eightballsidepocket
San Jose, California, USA
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I just picked up a brochure on the Pacbrake while perusing Camping World in Gilroy, Ca., near my home.
Camping World is quoting a price of $600-$700. bucks, with installation price exceeding or matching the price of the Pacbrake purchase price.
Is it much of an install for the purchaser to do, without paying such a high price for installation?
Secondly, how does the Pacbrake work? Does it work in conjunction with my brakes when I apply them while towing, or do I have to have to activate it manually via a button, toggle, or lever, and exert the amount of E-braking force similar to a brake controller/manual lever?
Also, I assume that my 05 Cummins 48RE 3year/36k mile warranty would be in jeopardy if I installed the Pacbrake?
Would Pacbrake back me up in a warranty dispute over it being installed on my truck?
The Pacbrake brochure says, "Pacbrakes Outperform The Competition"? How so?
Regards, Eightballsidepocket
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT 4x2 Quad Cab, Cummins, 48RE Tranny, Lg Bed, Line-X Spray-on Bed Liner.
06 T25BS Komfort Trailblazer TT
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marty649
Waycross GA (okeefenokee swamp)
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install it yourself, it's not that difficult. It operates through the computer when you let off the gas peddle it applies the EB approx 1.5 seconds later, you can install a button to activate at will, which is the route I took as I have a stick shift. it also gives you a compressor and air tank with the hose and fittings to air up your tires. I had a jake brake and the vacuumm pump died twice, I sold it and used the proceeds for the pac brake.
2005 Dodge 3500 Quad cab CTD Dually, Laramie, G56 sbc con-ofe, GPS-NAV, Sirius, intake and exhaust, Gauges, 100 gal aux fuel tank, Rokktech, Quad box, Pacbrake, 110,000mi
2000 Gulfstream Seahawk, Sat TV, Solar, 6.5kw gen, Washer/Dryer
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marty649
Waycross GA (okeefenokee swamp)
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as for the warrantee your on your own for transmission problems.
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SidKaye
Mt Dora Florida, Montreal QC for the Summer
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marty649 wrote:as for the warrantee your on your own for transmission problems.
Not necessarily.
From Pacbrake Website
Q: Can Dodge void the warranty on my truck if I install a Pacbrake on it?
A: In the U.S. they cannot void your warranty for the installation of a Pacbrake or any other aftermarket part. As a consumer you are protected under the Magnuson - Moss Federal Trade Commission Warranty Act - 1975. This act prevents them or their dealers from arbitrarily voiding a warranty unless they can prove that the aftermarket component was directly responsible for the failure. Then they can only void the warranty on the affected part, not the entire vehicle. See document - L3018.PDF
2003 Dodge Ram 3500 SLT,48RE, 4:10,Cummins HO Diesel,Quad Cab,LWB,SRW,PacBrake,Prodigy, X-Monitor Gauges,Line-X,Bedsaver
2002 Excel,Ltd,30RGW,Hughes Autoformer,Honda Eu1000i, Hughes Direcway HN7000S, Satmex5,
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Retired_nuke_ET
Carrollton Va.
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eightballsidepocket wrote:Secondly, how does the Pacbrake work? Does it work in conjunction with my brakes when I apply them while towing, or do I have to have to activate it manually via a button, toggle, or lever, and exert the amount of E-braking force similar to a brake controller/manual lever?
It works by sensing the following conditions:
1) the ON/OFF switch is ON (usually mounted on the shift lever or dash)
2) RPMs are 900 or greater (engine speed is definitely above idle)
3) the Accelerator is in the idle position (your foot is off the gas/fuel)
when all those conditions are true it pauses for a second or so (so that if you were shifting gears in a manual it wouldn't engage while you were shifting) then it engages the exhaust brake until one or more of those conditions is no longer true. (you turn it Off, RPMs drop below 900, you touch the Go Pedal)
The only thing you control is the main On/Off switch. Everything else is sensed by the ECM (Engine Control Module) It does NOT turn on your brake lights and thus does NOT engage the trailer brakes, those come off your normal service brakes.
If you are running with the Pacbrake and cruise control On and start going down hill, if the cruise control lets off enough that you are idling and RPMs are 900 or more it will automatically come on.
eightballsidepocket wrote:Also, I assume that my 05 Cummins 48RE 3year/36k mile warranty would be in jeopardy if I installed the Pacbrake?
