banks brake 01 psd review

[pdrhound]

I recently installed a banks brake on my 2001 f-450. we are doing more towing to new mexico now and want a little help. We have a 2001 f350 with a western electric brake. i will compare later

Install

I installed the banks brake in about 9 hours (4 spent on the back two bolts of the exaust housing. It was pretty strait forward except for those two bolts and the grey wire with black stripe coming off the computer. (pin 58 i think and one of 4 grey and black wires in the bundle). I will go back latter and upgrade my splices to soldered joints.

Don't do this install with out a 12 point 8mm swivel socket and some small hands. Gaining access to the wiring bundle is a pain with big hands.

Operation

I did the install at 7600 feet and noticed right off the vacuum pump ran constantly. This has been my biggest bug and continues to Piss me off. It will function correctly below 6000ft ( 2-3 seconds to activate brake) but not at 7600 and above. Called banks and they told me i need 20 inches at actuator and should have 25 from pump. Well i had 20 from pump and 19.5 at actuator. it seems to operate properly but i have doubts about its performance at 11000'. will know soon enough.

Seems like a lot of trouble to close a valve.

It will be good to have the housing as i will be upgrading exaust very soon and 4 inch will bolt right up.

the brake seems to hold speed only marginally with gross of 14,000lbs on the steep portions of I-70. I'm less than impressed. I will be contacting banks to see if they got a pump that will perform better at altitude but i'm sure they don't. I don't feel it will improve the braking.

Compare

All and all i feel it does nott perform as well as the western on the 2001 and it is an Auto compared to the banks and a six speed. If i was to go this way again i would install the western which simply closes the stock warm up valve. for the money it is the best choice.

Funny Banks stuff
1. Took the "tech" guy 6 hours to find out duty cycle of vacuum pump(100%)
2. They don't seem to know that there pump and possibly the brake performs normally only to 7000'
3. The "tech" guy told me the banks brake gives 56 lbs of back pressure while the web site says no more than 37 and the western tells me it does 18. ( i don't think they know.)

I have no hope of the brake doing much when i pull 26000+lbs but got if for the light 20,000lbs pulls to new mexico down 285.

Anyways just thought you might care.

[kostrand]

Have you found out any more information from Banks to explain the effectiveness in high elevation??

Has anyone had any experience with the Banks exhaust on the Duramax specifically?

[pdrhound]

i don't think they care about the elevation. they did not even realize there was an issue at altitude. they say the actuator must have 20 mm but the pump only makes 19 at 7500ft. they don't have an answer. still a mute point as the brake does not work at 5000 feet as well as the $150 western brake in the other truck. Save your money, time and energy and buy the western.

[Janky]

i don't think they care about the elevation. they did not even realize there was an issue at altitude. they say the actuator must have 20 mm but the pump only makes 19 at 7500ft. they don't have an answer. still a mute point as the brake does not work at 5000 feet as well as the $150 western brake in the other truck. Save your money, time and energy and buy the western.


I appreciate your experience in this matter. I have a couple of questions for you though.

1) Is your PSD Auto or Manual?

2) How about a little electric vacum pump? Bad idea?

Thanks for the "save your money" post. Always a good thing.

[pdrhound]

i have since done a lttle test hauling my empty 7000lb trailer. it held 55 and 60 mph speed while decending mt vernon canyon. it perfromed better than i thought it would. but i don't feel it works anybetter than the western in my wifes f350. that truck is an auto with 3.73 gears so ifeel a comparison is out of the question. it does need to be at higher RPM then i would like. it works noticabley better at 2500 than at 2000.

my truck is a manual so there is no converter issue.
the little electric vacuum pump seems to be a stout unit. but i think a manual actuation or pressure actuation would have been simple. why not a cable going to the brake. i guess it was easier to have auto operation with the vacuum princple. (lazy people).i will haul 13000lb to moab at the end of march and have a good feel for it by then.

all and all don't expect big things from the exaust brakes. they will maintain speed for moderate loads on downhill grades.

[pdrhound]

after a summer of hauling stuff i still feel the Banks exaust brake does not meet the performance of the cheaper (stock warm up valve activated by chip) western brake