Downgrades without jake/engine brakes

No. But braking at lower speeds doesn't cause as quick of heat development between the brake and the drum.

 

This ^^^^^^^

 

No-as J.S. said.Go down that hill in the same gear you climbed it in.
Be careful downshifting-as your flyin down-if you cant grab the next lower gear-your SOL.
Thats bad.

 

Does the ops trk have a Brake Pressure Gauge ? If you are that heavy and coming down Cabbage or Eisenhower keep it in 7th gear and let Billy Big Rigger go smoking by you.

 

Dont panic if you feel control of truck just apply brakes hear and there dont let the speed pick up try too control it. It happen too me i was going down donner and jake brake went i was freaking out and guess what over heated the brakes so my boss made me go back goo NYC with no jake brakes i just got on a lowerd gear put on flasher and just controled the speed

 

Even without a jake, the engine's high compression will slow you down. Just nowhere as strong as a jake. 75000lbs, you want 25-30mph with rpms at 1700. Turn on your engine fan...it will help drag down the engine.

Get underneath the truck and look at the brake pads. If they're thin or cracked, get them replaced. If not, and the brakes feel weak, you can try to adjust them. There's a little adjuster nut on the slack adjuster. Tighten the nut until you feel it snug up and then loosen the nut a half a turn. (You said old truck...depending on the year, you may not have automatic slack adjusters and have to manually adjust them)