Exhaust brake

[TAKPAK]

Has anyone who has a Chevy/GMC Duramax had an aftermarket exhaust brake installed? I know that Banks offers the "Speed Brake" system. It sounds good, however, every dealer I ask says if something happens to the engine, it will not be covered under warranty. HOWEVER, I just read a release on the 2011 Duramax. It now is available from the factory with an exhaust brake. And, in reading about it, it looks like it works exactly like the Banks system, to a "T" according to the literature. I wonder if Banks and GMC did a deal together? And, if so, I wonder if GMC will now honor or install an aftermarket Speed Brake for the older units? Anyone have a clue??? I would like to install one, IF it won't affect the warranty.

[PapaBeav]

I recently had a PacBrake PRXB installed on our truck and it has made all the difference in the world as far as slowing the rig down on steep grades. It is far better than the standard tow haul mode. My guess is that if you live on flat ground in the east you probably don't need it, but if you live in or travel in the west it is a big help on the steep grades that we encounter out here. JMHO

[helmick]

I have the Banks exhaust brake on my 2002 Duramax and love it. I am also out of warranty.

[NCFischers]

I have the Banks Exhaust Brake on my '03. and I also love it.

[Tom S.]

In order for GM (or any manufacturer for that matter) to void your warranty, they have to be able to prove the brake system was the cause of the failure. If GM is adding it to the 2011 trucks, it would be pretty hard for them to 'prove' it caused the failure. This applies to any aftermarket device, but there are limitations such as for emissions.

[hookman]

When I put a Pac Brake on my 2004 Dodge I was told if Dodge refused warranty that they would help fight it as the laws in Canada and the US say they have to prove the brake was the cause of the failure. The after market brakes will open if the pressure is building up to high.

[skypilot]

Can't speak to the Duramax allison combo but I know from experience that the old 7.3L and automatic would not handle an exhaust brake, nor could the 2004 5.9L Dodge with the 48RE transmission. When I bought my first Diesel truck it was a Ford 7.3L and I had an exhaust brake added to it. Worked great four or five times as I recall (1999 time frame) and then the transmission when kerchunk and some gears coming in from the drive shaft sheared off. When repaired (over $800.00 as I recall) they told me to disable the exhaust brake and not to use it again. Not being wealthy, I did as asked and never used it again. My first Dodge was a 2004 and the owner's manual stated that the 5 speed manual required the exhaust brake if the truck was being used to haul trailers; NO exhaust brake authorized for the automatic. There was even a yellow sheet of paper added to my manual packet that stated the addition of an aftermarket exhaust brake could result in significant and catostrauphic failure to the automatic transmission - such failures not covered under the manufacturer's warranty.

There were several threads on various Dodge diesel forums covering Dodge's attempts to harden the transmission to allow an exhaust brake. They even had a PacBrake (I believe that is the correct brand) package just about approved to release and then started having problems with transmissions failing again -- same type issues as what I had on the Ford -- the resulting torque was too much for the gears in the transmission and they kept breaking - for some reason I remember the word 'splines shearing' coming up frequently. With the 2006 models, as I recall, they strengthened the necessary parts and an aftermarket exhaust brake was allowed for the automotic transmission; then with the 2007.5 and newer, we have the variable vane turbo / integrated exhaust brakes.

So, long story short -- it is not that you can't put one on the trucks, it has been shown that the transmission gears can't take the resultant torque without being damaged; at least in the Ford and Dodge lineage that I'm aware of.

[gitrdun]

Have a speed brake on my Duramax. I have used it for over a year and I love it.

[ols1932]

I've had a Banks Exhaust Brake on my 1995 Ford 7.3L with automatic transmission since January 2002. No problems with it and it works great. Wouldn't be without it. I thought that from all the previous talk about the newer trucks, that the Duramax/Allison combo didn't need an exhaust brake -- and that the tow/haul in the newer Fords negated the requirement for an exhaust brake. Did I misread something?

