How does the engine brake work relative to downshifting and upshifting?

I drive by ear more than by tach, if you run any truck for several days, you kinda just get a feel for it…it’s a rhythm. Heard 1 guy say the smoothest shifting driver he ever rode with was an ex drummer. As far as jaking, I use mine all the time slowing down, saves the brakes!

 

Jakes are for driving in stop and go traffic under 30 mph and safely coming to a stop from 15 mph in a truck stop fuel island and nothing else
All the newer guys that use a Jake to shift have never driven a mechanical and missed a hole and jake instantly stalled an engine at highway speeds. Whatcha gonna do now junior?

 

I never leave mine on to shift. My truck has a mechanical cat, and the instant you back off throttle, the jake grabs

 

Leave the engine brake OFF until you are in the gear you will stay in for a while.

 

My truck and I are a little different than most, both of us have some age and some scars, and I at times feel as mechanical as my engine lol. Wife told me the other day I needed to drink some oil when she heard my knees pop as I stood up.

I get in some awkward places and at times a loaded heavy on a steep back road. These are the times the Jakes come in handy to drop the rpm quicker to grab a gear as I’m trying pull up a grade from a dead stop.

Jakes are your friend in the right situations, and your enemy as well in others. Using Jakes on a wet road when Bob tailing can create situations you don’t want…..

 

I would thank your last sentence twice if I could! Learned that the very 1st time I was driving a bobtail in the ☔️. Nothing bad happened, but I bet my eyes were huge lol

 

Just have to throw this in with all the great advice ... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE learn how to drive the manual without using the clutch brake every time you shift.

I have a driver who I can not get to break this habit, he stabs the clutch all the way down (it is easy for him because he is 6'4" with long legs) and wears out the clutch brake very quickly.

 

Sounds like it is time for that driver to learn how to replace the clutch brake.

 

He is a top producer, and I stopped replacing them and told him to learn how to drive the ******* truck right.

He would make a great dispatcher, he digs up loads off of the load boards somehow that pay good.

 

I get it but seriously, if he actually saw the clutch brake and how everything works as well as what it takes to replace it, he may be more cognizant of the consequences of pushing it too far when moving.