Ok I know this has been beat to death, and I did search, but all I came up with is what brakes DON'T give big rig sound... Is there one that does? All the ones I hear sound like a potato stuffed in the exhaust...

Jason

 

The exhaust brakes on the Dodge trucks works completely different than those on the semi's and larger trucks. You'll never find one that makes your truck sound like that.

 

well crap, guess its time to trade her in on a Peterbuilt!

Jason

 

The Brake On The Semi Is A Engine Brake It Works By Opening The Exhaust Valves

 

design one, you will be RICH~!!!

 

the ones for our trucks sound ok in the cab, but sound like a bad air leak outside of the truck

brett

 

Im surprised that air leak sound is not a headgasket, im no engineer but it seems strange to make a brake that literally closes the exhast flow off like your potato in the pipe comment. Seems like a bad idea, the class 8 trucks is nothing like this, it works off compresion release by opening the exh. valves as mentained before.

 

That and the ones for a semi actually have retarding HP. (both Cat and Cummins have up to 600 retarding hp engine brakes) unlike the goofy exhaust flapper you can get on a pickup which is equal to the same braking you'd get if you drug your feet "Flinstones" style!

 

Hey its better than nothing! Every exhaust brake I've seen is regulated to less than 60 psi back pressure. If you consider the compression pressure generated by the engine and the pressure generated by combustion you'll realize that the pressure generated by the exhaust brake is nothing.

So if they don't have actual retarding HP what do they have?

 

359 cubic inches. When all you do is block the exh. pipe, the cylinders are just chasing that air back and forth, sense nothing can come out- nothing can go in, ive never driving with that style of brake but i bet its not very impresive.......compaired anyway...

 

Don't knock them until you've tried them. I'd say they work very well. On hills that I used to have to brake the whole way down I now have to accelerate half way down to keep from going too slow. I couldn't care less how many retarded horses or whatever they make, just know they work.

 

The air isn't just being tossed back and forth. More air can go in and be compressed, the valves assure that. Exhaust valve closes, intake opens, air comes in, power stroke happens, exhaust valve opens and the piston pushes the air out into the already pressurized manifold. You got braking!

I don't have one but know a couple of guys who do. Its not nearly as unimpressive as you make it out to be.

 

they actually work pretty good, I love mine. the true engine brakes work better, but they dont make them for the 5.9 I have driven some class 8 trucks that used both engine & exhaust brakes, real good slowing power!!!

 

arnt some of these 5.9's in some semi's?

 

The company I work for has a couple of 5.9's in some "yard trucks". They just ferry trailers around the plant. I've never heard them have any jake or exhaust brake sounds.