If you drive a diesel truck or RV long enough, you’ll eventually hear two terms tossed around like everyone’s supposed to know the difference: engine brakes and exhaust brakes.
Spoiler alert: they’re not the same thing. And no, you don’t need to be a gearhead to understand why one makes sense for your pickup or RV, while the other belongs on an 18-wheeler barreling down the interstate.
Let’s break it down. 🕺
What is an Engine Brake?
Sometimes referred to as a “jake brake”, the engine brake is the noisy one you’ve probably heard when a semi blasts past you on a downhill grade. It works by altering how the engine valves release compressed air in the cylinders. The result? A massive slowdown—paired with a sound that could wake the dead.
Engine brakes are perfect for 80,000-pound big rigs that need all the help they can get staying in control. But unless you’re driving a semi for a living, it’s overkill. Imagine rolling into your quiet campground, only to rattle every RV around you with that signature “machine-gun” bark. Not exactly neighbor-friendly.
What is an Exhaust Brake?
Now, here’s where things get interesting. An exhaust brake restricts the flow of exhaust gases leaving your engine, creating back pressure. That back pressure resists the engine’s rotation, which in turn slows down your truck or RV.
Translation: you get smooth, quiet deceleration without cooking your wheel brakes. No drama, no noise complaints, and no white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel as you head down a steep mountain pass.
Why You Should Care
Here’s the truth:
- Engine Brakes are loud, heavy-duty, and really only make sense for semis.
- Exhaust Brakes are designed for trucks, RVs, and anyone who tows—and they actually make your driving life easier.
Still think your wheel brakes are enough? Try riding them down a 6% grade with 12,000 pounds in tow. You’ll be pricing out brake replacements before you hit the bottom. Exhaust brakes don’t just save your sanity—they save your wallet.
The Pacbrake Difference
Pacbrake has been perfecting exhaust brake technology for decades, and we’ve dialed it in for real-world drivers—people like you who haul campers, tow boats, or just want their truck to last longer than a set of brake pads. Our exhaust brakes give you:
- Safer downhill control (no more sweaty palms on steep grades).
- Less wear on wheel brakes (translation: more money in your pocket).
- Quiet, reliable operation (because nobody wants to be that guy waking up the campground).
Bottom line? If you’re not driving an 18-wheeler, you don’t need an engine brake. You need an exhaust brake—and Pacbrake makes the best in the business.