Well... I was all set to go with the BD exhaust brake until I read the fine print. It won't work with cruise control. Back to searching... [undecided]

 

To the best of my knowledge they all say that.<br>Mine is a banks and it said the same thing but I didn't hook up the wires that kicks the cruise out and it works fine. You just have to fine tune the switch so they both won't operate at the same time.<br>I've also hooked up a Jacobs brand the same way, it works fine also.<br>They say that to get out of liabilities ect.<br>Just fine tune it and enjoy.<br><br> : Eddie : 8)

 

The only option that BD gives in the installation manual uses the micro switch at the loud pedal. Unfortunately, the '02 pedal doesn't move when the cruise is engaged. Therefore, the brake could be on at WOT when the cruise is engaged. Not a good thing to do
The PacBrake uses a signal from the ECM so it will work.

 

Didn't know about the go pedal not moving on the 02.<br>Thanks for the info I'll keep it in mind in the future.<br>Now if you were properly valved it would work. ;D<br><br> : Eddie : 8)

 

IMO the microswitch method of activation that BD uses sucks...... ....one more thing to go wrong. It is possible to tie the BD into the ECM like a Jacobs or Pacbrake-I did it on my truck. The only reason I have a BD is because my Piers HX40 would not work with the Jacobs E-brake that I had before-you need a remote mount brake for the 40's. I had to wire a relay in between the Jacobs trigger wiring and the BD switch to make it all happy.<br><br>If you're not planning on a turbo upgrade down the road personally I would rather have a turbo-mounted brake-no road splash worries and again IMO the Jacobs vacuum solenoid is the best of the bunch-you see guys on TDR reporting their BD or Pacbrake solenoid stuck but I've yet to see one Jacobs fail. If you want a remote mount and are willing to wait a while I think I saw somewhere where Pacbrake is going to come out with a remote mount one.....I would have gone that way if it had been available.....<br><br>HTH<br>Jason<br>

 

BD's brake will work with cruise!! All you need is their relay kit, It's about $30 canadian if I remember correctly. I didn't bother to get it, because it's just as easy to cancel the cruise and flip the brake on with the shifter switch.<br>Just my .02! ;D

 

I'm like Homestead...you'll remember quick ..when you look in the mirror and see all the smoke from fuel of the cruse while the brake is on.. [undecided]..not a big deal less'in your behind me LOL

 

Jeff and Gary-do your brakes rattle? My truck suddenly has a rattle in the exhaust after install of the BD brake and mysteriously it seems to be emanating from that exact spot : . I am less than impressed with this setup actually-to be honest if Piers hadn't been selling them I wouldn't have bought one. Not real fond of their vacuum cylinder setup, as stated above less than impressed with the microswitch setup, and pretty much upset with the directions to mount the vacuum solenoid down on the framerail -that got modified a little bit.....<br><br>Jason<br>

 

J..your extream off road use might be some of the issue ????<br>but to answer your question ..Zero problems and very happy with it..but it's only seen about 2/3k miles so far...doesn't have the same retard as my old pac brake [not bad but not the same] but there is some trade off on a 4&quot; system, not to mention that is is farther down stream<br>Might the rattle be behind the wheel to many hard miles on the driver

 

No-I don't think it's the driver Gary-maybe the installer though! 8) Can't even blame my off-road conditions-it rattled from the very first startup. I crawled under once and couldn't find anything-time to crawl around again I suppose.....<br><br>Jason<br>

 

??? ??? Are exhaust brakes only for manual transmissions? Can us Auto boys have 'em also?<br><br>Joe

 

I don't get a rattle of any kind. I have been getting a bit of a buzz in the dash every once and awhile, but that only seems to happen when I get on the brake and pull about 45 pounds of back pressure, it goes away real quick though. I know I need to adjust it, it pulls 30 pounds at idle which is 10 pounds to much.<br><br>As far as the microswitch goes, when it does finally die, I'm going to bypass it all together and just use the shifter switch to turn it on and off. I have found that at times, the pedal switch is a little to touchy for my liking.<br><br>I love the brake though!! Not sure some of the people in town here do though. BRAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH <br>

 

[quote author=jgilbert link=board=7;threadid=6610;start=0#63236 date=1036640979]<br> ??? ??? Are exhaust brakes only for manual transmissions? Can us Auto boys have 'em also?<br>[/quote]<br>Yes and No. Dodge doesn't recommend exhaust brakes with autos, hence will probably void your transmission warranty. For it to work right, you'll need some aftermarket parts and/or mods for your tranny. Without mods, you'd overheat your tranny and not get much braking power. But it can be done, even for autos.

 

I think the reason BD uses the micro switch instead of the ECM is there is a two second delay when wired into the ECM. The micro swtich applies the brake faster. I may be wrong on the 2 second delay.<br><br><br>