'97 Endeavor - First DP - Exhaust Brake?

[ahicks]

We're seriously considering updating to a "new to us" 1997 37' HR Endeavor w/275hp Cat and Freightliner chassis. This will be my first diesel, so there's some pretty obvious differences in operation from the gassers. I'm familiar with a lot of that, most of it's pretty straight forward. But have a question regarding the exhaust brake. I get how it works, but not how/when it's actually applied? With the dash switch "on", when should I expect it to engage? When the brakes are applied, or when the gas (ok, fuel) pedal is released? Or? Any help appreciated. TIA

[allegro5]

Only as you havent had any replys: I have the Cummins engine and a round foot control for the Pac break! The deal is, you cant be in cruise control, you have to have your foot off the throtel and thenit will work if it isnt frozen open! To check on that , cut the wire at the Solenoid for the brake, crimp a pair of connectors to reinstall that! Take a jumper wire to a hot place, and touch the wire to that Solenoid! If the exhaust brake works you will see it snap closed! If not, you need a special oil and many use Tri Flo that you google the name to find! Oil any place that moves and also the places that are its mountings to the cylinder. Also where it goes into the exhaust! Forgive my spelling! Allegro5

[JimM68]

If you can test drive the rig, the exhaust brake is easy enough to test.

with the switch on and the cruise not engaged, the exhaust brake will engage automatically when you take your foot off the gas, you will see the "gear desired" display go from 6 to 2.

When able without over reving, it will downshift, keeping the rpm up around redline, down through the gears until it gets to second.

It will disengage immediately if you step back on the gas, the gear desired display will go to 6, and it will immediately start upshifting.

[Rex]

Well one point, the exhaust brake will NOT engage above a certain speed. On my coach that is 62mph so you will need to know the top speed it works on the coach you are looking at. Once you get used to it, you will use it much more than the service brakes.

[CarlGeo]

There are multiple settings for the Pac Brake. The setting that probably most common is for the exhaust brake to apply when the accelerator pedal is released, I beleive this is called Manual Mode. Cruise control must be in off position.
Another setting is called Latch Mode. In this setting the exhaust brake activates when you apply service brakes and stays on until the accelerator is again activated.
My 97 Safari with CAT and Allison is in the Manual mode, and I would like to have it reprogrammed to the Latch Mode.
There is an after market switch that works in a similar manner to the Latch Mode. I have read posts of some who installed the switch, and they all seem to like it.
CarlGeo

[allegro5]

I am not up to speed on how to use the Pacbrake! Let me ask, once you have it on, you dont need to press the PB switch again? Just let off the throttle and it will come on? I know the cruise has to be off and one says the speed has to be under 62. Although a friend told me the brake will work even at higher speeds? allegro5

[ahicks]

Thanks for the time/trouble of the responses. You've already been very helpfull. Taken as a whole I've got a much better idea of what to expect climbing behind the wheel for the first time. Still, there's some of this that I'd like to know more about? Can somebody explain "Pac Brake", the multiple settings, and round foot control please? Are these options to what I might expect as "standard" on the '97 HR/Freightliner/Cat?

[JimM68]

Many of those terms confuse me as well?.

My monaco is newer, an 08, and has a larger isc engine.

As far as I know, it has an "exhaust brake." That is how the one and only rocker switch is labeled.

I've also seen other monacos with the switch labeled high/lo.
I

I've heard of some high end coaches such as foretravel that have a footpedal controled transmission retarder, but this is a whole nother anima

[fxdave]

i have the same model an i love it ! i apply it when engaging down a big hill or when ever i want to use it i don't leave it on ! its a great coach !

[fxdave]

bye the way i mean i actually flip the switch i never leave it on ! hope this helps

[LeeB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rex Well one point, the exhaust brake will NOT engage above a certain speed. On my coach that is 62mph so you will need to know the top speed it works on the coach you are looking at. Once you get used to it, you will use it much more than the service brakes.

X2....

[slickest1]

That unit will have a PacBrake unit on it. There will be a switch most likely on the side console marked exhaust brake. Some people just leave the switch on all the time and some only turn it on when it is needed. Either way is fine whatever you are most comfortable with. If you leave the switch on it will engage every time you release your foot off the throttle. This will cause your trans. to shift down as you slow down. The big advantage to them is decending a hill, you slow down to a comfortable speed and your pacbrake will hold your speed back so you only need to use your foot brakes to check your speed, thus not overheating your brakes. It will not work when on cruise control. Hope that helps.

[ahicks]

Drove the coach yesterday. Actually I bought it. Safe to assume I walked away from the test drive pretty much all smiles! Still much to learn though...

I found the "Pac Brake" is a manufucturer of exhaust brakes, eliminating my confusion there.

On this coach, with exhaust brake turned on and cruise off, when you lift your foot completely off the accelerator pedal, the exhaust brake engages (slowing the coach much more quickly than when not on), and the transmission goes for second gear, downshifting to lower gears as rpms allow. This action stops as soon as you start pushing back down on the pedal, so you can control/modulate this action very easily! I can see now how people drive with the exh. brake on full time. I've heard both sides of that story and only time will tell how I do it.

Thanks for your help everyone!

[fxdave]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slickest1 That unit will have a PacBrake unit on it. There will be a switch most likely on the side console marked exhaust brake. Some people just leave the switch on all the time and some only turn it on when it is needed. Either way is fine whatever you are most comfortable with. If you leave the switch on it will engage every time you release your foot off the throttle. This will cause your trans. to shift down as you slow down. The big advantage to them is decending a hill, you slow down to a comfortable speed and your pacbrake will hold your speed back so you only need to use your foot brakes to check your speed, thus not overheating your brakes. It will not work when on cruise control. Hope that helps.

thanks for that info