Exhaust / Engine brakes and RAM problems
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Exhaust / Engine brakes and RAM problems
I'm looking at purchasing a used Dodge RAM 3500 diesel dually. I'm looking at various models on Craigslist. Within my price range ($20K), I'm finding models between 2004 and 2006 that are under 100K on the miles. Here's my challenge: I'd like to put an exhaust / engine brake since I'll be pulling a really big RV behind it (14500 pounds) and I want to make sure I can make it down a big hill without burning out the brakes. My apologies for not knowing a whole lot about the difference between exhaust and engine breaks (I think this is a fair explanation of the difference: http://www.ehow.com/about_6495304_ex...ake-brake.html), but from my understanding, I'd be best off to go with a Jake break. Then comes the next problem: what are the potential problems that I may be getting into? I did a search on Google for putting an exhaust brake on the 2004 and I found this forum posting saying it could damage the transmission on the 04 model (http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php?topic=3845.0). I think after reading the posting, I'm leaning toward getting an '06 model if possible. Also would you recommend putting an exhaust or Jake brake on my truck knowing the weight that I'll be pulling?
Also I came across another posting today saying Jake brakes are not as good as a PAC brake (seems everyone has a different opinion as to which is the best): http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/d...e-t173959.html ... so hard to figure out which is the best way to go with so many options.
Thanks!
Also I came across another posting today saying Jake brakes are not as good as a PAC brake (seems everyone has a different opinion as to which is the best): http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/d...e-t173959.html ... so hard to figure out which is the best way to go with so many options.
Thanks!
Last edited by flinx777; Nov 3, 2012 at 01:03 AM. Reason: add more options to choose from
Champion
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,710
Likes: 2
From: Skagit County, WA
Jacobs became popular for their engine brakes, which alter valve timing to retard the truck instead of closing off the exhaust.
I went with a Pacbrake on my 98. If you're going to be running a heavy trailer, I would recommend tearing down the transmission and rebuilding it anyway. You're going to be looking at trucks in the 100+k mile range, I would wager, and it would be better to rebuild first before getting stranded somewhere and having to have it rebuilt by an unknown local. When rebuilding, you can beef up clutches and steels and alter the hydrolics to work with the exhaust brake.
I went with a Pacbrake on my 98. If you're going to be running a heavy trailer, I would recommend tearing down the transmission and rebuilding it anyway. You're going to be looking at trucks in the 100+k mile range, I would wager, and it would be better to rebuild first before getting stranded somewhere and having to have it rebuilt by an unknown local. When rebuilding, you can beef up clutches and steels and alter the hydrolics to work with the exhaust brake.
Champion
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 1
From: Renton, WA
exhaust brake will work great with the truck and won't hurt it.
for an automatic you will need a torque converter lockup switch which you will want to lock up whenever you use the exhaust brake to get maximum slowing effect.
we always recommend built automatics anyway, or at least an aftermarket input shaft, torque converter, and valve body... do that with a 1qt overfill and it'll last a nice long while.
for an automatic you will need a torque converter lockup switch which you will want to lock up whenever you use the exhaust brake to get maximum slowing effect.
we always recommend built automatics anyway, or at least an aftermarket input shaft, torque converter, and valve body... do that with a 1qt overfill and it'll last a nice long while.
