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Speed School Podcast with Gale Banks

Banks SpeedBrake

Starting at $629.00

Select Options
Banks SpeedBrake

Starting at $629.00

Select Options
Banks SpeedBrake
Banks SpeedBrake
Banks SpeedBrake exhaust braking system
Banks SpeedBrake with Banks iDash DataMonster
Banks iDash
Banks iDash shown in pillar mount
Banks iDash
Banks SpeedBrake
Banks SpeedBrake
Banks SpeedBrake exhaust braking system
Banks SpeedBrake exhaust braking system

Banks SpeedBrake

All-electronic brake cuts downhill speed up to 78%
For 2007-2010 Chevy/GMC 2500/3500 6.6L Duramax, LMM
Limited Inventory
MSRP $1,176.67

$629.00

Choose Your Banks SpeedBrake

$1,059.00
With iDash DataMonster
$939.00
With iDash SuperGauge
$629.00
Requires iDash (not included)
Free Shipping on orders over $250 (48 Contiguous US)*

The World's First All-Electronic Braking System. Cuts downhill speed up to 78%. All automatic, user selectable speed. Simple plug-and-play installation, no cutting or welding required. Extends the service life of your brakes, and does so while maintaining your sanity.

US Patent # 6,652,414 B1, # 7,593,808 B2 & # 7,254,477 B1

50 State Compliant

CARB E.O. D-161-91


Fitment Note

Not compatible with Edge or other third-party OBD monitors.


Key Features

  • All automatic user-selectable downhill cruise control.
  • Cuts downhill speed up to 78 Percent.
  • Includes Banks iDash DataMonster or SuperGauge.


Specifications

The World's First All-Electronic Braking System. A revolutionary approach to exhaust braking, Banks patented new SpeedBrake does what no brake has done before. The world's first all-electronic braking system, SpeedBrake achieves maximum braking power by intelligently modulating systems already found on the truck. SpeedBrake manipulates the variable geometry turbine vanes in concert with deliberate gear selection and torque converter clutch application to deliver not just total hill-taming stopping power but also peace of mind. Hands (and feet) free, and totally automatic, SpeedBrake lets you set your desired downhill speed and it does all the rest.

The Banks SpeedBrake must be used with a Banks iDash (included). If you do not want to use the Banks iDash then check out our Banks Brake P/N 55447. More effective braking than is possible with a simple valve assembly. Operating modes On (Maximum braking: High, Med and Low strength settings). Speed Control (Maintains pre-selected target speed. Easy gauge based control). Displays vehicle speed, current braking effort (relating to vane position), trans temp, engine coolant temp and much more. OBDII scan tool capability (reads/interprets/clears codes). System Status Indicator with on-screen alerts (excessive coolant or trans temps, for example). Easy, clean install (all-electronic design requires only a few simple underhood connections), no modifications to the exhaust system are needed. In testing, dramatically outperformed all competitive products in basic braking function (and nobody but Banks has anything like a Speed Control Mode!)



Questions? Contact Support

A NEW ERA IN EXHAUST BRAKING.

Only Banks SpeedBrake slows you down!

DOWNHILL CRUISE CONTROL.

It's all automaticImagine setting your "comfort zone" and cutting downhill speed by nearly 80% without even touching the brake pedal, keeping your brakes cool and ready for emergencies should they arise. The SpeedBrake increases the stopping power of your truck and extends the service life of your brakes, and does so while maintaining your sanity.

AREN'T EXHAUST BRAKES SUPPOSE TO SLOW YOU DOWN?

That's what we thought too, but the other products on the market provide inadequate braking power and actually allow your speed to increase as you plummet faster and faster downhill. With the competition's poor performing product, you are forced to use your truck's brakes and manually shift your transmission in an effort to gain lost confidence.

NOT YOUR FATHER'S BRAKE.

The SpeedBrake is an all-electronic mastermind of braking technology. Plug-in connection makes for a clean, simple installation without cutting or tapping into vital wire harnesses. There's no crawling under the truck to cut up your exhaust system and no mechanical "adjustments" necessary to ensure its function. SpeedBrake uses the truck's own components to give you the safety you need when towing, so there are no added mechanical parts to second guess.

