I recently installed a BD exhaust brake and was wondering if anybody else that has one on their 3rd Gen engine can tell me what sort of braking to expect from it. Mine seems to work somewhat but all it seems to do is slow my truck down when I am coasting or I do feel a slight braking with my trailer behind me. I expected more braking and am slightly disappointed in it. I do not have any exhaust or intake leaks but I have not yet checked my back pressure. I have tried adjusting my pressure regulator and that does not seem to change anything. My exhaust temperatures are around 500-700 normally and they don't exceed 1000 degrees when I am towing an 18,000 pound trailer.

 

You haven't provided enough info.

What year truck and what kind of transmission?
How heavy a trailer?


I've had a BD 4" remote mount ex brake for 5 years with no issues. Note that I have a manual trans & our 5th wheel is about 10k lbs.
The ex brake works outstanding & although my truck is low mileage, I'm still on the original truck brakes which are now at 80%.
The savings on my truck and trailer brakes has paid for my ex brake.

I haven't even mentioned the safety factor & peace of mind when towing with an ex brake.

 

My truck is a 2006 ram 2500 4x4 with an automatic and has almost 230,000 miles. My trailer is an 18000 pound 5th wheel.
With the brake on at least when I slow down the truck does not coast forever so I am saving on a lot of braking that way. I just wasn't sure how much braking to expect. For example I have a 7 degree slope to go down for approx. 3 miles and if I have the brake on I still have to use both trailer and truck brakes to stay at around 50 miles an hour, but of course without the exhaust brake I would probably smoke my truck brakes everytime. Should I expect more out of my exhaust brake or am I dreaming.

 

on a 7% grade, and 18K trailer you likely will have to use your service brakes. With my PacBrake and with the Jake I had before that and my 11K fifth wheel I need to use my service brakes to keep from running away. At 6% the e brakes will hold and on a 5% I have to use the throttle to turn the brake off now and then to keep speed up. Shift down as needed to keep RPM up to 2K or so. The rule of same gear up as down applies.

 

I have a BD turbo mount on my truck pulling a 12000 # 5th wheel. It does slow things down, but I feel it could be better. I had the same set up on my
'98 12v with a manual trans and it did better. Maybe the manual trans is the reason. If you shift to the lowest gear possible, it will work better. Good luck-John

 

Do have the BD automatic transmission controller or something similar to keep the torque converter locked when using the ex brake?
If not, you really need to add one to save your transmission & for the ex brake to work correctly.

You should really check the ex brake back pressure at idle & under heavy use to confirm it is ok.

 

BD says '06 and up don't need a controller, apparently it's built in the truck.
John

 

Assuming it's wired correctly into computer. Try tapping into the test port on the brake with a gauge. You should get 50# or more slowing down from speed and 25# or so at idle cold. Can you hear the brake engage at idle when cold? Hear it as you go downhill?

 

I just ordered the pressure gauge today and will have it by tomorrow so I will know if my pressures are within parameters. According to BD you should have around 20 lbs at idle and no more that 65 when slowing down from a cruising speed or going down a hill. I can hear my brake working both at idle when cold and anytime I release the throttle. I do like the fact that I don't have to use my service brakes all the time even without my trailer when just normally everyday driving. I use my brake most of the time but was hoping it would have more stopping power with my trailer on. I also does work better when shifting down to a lower gear, I wish I had a little more control over my automatic. Also I do use tow haul when pulling my trailer.