Have your buddy check the rear clamp on his brake - - mine broke and it sounded like a squeeling fan belt when applied. I love my Jacobs - - been flawless other than the broken clamp and that wasn't Jacobs problem.
Bob

 

the bd or pac brake works 2x better than jake or banks

 

I use the Pacbrake on mine, had a Jake on my last CTD and I like the PB better.

 

I've had a Jake on my truck since 2003. One of the best things I've put on a truck. You can use it when not towing. Brakes last forever. Your local Dodge Dealer can install it or you can buy it and do it yourself.

Dave

 

Shop for the install if you are going to pay to have it done. I know the price in my area now would be in the $2000 range with the ebrake included. When I looked at buying mine the local Dodge dealer wanted $1625 plus tax for the brake a bit over a year ago. Installation at the time wasn't even discussed. It is a 3 to 4 hour job with the proper tools and knowledge of what you are doing and mechanic rates at least in my area are about $85-$100 an hour.

 

i took three jake's off of our trucks and installed three bd's in there place it only took me about 2 hours each, that included pulling the vacuum pump off and replacing the belt i did reuse the jake wiring that saved me half hour , but if you have some mechanical skills you can install the bd by your self in about four hours, also the bd does not require the vacuum pump or change in belt that pump is very troublesome and will have many failures over the life of truck and like i said the bd or pb have much better braking than the jake or banks because of the way they control back pressure just ride in a truck about a block with each and you will immediately see

 

I have the Pacbrake on my 05 2500 and love it. Didn't even use the brake coming down the Grape Vine in Southern California with a 35 ft fifth wheeler pushing me....

 

I paid just under a $1000 for the barake and installed it myself. Dealers were quoting about $1600-$1800 for the brake installed. Took the better part of the day for me to install, but wasn't that hard.

 

I researched for a while also trying to decide. Dealer was around $1700 for a Jacobs installed. I ended up buying a Pacbrake from DTR store and installed it myself. The instructions were very good and the technical service people from Pacbrake were very helpful with advice if its needed. I am currently on a 2 week trip pulling my 34ft travel trailer. I am in the Ozarks right now and it has performed great.

 

I am in the minority with a BD brake. When I chose it my thinking was:
1. I want effective braking below 2,000 rpm (PRXB or BD, others are not proportional)
2. I want to save money (good luck with that regardless of brand)
3. I want a simple installation (no compressor is easier)
4. I don't want to lose the brake if I upgrade the turbo (has to be inline)
With this, a BD inline 4" brake was the only choice. Installed it myself, had to get help from our welding shop at work. I like the brake so far. It holds my truck and trailer weighing in at 18,000# on any 5-6% descent in 5th gear at 1400-1700 rpm, and in 4th gear on any steeper grade. I live in CO so towing up and down is my fate. I have not towed without the BD but tried turning it off just to see, and - I turn it back on in just a few seconds!
Good luck choosing!
-P