Would Pacbrake back me up in a warranty dispute over it being installed on my truck?
Tough call there. PAcBrakes Warrenty PDF claims they will attempt to resolve the issue. I believe the '05 and older automatics couldn't come with a Jacob's brake because the trannys computer couldn't be upgraded to work with the exhaust brake. It needs the tranny to lock up when it's engaged or else you risk overheating the tranny. '06 and up have an upgraded control module that works with the ECM to lock up the torque converter. The PacBrake for your model will come with a control box to lock up the tranny as necessary. PacBrake Transmission controller PDF So technically you should not have any issues and if so they should stand by their product as not to have caused any damage that would void you warranty.
eightballsidepocket wrote:The Pacbrake brochure says, "Pacbrakes Outperform The Competition"? How so?
Other exhaust brakes (including the Jacobs) simply restrict the exhaust by forcing it to go through an orifice of a constant size. The amount of backpressure produced is dependent on the volume of gases being sent through the orifice. Higher RPM, more gas flow, more backpressure. As the RPMs drop, the gas flow drops and so does the backpressure. The PacBrake differs in that a spring is used to control the amount of restriction through the oriface. As the RPMs come down, the volume drops, the pressure starts to drop, the spring closes the orifice some causing more restriction helping to maintain the backpressure. Thus the PacBrake can provide more backpressure at lower RPMs because it acts like a backpressure regulator adjusting itself to try and maintain a more constant backpressure. The others do not adjust themselves as the RPMs come down. The backpressure is what provides the braking force.
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coolbreeze01
Redding, Ca
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I've had a BD brand, Dodge dealer installed, exhaust brake on my '94 CTD since new. They replaced the stock exhaust springs with 60#. The unit works very effectively. You can install the brake yourself. It will be money well spent, whatever you get. I only have experience with Williams, Cummins in the new 6.7, and BD brands.
If Jacobson made an engine brake, (not to be confused with exhaust brake) for small Diesels, I'd have one.
2008 Dodge 3500 CTD LB SRW 4X4 6-Speed Auto
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JIMNLIN
Big Cabin, OK
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Gary
I had the Jacobs on a '03 Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 NV5600 6 speed manual because of the warranty. But if I had to choose a EB for the Cummins on a out of warranty situation I would go with the Pacbrake PRXB as it does have a bit more braking in the 1400-200 rpm range. At max rpms they are the same. The Pacbrake also uses air pressure to operate vs a vaccum pump on the Jacobs that has to be added on and a much longer surpentine belt [86 dollars at genos]. Those vaccum pumps are very expensive to replace. I had no problems at all with the Jacobs and it worked great with all the warm up features the Cummins/Jacobs combo has. Pacbrake have always been very popular with the Cummins crowd.
JIM
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"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" Will Rogers
'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach Linex
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eightballsidepocket
San Jose, California, USA
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All of these replies have been very instructive and helpful.
I can't just single, one out, as all have been so helpful, so I will say, an collective, "Thank you".
I really am impressed with Pacbrakes ability to maintain good braking at lower engine RPMs. Also, the ability if the Pacbrake to lock-out my 2005 48RE is impressive via the ECU.
That feature of having an onboard compressor is great!
They/Pacbrake mention that their system will really give a great monetary return on extended brake like of your TV. Can any of you attest to the difference, and the savings?
Could the expense of the Pacbrake purchase be considerably off-set by saved brake jobs in the extended future of one's TV from personal experience?
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dadwolf2
Henderson,NV,USA
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Installing the PacBrake PRXB is definitely a DIY job. I installed mine without problems. BUT, I have a manual transmission and can't/won't comment on installing one with an automatic.
The PacBrake EB works through the Cummins ECM just like Retired Nuke described. The EB is doing what & when Cummins designed it to work.
If Camping World is selling you an exhaust brake for an 05 for $600-700, I think they are quoting the wrong part #. If it is the correct part # get it quick because for an 05 Dodge it normally cost closer to $1,000-1,300.
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 CTD,4X4,NV5600,Pullrite superglide
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SidKaye
Mt Dora Florida, Montreal QC for the Summer
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I am close to 75,000 miles on original brakes. About half towing. I use the pacbrake and fully believe it can and has extended the life of my brakes.
Pacbrake was installed in my Ram the first week and if/when I get a new truck, it too will have a Pacbrake.
Sidney
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