a 10% grade its a cake walk. How about a 10% grade with curves and near switch back corners not a problem. Use your head and you will be just fine. If your running a overloaded truck well then your on your own you made that choice.

Yes Dave you are a sales person that is trying to push the products and say what people want to hear to make a sale just my opinion.

 

Legally speaking, if you're hauling over a certain weight you also have to depend on your trailer's brakes as well.

Are you talking about solely depend on using an aid? I don't really think it's in anyone's best interest to solely depend on any one thing, because if that one thing goes out(and that includes your precious truck's brakes) then hold on for some fun.

I have yet to "hear" anyone on this thread say to solely depend on a aid like the turbo braking option thru tuning, or an exhaust brake or tow/haul mode on the torqshift. Those are all aids and they are designed to be used as aids, the more aids that you use if one craps out on you, you have other things to help you out. I don't care if you have the best history of taking care of your vehicles, sometimes crap happens, if all you have(according to what you think ought to be done) is depending only on your vehicles brakes and gearing then you're going to have issues hauling heavy.

I don't even see how you can realistically expect your trucks brakes to last any length of time if you don't use other aids to help you out. Tow/haul mode was engineered to help people preserve brake life and help them haul their loads safely. According to you that would not be an option whatsoever because it uses a form of retardation.

I've done that too. I hit the tow/haul mode button, set the TBC at the gain I want it at, at one time I had the turbo help keep it slow if need be and I have maintained a 0 accident record while towing horses, a far more sensitive(and expensive) cargo then what you are talking about.


This little bit is just irrelevant. Dave being a salesperson isn't in of itself enough to make him wrong or what he says crap.


I will say this, I haven't heard you say anything as to why you think that using the turbo as a brake isn't a good thing. Come to think of it, I really just "hear" alot of your opinions and not really anything that comes out to give credence to why you think they way you do. It may very well be a good thing to do what you say to do(although I do believe not using trailer brakes on a heavy trailer is a big no-no), but no specifics and I do have some questions from what you have said because it goes against my experience and I haul cargo that is both very sensitive to towing issues and very costly as well. I haul one horse that's insured in the high(almost to the point of being in the 7) 6 figures range. I would be out of business if what I was doing was as bad as you subscribe to thinking it is.

 

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Have you serviced the spool valve, it is a serviceable item and a 30 min fix. If you have spent any time here you would know I do not "push" my products.... I help first and sell second. Read my post again, did I push him or just give him some information and told him if he had any questions to ask, then provided a link so he could read about the product him self. If that is pushing I am sorry but that is for the OP to decide not you.

If you need help servicing that spool valve or adjusting your brake so it actual works, let me know and I will "HELP" you out... FREE