I have a 04.5 with the jake brake. Some technicians have told me not to have the brake engaged unless towing. I've been using it all the time and really like it. They tell me the brake will last longer (very vague replies) and one even said it could damage the turbo.

How about everyone else?

 

i don't see where the jake exhaust brake would cause troubles as long as the temp on the turbo doesn't change drastically.

on another note, i went to the local dealer to see if i could get a jake on a new automatic. was surprised when the salesman said yes. so i guess the seal/gasket problem has been fixed. along with the auto-trans problem.

 

You have a lot of faith.

Did he mention the new Cummins Hemi by any chance?

 

Larv,

I was actually told the opposite about mine, that if I don't tow very frequently I should still be sure to use the jake occasionally. Apparenlty they have had a couple of cases where the valve carboned up from long periods of disuse.

I've only got 20,000 on mine or so, but no problems so far. Really helps warm ups.

Jeff.

P.S. I see you both are pretty new here. Welcome. I've found the people here are very friendly and helpful.

 

My truck didn't come wih the jake brake, but I really want one for a combination of towing and (main reason) faster warm-ups. As I understand it, the Jacobs one is the one that can be put on without voiding the warranty or anything like that? Where's a good source for the kit?

 

nevada

(Did he mention the new Cummins Hemi by any chance?)

good one......

no, and if they did design a diesel hemi, it would have carbon problems around the top edge of the pistons.
but i've read that the car companies are working on compression gas engines. (re: no spark plugs).

 

I had a compression gas engine. It was a 10.5:1 Cadillac 472 motor with a billion miles on it that was filled to the brim with old, crappy regular unleaded when I bought it! For the first couple tank fulls I had to put the thing in drive when I turned it off or else it would keep on idling.

 

tdupuis,

I got mine from the Dodge dealer, however I would be sure to price check the Cummins parts house also.

Recently the Jacob EB was on hold for some reason, but apparently that may have been resolved?

Installation was fairly straight forward. You can download user manual, and installation directions from Jacob...

http://www.jakebrake.com/content.php4?doc%20uid=73

 

What Jeff said. Both PacBrake's and Jacobs' operators manual for exhaust brakes says to use it all the time except in slippery conditions.

 

How are you guys getting the Jacobs brake for the 04.5? I just checked again last week and was told they are still on hold, or are they available and the word is not out.

 

AaronT, I don't know about right now but I got mine in late March when I bought the truck......Larv

 

tempforce


I called jacob brakes on the auto a week ago... at that time the engineer stated it was DC that was not clearing the use of the brake on the auto... I wonder if things have changed....

 

I'm sure it was just a salesman's bs ckennedy.

 

i think you may be right, about the salesman b.s., next time i'll go to the service department and check.

 

Put the Jacobs on mine almost five years and 130000 miles ago and I use it loaded or empty. Be careful on a wet road though, it will make the rear end come loose on the road and get squirelly. I am at 155000 miles now and my brakes all around are near like new and I pull 21000 to 26000 pounds.
If you need good info on this stuff, come to the site for the real answers. Someone on here has done it or used it at one time or another. I'll leave it at that as far as dealers are concerned.