How do you test the exhaust brake?

the only way I know of is to remove it. when we pulled mine apart, you could see that it was losing full throw because of the soot built up in front of a behind the slide/outer ring. the actuator wasn't getting full throw, therefore, less boost and less retard.

Dont know of a test but just use it all the time and you should be fine. Make it work a little too.

Compcowboy said:

Dont know of a test but just use it all the time and you should be fine. Make it work a little too.

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I just use mine all time as well (when I am towing), it has become second nature to kick it on when I am towing my 40ft 5th wheel...

Though I don't use it when I am not towing.. dont see the need..

Last time I towed I was coming down from the rim (south of FlagStaff), back in Phoenix, and there are quite a few 4-6% multiple mile downgrades, and I used is continuously there... and never ONCE had to touch the foot brake, and my speeds maintained around 47-55 mph.

its a wonderful little piece of engineering isn't it? I think my rotors are gonna collect dust as I never seem to even touch my brakes anymore, I just cant help it - I love the noise!

is it just me; when going down a pretty steep grade while towing in tow/haul and the eb on my truck will shift down to 3rd gear and rpms will climb to 3grand. sounds good but i dont know if this will cause any ill effects down the road cause it kind shifts hard. aint gotta use the brakes tho!! ne thots appreciated

Turn it on?

07bighornCTD said:

is it just me; when going down a pretty steep grade while towing in tow/haul and the eb on my truck will shift down to 3rd gear and rpms will climb to 3grand. sounds good but i dont know if this will cause any ill effects down the road cause it kind shifts hard. aint gotta use the brakes tho!! ne thots appreciated

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Mine started doing that after the last flash. It's really annoying. If you are towing something and descending a steep grade, you just want to hold it back - not stop the blasted thing! They got way too aggressive with that latest flash.

The E-brake on you should be able to feel it slow down substantially at or below 2500rpm. These arent like the internal (engine) jake brakes that work off the valves. These are not really meant to slow the truck down without using brakes, there used to ASSIST with braking and save on brake pads.

AMC Blastin' said:

Turn it on?

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that's what I was thinking lol

My EB seems way weaker since I got my flash updated from the AV to the AX. Even in Tow/Haul mode with the AX it feels about like the AV did in regular mode.

07bighornCTD said:

is it just me; when going down a pretty steep grade while towing in tow/haul and the eb on my truck will shift down to 3rd gear and rpms will climb to 3grand. sounds good but i dont know if this will cause any ill effects down the road cause it kind shifts hard. aint gotta use the brakes tho!! ne thots appreciated

Click to expand...

I experienced this too. I use the cruise even downhill (set to an appropriate speed) and the system does a good job if there is enough engine braking to hold the speed.

I just went down the hill between Lagrande and Pendeleton (Oregon) and used the cruise set at 45 most of the time and the truck did great. I bumped it up to 65 as we got on the final straignt away near the bottom. Awesome-my disks recieved no wear from that hill. :woot2:

I just went down the hill between Lagrande and Pendeleton (Oregon) and used the cruise set at 45 most of the time and the truck did great. I bumped it up to 65 as we got on the final straignt away near the bottom. Awesome-my disks recieved no wear from that hill. :woot2:[/QUOTE]


i came off cabage hill too with a ford focus on a 16 ft car trailer and never once had to touch the brakes. eb kept the speed about 65-70. its 6% grade i think for like 5-6 miles

Thats a pretty good hill. The exhaust brake helps a ton.