I have a 1997 CTD and my exhaust brake is freaking out. I noticed oil in my vacuum line and I had rebuilt the vacuum pump 60k ago, but must be failing again. The brake will very slowly engage and when you disengage it you have to go under the truck and pull a line to release it then hand rack it to the off position. It's a BD in line brake can I clean the thing out to free it up or am I look in the wrong place?

 

Oil in the vacuum lines can destroy the entire vacuum system, costs over $2000 in the worst case to replace damaged parts.
The check valve described in this recall is supposed to keep the oil out> http://dodgeram.info/tsb/recalls/720.htm
The check valves do fail and have to be replaced. I've heard of folks using a common one from the auto parts store for under $10 that works fine.

 

You might check out and clean the spool valve that controls vacuum to the brake. You may find some instruction on BD's web site. I'm not familiar with the inline brake but the BD turbo mount I put on my '98 included cleaning info for the spool valve. Also make sure the brake isn't getting carbon deposits. I've read that it can be a problem with the inline brakes.

 

I checked the BD website and I couldn't find anything about maintance instruction for the brake. After surfing their site I wished I would of bought the exhaust brake with on board air.

 

I located a PDF file online that gives some instruction. I'll try to attach it here.

 

Thank for finding that for me. That's what it took back in business again. Doesn't take much dirt to creat havoc on the spool valve.