exhaust brake???

[tinkerr]

I've been thinking about a exhaust brake for my 99 f-350. I saw something on E-bay for $129 plug it in and mount the switch. It's all electric and controls some kind of flap in the exhaust. Anybody know anything about this device?

[SmokeyWren]

There are two basic kinds of exhaust brakes for a 7.3L PSD. The good kind adds a big butterfly to the exhaust pipe, and costs over $1,000 from Banks, U.S.Gear, PacBrake, BD Performance, and some others.

The "electronic" kind are much less expensive. You can do a simple switch for a few bucks that will close the stock exhaust back pressure valve (EBPV). The closed EBPV acts as the exhaust brake, and works pretty good on stick shifters, and on automagic trannies when the torque converter is locked at over 2,000 RPM with the trailer pushing you down the mountain. You can even add the switch with DIY procedures:
TheDieselStop.Com - DIY Exhaust Brake.

The fancy electronic models for trucks with automagic tranny cost abour $400 and include a small computer chip that keeps the torque converter locked as well as closes the exhaust back pressure valve (EBPV). And it automagically unlocks the torque converter when your speed drops to whatever you program it for - about 30 MPH works good for coming to a stop. If you have a manual torque converter lockup switch and you forget to unlock it when coming to a stop, your truck will fuss at you the way a stick shifter will if you forget to mash the clutch pedal when coming to a stop.

With a stock tune, the computer will unlock the torque converter when your speed falls to below about 37 MPH. And it will lock the torque converter when your speed exceeds about 37 MPH. With my SP Diesel torque converter controller, I can easily change those lock/unlock speeds to whatever I want. I like mine to lock at about 35 MPH but to unlock at about 30 MPH.

Mine is the Speed Sense Exhaust Brake and Torque Converter Controller (SSEBTC) from
SP Diesel
BD also sells one for the 7.3L called the BrakeLoc
BD Power - The Leaders in Diesel Performance

BD sells both the BrakeLoc and the much-higher-priced BD exhaust brake, so they will try very hard to get you to skip the BrakeLoc and spend the money for their good one.

If that e-bay thing controls both the EBPV and the torque converter, then it might be worth the money. If not, then either DIY or invest in the $400 fancy electronic good ones from SP-Diesel or BD.

[snakyjake]

I've been researching this option too, and still have questions regarding value. It sounds like the trucks that cost/benefit (=value) from EBPV are heavy loads and prolonged braking. If that's true, that means empty loads don't have a $400 investment value. Nor do short braking return a $400 investment.

I'm still trying to figure out if EPBV brake is overkill for running empty, and occasional long hills going over a mountain pass. The engine does seem to contribute some brake going down the hill in my automatic and in 2nd gear.

My goal is to not have to replace/turn rotors on a 4x4. I have no problem replacing pads.

[skibarefoot]

I have the electronic exhaust brake from BD. I only use it when towing. I don't like it on when not towing because the truck doesn't decelerate smoothly. If all you want is to save your rotors then ski[ the exhaust brake and wait until the brakes wear out. Then when you change out the rotors switch to good pads and rotors. I use Hawk heavy duty pads and NAPA slotted rotors with great results.

[BTBBT]

I just did the DIY exhaust brake, and with a handshaker I don't have to worry about any automagic thingys doing weird things on me. I use it empty or loaded. I still wonder how much more braking effort one of those expensive aftermarket ones would give me, but till I have the money just lying around... I'll never know for sure!

I also have the Hawks and Powerslots and think the whole thing is a great combo.

[HorseHauler]

I've wondered if an exhaust brake (on a manual transmission) works any better than downshifting. Any comments?

[tinkerr]

I'm considering the exhaust brake, because I'm really disappointed with the factory braking of the truck. I was expecting better from a 1ton drw truck. My f150 towing the same trailer comparable loaded braked as well. I know the f-350 weighs 2k more but still it's a 1ton truck. I'm concerned with braking or lack there of in the mountains of WV. My last trip the brakes got a little hot and I had to keep dialing in more trailer braking. Do these trucks have a reputation for insufficent brake capacity. My trailer has brakes on 1 axle and gvw is about 3500lbs, the truck itself is empty when towing the trailer.

Diesel motors don't provide alot of back pressure for engine braking. Can't speak to the whys, somebody smarter than me will have to chime in.

