BD exhaust brake any good?

Thanks p-Bar!

 

X2. I had one of those hickey-do pins that plug into the ECM that wouldn't lock into the connector block. BD sent me another and it went together smoothly. The directions were pretty straight forward and as p-Bar mentioned, they have great customer service. Make sure that all the air-fitting connections are tight. I had one that was too loose and not letting the system hold pressure and the air compressor was cycling way too much (burning up the relay in just a few days). It was a bear to find/isolate but once done, the system has operated flawlessly.

- Ed

 

SJBrooks a couple other things I was thinking of is the butterfly is S. S. and it is bushed into the cast-iron elbow. You won't have all the electronics to deal with on the manual trans. Also retorque the clamps on the elbow once you get some miles on it. That was per Jelag who used to install them for a living. Good luck

 

Thanks again!

Steve

 

The air compressors aside, since BD had a better location but you can mount the thing anywhere, I would get the PXRB. The way that the PXRB regulates is backpressure is far better, IMHO, than the BD. The BD looks like it will eventually plug with soot and not regulate properly; whereas that is not possible with the PXRB.

My 0.02 is the PXRB is the better brake so get it and mount the pump where you want it.

 

Appreciate the replies, as they'll help me decide which brake to get. Please keep posting the various pros/cons/etc of each brand.

Steve

 

All,

Good morning!

This is my first post back on the TDR in years. I reluctantly sold my 02 6sp in 09 and got a GMC. Only because the Dodge crew cab was almost the same size as the 02 extended cab. With the wife being pregnant and kid seats behind us, we needed something larger. I convinced myself I needed a long bed, complicated by the fact the Mega Cab was nearly impossible to find with the manual.

I believed then, and firmly believe now that an automatic has no business behind a diesel, many argue differently, but I'll never make that mistake again (stuck Duramax/Allison on the ALCAN in December 09).

Anyway! I just picked up a 06 Mega 6SP in Montana, drove it 2400 miles back to Alaska last week. Upon getting out if the mountains in Canada and seeing the tell-tale bake dust on the front rims, I'm back on the hunt for a Brake.

My first real opinion was the BD bake. I loved the shifter switch and back on 02 it was the strongest brake back then.

I still have a lot of research to finish, but with past experience, BD will have to be knocked off the pedestal. The only problems I had with the vacuum system previously was every 30k or so I had to disassemble the vac solenoid and clean the carbon out of it.

Note I have arctic conditions to deal with now: (-60 day, 8 months of "winter" etc).

It's good to be back!

Corey

 

I have had the BD for over a year and I am pleased with it.

 

I have had a Pacbrake PRXB on my '07, 5.9 for 7 years. My truck is a stick and it gets used every time I drive it. The only problem was the check valve in the compressor didn't last and the compressor finally got weak but never failed. I finally installed a Viair 480C BIG compressor with 100% duty cycle. I added a 2.5 gallon tank. I would buy another Pacbrake in an instant. Somehow, a 22 inch GROVER single trumpet AIR horn found its way into my right front inner wheel as well. I have woke up a few people with that!

 

Welcome back Cory! I sold my stick to get an auto that my wife can drive...i dont regret it, but sometimes i wish...............

Motorhead,... thats what happens when you leave your truck unsupervised! Fun to have fun, eh?! :-laf

 

Used it today (Air Horn) coming back from Fresno to Paso Robles. There was an area where there was passing lane on State Hwy 41. I was towing an enclosed trailer with my BMW R1200GS motorcycle inside. This idiot in a gasser Chevy pickup was sitting in the passing lane going 60mph holding people up. I swung back into the slow lane and going up a pretty good hill got along side him and "WOKE HIM UP" with the Grover air horn. He started to speed up to not let me pass so even in 6th gear, I was still able to out run him before the passing lane ended. I DO still like the 6 speed stick.

 

I have had the Pacbrake PRXB since I bought my truck used. Have had a couple trailers loose their brakes and really didn't notice with the EB. The PRXB will stay on all the way down to and including idle. I had to get their special oil and lube up the shuttle valve, fix some leaks, and reattached some air lines before it worked. Other than the extreme vibration on the engine mount compressor location causing fittings to wear and leak I like it. The under hood location warms up the pump to help deal with cold weather ice blocked lines from condensed moisture: a byproduct of compressed air.

The BD may be a great design, but, frankly the second unreliable thing we remove from a GM 6.5 TD is the seize-o-matic belt drive vacuum pump. However the BD vac design would eliminate the "ice" issue found in compressed air systems. A spare shorter belt can eliminate this failure from stranding you. Yeah I know it's a low blow, but, perspective of this trade off would work for you if ice is a bigger issue in your weather.

This said be aware that clutches are designed to torque in 1 direction only. Rumor is out there you can order a special made clutch (SB?) that addresses this weakness some. The rest of the powertrain also has some minor disadvantages like the rear end and 'hard on exhaust valves'. The advice I have been given is use the brake now and then to keep it from sooting up or locking up, however, don't really use it unless you are towing. YMMV

 

I can't say I know anything about a GM 6.5 TD, and some might argue that I don't know much about my 5.9 CTD. However, I do know I don't have a belt drive vacuum pump on my BD exhaust brake. My system came with an air compressor which is an excellent unit. I would recommend them in a heart beat. Mine stays on 95% of the time and I haven't had to lube or clean it. Plain and simple; it works.

- Ed

 

Maybe it's the Jake Brake that has the vacuum pump or older units?

 

Jake uses a vacuum pump.

 

That to me is the LARGEST Negative issue about the Jacobs Brake for the third gen trucks. The worst part is if the pump siezes while you are going down the road, you loose the belt, power steering and power braking...Oh and yes, the water pump stops turning. A sudden release of tension on the belt tensioner can break it too as it slams back. Maybe that's why I chose the PRXB!

 

I guess there was a run of bad pumps in 04 timeframe. I know my pump installed in 07 worked great for 83K miles until I replaced it when I did the water pump, alt refreseh, etc (engine had 93K and vac pump was installed at 10K). My dad's 06 had one installed in 06 and it worked for 110K miles until the diaphragm ripped.

To me the chance of the bearing seizing is no greater than the alternator, water pump, power steering pump, etc...

The PXRB does have more low rpm braking than the Jacobs brake but from about 1800 up they are the same on a stock cam. On my aftermarket cam I have more braking power with the Jacobs from about 1800+ than the PXRB or BD would.