Split decision on engine brake vs exhaust brake for heavy loads

I used to think Jake brakes were the only way to go for big loads coming down grades. Ran a Kenworth T680 through the Rockies last month with a 40k load and the exhaust brake was all I had since the Jake was acting up. Honestly it held me back fine at 45 mph in 5th gear without riding the service brakes at all. But then I got into some steeper 7% grades near Glenwood Springs and that exhaust brake just couldn't cut it like a good Jake does with that compression release. Now I'm wondering if I should have been more open minded about exhaust brakes or if I just got lucky on the easier hills. Has anyone else switched from one to the other and noticed a big difference in control or brake wear?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_paul1mo ago

My buddy Mike runs a Freightliner Cascadia out of Salt Lake City hauling cattle, and he swore by exhaust brakes for years. He came down Wolf Creek Pass last winter with a full load and said the exhaust brake felt like it was barely grabbing compared to his old Cummins with a Jake. Then he got stuck behind a slow truck on a 6% grade near Durango and had to tap his service brakes way more than he liked, ended up with glazed drums by the time he hit the bottom. He switched to a Jake brake after that and told me it was night and day on those steep mountain passes, said he could hold 40 mph in 4th gear with no pedal at all. But he still uses the exhaust brake for lighter loads and flat ground because it's quieter and easier on the engine overall.

casey161mo ago

Oh man, I gotta be honest, I used to think exhaust brakes were basically just as good for most situations. But reading about your buddy's experience on Wolf Creek Pass and that 6% grade near Durango really changed my mind about how they stack up under heavy loads in the mountains. Makes sense that a Jake brake would give you that extra control when you really need it, even if the exhaust brake is nicer for day to day stuff.

veram991mo ago

Respectfully, I see it a little different. A properly spec'd exhaust brake with a good transmission brake or retarder can handle those grades just fine if you know how to use it right.