[caryt]

BD brake towing 10K + you have to switch it off coming down big hills as it will slow you down to much, way more braking that the stock valve will give you. If you have a auto do not get any elect mod to control the lockup. Get a BTS VB and good tunes.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by tinkerr

Diesel motors don't provide alot of back pressure for engine braking.

Granted, but they do have some. On a stick shifter, if you downshift you'll notice some engine braking. On a 4R100 automagic with a properly functioning coast brake and a locked torque converter, you have some. But if you touch the brakes that unlocks the torque converter and then you're almost free-wheeling.

Can't speak to the whys, somebody smarter than me will have to chime in.

I've never won any smart contests, but I've read why.

Most gas engines have a throttle, and the throttle plate acts as an exhaust brake when you let off the go pedal. But diesels don't have a throttle plate, so if you want similar engine braking you have to add a butterfly in the exhaust system in place of a throttle plate. The 7.3L PSD already has a small butterfly in the exhaust system called the exhaust back pressure valve (EBPV) that the cheap exhaust brakes use as their butterfly. If you keep the RPM up over about 2,000, keep the torque converter locked, and have a good tranny with a properly functioning coast clutch then you can have a decent exhaust brake for comin' down the mountain by simply closing the EBPV.

The EBPV is part of the cold ambient package (CAP), designed into our engines only to provide faster warm-up of a cold engine. International and Ford never intended us to use the EBPV as an exhaust brake, but it's a simple electronic wiring project to get'er done.

One caveat: Our PSDs have hydraulic valve lifters, and Ford says an exhaust brake can damage the engine. So back when our engines were under warranty, Ford would void the engine warranty on any PSD that had an exhaust brake. However, for the last 10 years and hundreds of manhours spent reading TheDieselStop forums, I have not heard of even one case of an exhaust brake damaging a PSD.

[jakebeefsteak]

I absolutely love mine and use it every time I drive the truck. IMO It’s what the truck needs, it can tow a house, but not necessarily stop it. My BD vacuum operated brake is a far more durable & substantial butterfly valve assembly vs. the stock EBV that I gutted. I use it for 5-6 min. to warm the truck up, works great. Now, that being said I feel they are a bit overpriced.

[xcr8oo151]

has there been a update to the diy install for the auto? if you were to just close the butteryfly and not used the brake to keep the conv.locked would it be of much good to set it up on a on of switch.that way when u come to a stop and forget to turn it off,the engine won't try to stall out and u will remember when u don't go very fast that it is still closed.am i thinking about this right or am i missing something.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by xcr8oo151

has there been a update to the diy install for the auto? if you were to just close the butteryfly and not used the brake to keep the conv.locked would it be of much good to set it up on a on of switch.that way when u come to a stop and forget to turn it off,the engine won't try to stall out and u will remember when u don't go very fast that it is still closed.am i thinking about this right or am i missing something.

I suspect you're right. Lots of folks use an electronic exhaust brake without a torque converter controller. When comin' down the mountain, if you can resist touching the brakes (which unlocks the torque converter with most tunes) and keep the RPM up over 2,000, then the closed EBPV does a decent job of retarding. But touch the brakes and the retarding action almost disappears when the torque converter unlocks and begins slipping.

[xcr8oo151]

thanks for the reply smokey,so how do you set up a switch to just engage the ebpv to close when you want it to?

[djbrown]

i like my set up also, banks brake with banks trans loc. i only use it when im towing. when im not towing the truck slows down to fast and to hard. i found having it off when im not towing allows the truck to cost. when the truck cost around corners or down the road im getting better fuel milage. If the brake is on then i have to speed back up every time i let off of the fuel. if im pulling my 37 ft horse trailer with 5 horses going down hill it will slow me down to 45 mph without touching the brake (od off). with the transloc i can ride the brakes if needed and the TQ will not come disingaged

my brother has the ebpv set up and tows a 21ft toy hauler, he said that he doesnt need to touch the brakes going down the same hills. now there is a HUGE weight diffrence there but it fits his needs and mine fits my needs, so i would say they both work in there own ways.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by xcr8oo151

thanks for the reply smokey,so how do you set up a switch to just engage the ebpv to close when you want it to?

Scroll up to my first post in this thread, and click on "DIY exhaust brake".