Engine Brake Question

You stated I should try stopping with and without the compression brakes, and see which way I can stop quicker. I pointed out that if the service brakes are already powerful enough to lock up the tires, you aren't going to stop any faster than you can with those service brakes. I'm not saying locking up the tires is a good thing...in fact if you knew how to read, you would have seen where I stated the opposite: A skidding tire takes longer to stop! Increased braking force at the wheel when the service brake already exceeds the traction the tire has available will not show ANY improvement in the stopping distance, because the service brakes are already capable of applying maximum braking force to the tire.

If you want to decrease your stopping distance, you need to increase the traction the tires have available...which deals with tire composition and road surface type and condition. Does using the compression brake increase traction? NO! So how is the use of the compression brake going to reduce stopping distance beyond what is already capable with the service brakes? It isn't.

How long have I been driving? Longer than you.

 

You can't even hear mine. Theres not a cop in the world that could prove I had mine on with the exception of me slowing down without my brake lights coming on. Just because older trucks or trucks running straight pipes are loud doesn't mean all are. And those guys with the straight pipes ARE the reason for the noise ordinances.

 

You did a lot of unnecessary work & spent a ton of money you didn't have to spend. If a seal isn't leaking, there's no reason to replace it. If you pull the bearing out and clean it up for inspection and it still looks good, again, there is no reason to replace it.

Last time I did my brakes, the total bill (drums & shoes) was under $1500.

 

the no jake signs are for the super truckers like this one here. watch this youtube vid. warning, inappropriate language at the end. not for work or kiddies. fast foward to 37 seconds. and that is why the signs are everywhere. noise.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pokpfj6ZF90&feature=related[/ame]

 

The KW was pushing a half million and I was getting ready to to trade it in..the bearings had some play..the drums were wore down and she needed new pads...the seals were replaced because the bearings were..and when I say I mean play in excess of spec..they were due..she was paid for and had served me well..she probably went on to serve somebody else well on to a million miles..the 8 grand was good for an a better trade in value that was more than worth it..

I had also taken it and had the paint touched up and had the driver's seat upholstery replaced....my new 05 pete was half paid for when I took delivery because of all that..the only thing that KW hadn't had done was an inframe..and honestly..she didn't use oil so she didn't need it..Its like tradin in a car..you want the most you can from the dealership so you get those things taken care of..only on a truck..they ain't quite so little..I bught that kw with a quarter mill on the odo from a bull hauler...I put 22.5's on and got rid of the 24s other than that he had ridden her pretty hard for that first quarter mill..sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do...

Petey

 

Half a million miles and the bearings were already shot? Wow...KW "quality" must really suck....either that or you didn't keep up with the maintenance while you had it. So which is it?

 

I just cannot see how a complete brake job with drums, bearings, slack adjusters, EVERYTHING NEW could even be close to 8 grand.

Most I have ever spent on a complete brake job with all new parts was around 3 grand, but then it was not in a KW shop.
I just cannot afford these dealer's prices.

 

Lets just say that we are BOTH glad that you don't drive for me.

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. Nowhere did I suggest ( or mean to suggest) that service brakes WON'T stop a truck. They will, if in good repair and properly adjusted, stop a truck just fine. HOWEVER, they wear and the sooner they wear out, the sooner they have to be replaced AT A COST. It's not a matter of whether or not the truck can be stopped, it's whether or not it's being done efficiently and an engine brake is a far more cost effective braking system than service brakes for every day braking applications. IMO, service brakes are for emergencies. If I have to use the service brakes to slow down for a stop sign, I'm approaching the intersection too fast or beginning to slow down too late and need to adjust my driving habits. Like I said before, I don't care HOW anyone else wants to drive their trucks, in MY trucks, the jake is there to use and to save on the service brakes and THAT's how i expect them to be run.

 

You might be "saving" on service brakes, but you are increasing the stresses placed upon the engine, transmission, u-joints, drive shafts, differentials, etc...the entire driveline...thereby shortening the service life of each of those components.

Either way, it is going to cost you money to keep the truck in operational condition...and if you can't afford to maintain the truck, perhaps you shouldn't own one?

 

I don't own a Mack so these things are not a concern for me.

That's like saying "if you can't afford to give up 2MPG by driving like a boonyak, perhaps you shouldn't own a truck". Affording it has nothing to do with it. It's about running an efficient outfit and not throwing dollars away needlessly.