Community Forums

Wood Chip · 02-20-2018, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickeoni

Thought about it for a while, but with the engine brake we usually have to give it gas going downhill. Even travelling the mighty Coquihalla, I only have to tap the whoa pedal occasionally.

I agree that the exhaust brakes on these rigs work great for long descents but last year I had a car stop on the freeway in the middle lane about 4 or 5 cars ahead me and I realized right then that the drum brakes just were not adequate for that emergency scenario. Even if this mod is marginally better than the OEM drum brakes, it will still be worth to me.

plasma800 · 02-20-2018, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wood Chip

I agree that the exhaust brakes on these rigs work great for long descents but last year I had a car stop on the freeway in the middle lane about 4 or 5 cars ahead me and I realized right then that the drum brakes just were not adequate for that emergency scenario. Even if this mod is marginally better than the OEM drum brakes, it will still be worth to me.

brulaz · 02-21-2018, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wood Chip

I agree that the exhaust brakes on these rigs work great for long descents but last year I had a car stop on the freeway in the middle lane about 4 or 5 cars ahead me and I realized right then that the drum brakes just were not adequate for that emergency scenario. Even if this mod is marginally better than the OEM drum brakes, it will still be worth to me.

You can't lock up your drum brakes?
That may be an issue with your brake contoller.
Ours are very sensitive and quickly drag the truck to a stop.
Another possible issue is greased drum brakes from a broken seal.
Discs shouldn't have that problem.

But on a long down hill with my old truck I over-heated the drums (and the truck's brakes as well). That problem was solved with the new truck's exhaust brake.

Cumminsfan · 02-21-2018, 09:22 AM

My 12 Ram CTD won't lock the 5er brakes using the OEM TBC. Had the original TBC replaced 1 week into ownership. No difference.
Replaced the OEM TBC with a Prodigy P3. Problem solved. Set to 6.5 on B2 and the 5er brakes will drag the trck to a stop if needed.
Tried every setting on the OEM and none stop the 5er as well as the P3.

plasma800 · 02-21-2018, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

My 12 Ram CTD won't lock the 5er brakes using the OEM TBC. Had the original TBC replaced 1 week into ownership. No difference.
Replaced the OEM TBC with a Prodigy P3. Problem solved. Set to 6.5 on B2 and the 5er brakes will drag the trck to a stop if needed.
Tried every setting on the OEM and none stop the 5er as well as the P3.

That’s very interesting

cruzbill · 02-21-2018, 09:46 AM

Disc brakes outperform dumb brakes in every way, that's why they are the brakes installed on your tow vehicle and passenger car.

The swap is not hard, nor expensive. You will have a system that brakes better, with less maintenance, and most importantly, you will have peace of mind that your braking system is working at its peak to keep your family safe.

I lost all braking on my 5ver twice on one trip years ago. I did the disc brake swap as soon as I got home. No problems since. End of lecture, thanks for listening.

plasma800 · 02-21-2018, 09:47 AM

Hey all, it looks like in my main storage compartment there’s a little little box hanging from the ceiling all the way toward the front dead center. I haven’t removed it yet but I’m feeling the wiring is in there?

cruzbill · 02-21-2018, 09:51 AM

Junction box for your pigtail? Mine was in the gooseneck.

plasma800 · 02-21-2018, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruzbill

Junction box for your pigtail? Mine was in the gooseneck.

man I looked inside my gooseneck, and yes wires are there, they are pin far in there and tough to reach.

cruzbill · 02-21-2018, 10:05 AM

If you found a j-box for your pigtail in your storage compartment, you're good to go!

plasma800 · 02-21-2018, 10:06 AM

plasma800 · 02-21-2018, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruzbill

If you found a j-box for your pigtail in your storage compartment, you're good to go!

i'll pull that cover in a while, it's raining like crazy here today.

Hey when i pull those hubs, I'll need to clean all of the old grease from the bearings right?

cruzbill · 02-21-2018, 10:09 AM

Not a j-box, its a 30a 12v breaker, small ga black wire out, you'll have to trace that down.

plasma800 · 02-21-2018, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruzbill

Not a j-box, its a 30a 12v breaker, small ga black wire out, you'll have to trace that down.

Yeah I feel it's at the other end of that wire loom under that hanging cover in my main storage comp. IN the front of my 5rv, I have a perfect bay to mount the actuator. as long as I can fish the wires down into it, but they share a wall.. I'm nervous to drill into something else .. I'll have to look at it really hard.