Do the Exhaust Brakes slow the trucks as advertised? Will they work around 2000 RPM or do you always have to be around 3000 RPM???<br><br>Whats the lowest RPM that they will do any good?

 

The PSD's come with a knockoff Exhaust brake its called a butterfly valve and it works instanly if your over 1200rpm. I have heard that some E-brakes well work untill the truck has come to a complete stop thats if you buy a control with it. But there is also a bad thing wih that. It will sometimes cause transmission problems thats why on the Fords they stop at 1200rpm.But most brakes will work till about 1100-1300 depending on which one. So anything above 1300 will be good.
SD03

 

David,<br><br>You will feel some hold back at lower RPM's. The best holding is above 1800 or so. I have never tried it at 3000, but it sure works good in fifth at about 2500. The lower the rpm, the less effective it is.

 

You don't indicate whether you have an auto or a stick. Makes a difference you know. If the auto is set up right, and depending whose exhaust brake you go with RPM's do come into play.<br><br>Roger

 

The higher the RPM, the better it works. At about 45 mph in third gear, you can really feel it holding back real well.

 

I took a ride in a 2001 3500 4x4 5spd QC one time that had a Pac..... he flipped the switch for the brake, tached it up in 4th, and then let off the accel. pedal..... felt like I was gonna go through the windshield because I didn't have my seatbelt on :

 

I would add that my truck has near 122000 miles and the front brake pads are just like brand new still, neer been replaced. I figure that brake has paid for itself already.

 

The best way to describe how they feel is like a parachute slowing your truck. Though they work the strongest at higher rpms and decrease as they drop. But of course they will work better when the motor has the gearing advantage or lower gears. When I first installed mine I thought it was real strong but now I have adjusted to it.

 

Works great in mountains to hold speed going down hills and don't need to use regular brakes. At top of 6-7% grade drop down one gear and turn brake on and usually get to bottom with out touching brake pedal. Unless some idiot racing thru traffic gets in way trying to get nowhere fast.

 

Maybe I should get an ebrake instead of shocks for now? ???<br><br>-SFB

 

6~7 % grade 1/2 mile hill mine will hold 20,000 lbs. [ not including truck ] back in third gear without touching service brakes.<br>One of the best things I,ve ever done to my truck.<br><br> : Eddie : 8)

 

I have the Pac-Brake installed on mine and will be putting up a technical article on it before long. I had to wait till I got the tranny redone so that I could use it efficiently on my automatic.<br><br> Early indications are very good! I have found the Pac-Brake to be both high in quality and very effective. I had to install the heavier exhaust valve springs on my 12 valve for it to function properly.<br><br> I have only been testing it now for a couple of days, but I already wonder how in the world I got along without it!

 

My opinion, FWIW, I have had both BD brake (96 auto and PacBrake (current rig). They work as advertised. BD brake a bit more effective at lower RPM's. Both very well built. Quite a price difference tho. That was my deciding factor this time around and I'm not sorry.

 

I come down Afton Mountain pulling 21000 gross in fourth gear and didn't need the brakes. Afton is about a seven mile long probably 6 or 7 percent grade. I love it.
Had truck drivers cuss me cause they said my trailer brakes didn't work. I just tap the brake a time or two to show they did work.

 

I've got the Pac with the Auto and BD controler. Good combo for my use. With my set up, it will hold until my speed it hit's 26 mph, than it will release (guess it saves on the tranny). Anyway, pulling a load down a 6% really helps the braking power, hardly use the service brakes. <br>Big dawg