I haven't had the chance to drive with one yet but the old man put one in his 99 PS with 6spd tranny. Since diesels have such little compression braking he was going thru stets of brake pads like they were diesel fuel. He claims that it has cut the brake usage in less than half. I will have to drive it to see if it behaves any different than the Allison in Tow Haul mode and grade braking. I am sure it is different going down steep hills but coming to a stop I don't know because the Allison is aggressive with it's down shifts.
I was thinking of exhaust brakes when I was looking at diesels, but never saw the need on the DMax/Alli. The "grade braking" works so well, you will be amazed I think. Since I've been towing with mine, I've never once really wanted an exhaust brake. But make sure you read your manual so you know how to use it right. Basically, there are multiple levels and you "shift down" by just sort of tapping the brake. I've actually had to give it gas going down grades because I got it down to where I was loosing too much speed without touching the brakes. While you can "shift down" (in effect) you can't go back up without taking it all out by touching the gas.
I run a Banks brake because A) I wanted an inline brake so I could upgrade turbos later without worry and B) it was the only one offered with a true 4" turbo downpipe that completely replaced the stock cast iron elbow thats only 3". I run my exhaust break 24/7. I use it on any drive and it will bring me from 50 mph to 15 mph in no time. I can cruise down the street at 45 and see a light turn yellow and be down to 15 mph before I get close ot the light then just use the service brakes to stop me. My brakes last a long time imp:
My brother has one on his Dmax, and it works really well. The tow/haul feature of the Allison is nice, but add an exhaust brake and it is really impressive. He is using a Banks brake/exhaust. Even with our 2 S10's on his big trailer, going down steep hills is breeze and so much easier on the brakes. Also, the brake aids in cold weather starts keeping the exhaust closed at an idle until the engine reaches about 150 degrees (which doesn't take long with the exhaust closed off). I have ridden in his truck solo, and he hardly uses the brakes when driving in traffic. The tarnny and the exhaust brake do all of the work.
Hmm, starting to make me think about them again. But I have so much else to spend money and time on, it's likely to be a while given how well the trans brake works...
My brothers Banks brake is hardly noticeable. You can hear a bit of a whistle noise when the brake closes, but that is about it. Nothing like a Jake brake on big trucks. A lot of medium duty trucks have exhaust brakes on them, but you would never know it because the operation of the brake is mostly silent.
Bobby, If you want to find a certain way to kill your 47RE, just put an exhaust brake on your truck. Dodge does not certify the use of exhaust brakes on automatic-equipped trucks.
IIRC it's the 48RE that is not certified for an exhaust brake, regardless I don't care because ATS doesn't have a problem what so ever with an exhaust brake being used with their autos, infact, they advertise that you can use one with their tranny. You don't relize that I don't care about my stock tranny.
My grandfather runs a turbo mounted brake on his 99 and we have to be careful with it. Only turn it on when it is absolutely needed because it will smoke the trans.
If you don't care, have at it. I'm considering this. The only thing holding me back is the $$$ and the fact that I live in the flat and dying land of Illinois and would see little use for it around my home.
See little use? I use thing 100% of the time. You don't need hills, probably 80% of the use on mine is on flat roads unloaded.
This is another reason Id like to get an exhaust brake for my truck, not just for towing, but to save the service brakes during around town driving. Thats a damn good point to make willyswanter.
I spend 90% of my time on the highway. I drive 1000 miles every week to work, all highway but about two miles. We shall see. They're pretty cheap considering the safety factor nowadays.
And you don't slow down to get off on off ramps? Seriously, I use it every time I slow down and only have to use the service brakes from 15mph to 0. Plus it sounds cool when I downshift into 3rd and the rpm's go up to 2800 with the exhaust brake on.
