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Formally known as a compression release brake, the Jake brake is a lifesaver if you’re a commercial truck driver. It increases your stopping power, helps minimize wear and tear on your brakes, and gives you more control when driving downhill or in heavy traffic. But how does the Jake brake work? In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Jake Brake, from how it functions to when, why, and how you’d use one.
Things You Should Know
- A Jake brake increases braking speed by turning your truck’s engine into an air compressor, which pushes on the pistons to slow them down.
- Use your Jake brake to control your vehicle on declines, take pressure off of your service brakes, and improve your fuel mileage.
- Jake brakes are incredibly loud when you turn them on, so they’re typically illegal to use in residential areas and cities.
Steps
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Tips
- Curious about the name “Jake brake?” It’s a reference to the company that invented and manufactures them, Jacobs Vehicle Systems. They really only make this one product (albeit for different kinds of engines), so their company name became synonymous with these compression brakes.Thanks
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Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about car maintenance, check out our in-depth interview with Jason Shackelford .
References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/IQtBKCIQDrE?t=200
- ↑ https://youtu.be/HkfjCJClWVA?t=92
- ↑ https://youtu.be/HkfjCJClWVA?t=92
- ↑ https://youtu.be/HkfjCJClWVA?t=92
- ↑ https://www.smart-trucking.com/jake-brake/
- ↑ https://www.smart-trucking.com/jake-brake/
- ↑ https://www.smart-trucking.com/jake-brake/
- ↑ https://www.smart-trucking.com/jake-brake/
- ↑ https://www.smart-trucking.com/jake-brake/
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