Orv

[gitrdun]

The newer Duramax has the tow haul which does not lock the torque converter. The speed brake closes the vanes in the turbo electrically and locks out the torque converter making braking a better experience and safer.

[sreigle]

Orv, I've had both the Ford and the Dodge with tow/haul. In my estimation the tow/haul performs very well in slowing down the truck. Adding an exhaust brake just makes it that much better at slowing the rig on a descent.

Tow/haul and exhaust brake each independently help in descent but having both is even better, from what I'm seeing with this Dodge. Just an opinion but based on many miles of towing with tow/haul and with and without an exhaust brake.

[skypilot]

Reading from my owners manual CD (no paper copy in this new truck , the variable vane technology in the turbo allows the vanes to close, increasing exhaust pressures to the engine, giving increased deceleration; the tow/haul mode alters the shift points but also allows the torque converter to lock up sooner on acceleration and hold the lock longer when decellerating -- allowing the engine to assist in braking to lower speeds than before (my paraphrasing). So, with the turbo providing back pressure, and the torque converter staying locked up longer, the two effectively assist in braking the vehicle / trailer combination. Starting with my 2008, and now my 2010 Dodge, I swear by the combination -- great combination and the brakes last much much longer than without the combination.

[7.3Ford]

I put exhaust brake on my 2001 F350. With Ford Automatic you also need a torque lock controller also, which locks the torque converter when the exhaust brake is on. We often go up and down 6% windy two line road. Before the exhaust brake, I would be in second gear, and have to apply brake, because RPM would approach red line... Exhaust brake hold the RPM down on same hill, never need to touch brakes.

[mtheo]

I put the Banks on my 2002 duramax and love it. Been using it for 4 years with no ill effects. With the tow/haul and the Banks I almost never need the TV brakes, and we have some long down grades out here.

[ejc1214]

I had a Pacbrake on my 2006 DRW and it worked fine but I hated the air release noise that it made.
I just got a new 2007.5 DRW and I decided to go with EFI Live tuning that allows me to have 5 tuning modes shift on the fly, MPG, 40HP tow. 70hp tow, 100hp street and 125hp hot tune. All the tunes have turbine(turbo)brake and it works very well! No more air release sound! It uses the turbo variable vanes to create back pressure and slow down the truck. I think Banks does the dame also but costs more. Mine works at any speed once I hit tow mode. It is basically what the 2011 trucks will have on board and I think the 4500/5500 Topkick worked same way. It only works on LLY/LBZ/LMM DA.. Hope that helps.

[Native Tex]

I had the Banks on my 2000 model, 7.3L Ford and it worked very good. I do not have it on the 6.0L with the tow/haul mode as it seems to work just as well. The Variable Vanes in the turbo work to accomplish the same back pressure as the Banks. I have almost 120K on the 6.0L and it seesm to work pretty good.

[sreigle]

Skypilot, my 2007 6.7L Cummins is likely set up the same as your 2010. The variable vane technology of the turbo works well, as it did in my 2003 and 2005 Fords. But the builtin exhaust brake for the Cummins is a slider on the turbo shaft that regulates how much exhaust is able to get to the turbo. I'm not sure whether that has something to do with causing the vanes to close but my understanding is that it is separate, that the variable vanes will close even when the exhaust brake is not activated. But I'm not an expert. All I know is it sure works well.

[K&Gs3400RL]

If anyone doesn't mind, What did you pay to have it installed? Im thinking of adding it to my 2004 Ram

[Gorgeguy]

Can't help with cost, but I sure love the PacBrake on my '04 Ram 3500 4x4. It was on it when I bought the truck.

[WeBeFulltime]

I purchased a new PACBRAKE PRXB about 3 years ago from a guy on ebay and installed it myself. Paid $1250.00 I believe and it has worked flawlessly from day one. Love it. Automatic transmission.