LIKE NO OTHER!

With the SpeedBrake there's no competition and no compromise. This smart device becomes an active component of your vehicle, constantly monitoring and adjusting systems to achieve the speed setting you command. With its patented technology, the SpeedBrake controls your transmission's shifting, locks and unlocks the torque converter, and infinitely varies the VG turbo's vanes to hold your set speed and maximize stopping performance to ensure that you have safety and confidence for the long haul. Watch it all happen as the Banks iDash keeps you informed by displaying important parameters and on-screen alerts you set. And... it's also an OBD-II scan tool. - Now That's Smart!


An active component of your vehicle:

SpeedBrake >>> Banks iDash DataMonster

SpeedBrake to Banks iDash Only Banks’ iDash vehicle command center gives you easy-to-use and highly flexible control of the SpeedBrake and tells you everything you need to know at a glance.

Plus, DataMonster adds data logging and expanded monitoring.

SpeedBrake >>> Engine Control Unit
SpeedBrake to ECM Only SpeedBrake intercepts variable geometry turbocharger, torque converter, and transmission communications from the ECM and changes them to optimize the braking performance that you command.
SpeedBrake >>> Torque Converter
SpeedBrake to Torque Converter SpeedBrake controls and automatically locks up the vehicle’s torque converter to ensure that all engine braking force is sent directly through the transmission to the vehicle’s drive wheels where it is fully utilized.
SpeedBrake >>> Transmission
SpeedBrake to Transmission Only SpeedBrake controls the gear selection in order to select the best gear for any given braking situation without building excessive engine RPM.
SpeedBrake >>> Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT)
SpeedBrake to Transmission Only SpeedBrake captures control of the VGT, varying vane position to provide optimal engine backpressure. Braking is instantaneously variable to allow for downhill target speed control. See the vanes »

UNPRECEDENTED FLEXIBILITY.

SpeedBrake has operating modes and settings to suit your style and driving conditions. ON mode lets you select three levels of braking aggressiveness: HIGH, MED, LOW. Use AUTO MODE to select and automatically maintain a specified downhill speed (25 - 75 mph). In addition, the user can enable or disable FOOT BRAKE ACTIVATION, depending on individual preferences and vehicle load.

Banks iDash provides 2-way communication has a system status indicator with on-screen alerts and OBDII scan tool capability. In addition, it displays numerous vehicle parameters, from the current braking effort and operating gear to braking mode and target speed. Amazing!

So why settle for primitive exhaust brakes that barely brake? If your diesel hauls and navigates hills, step up to the world's strongest, most advanced exhaust brake: the all-electronic Banks SpeedBrake!


brake testing on Cajon Pass

OK, Test Time!

Two of Banks’ most experienced — and daring — Test Group engineers conducted the braking tests in a Chevrolet Silverado with a heavy trailer on a steep 6.16% grade.

The idea was to test the truck in Stock form, then repeat the procedure with a PacBrake, a BD brake, the Banks SpeedBrake in AUTO mode, and then in the MANUAL mode. With the Silverado in Drive (Tow/Haul mode active), they approached the crest of the hill at 55 mph, lifted the foot off the pedal, and held on!

STOCK ? TOW/HAUL MODE ACTIVE
With more than nine tons roaring down the grade, the truck quickly shifted from 5th to 6th gear and reached a white-knuckle 70 mph. Instead of tempting fate — and the California Highway Patrol — our guys applied the foot brake to reduce terminal velocity.

The Allison Transmission includes Auto-Grade Braking. This is basically a glorified way of saying that when the driver applies the foot brake, the transmission downshifts.

Even in Tow/Haul mode with Auto-Grade Braking active, and use of foot brakes, vehicle speed ONLY decreased to 65 mph!
LOSER: PACBRAKE
pacbrake fails “Plug-and-play” and “PacBrake” have nothing in common. Installation requires exhaust system slicing, dicing, welding, and wiring. There’s no electronic management, either; it uses Tow/Haul mode to enhance its functionality. So how did it do in our test? Pathetically. Its braking activity was very weak. The Silverado gathered speed quickly and shifted into 6th gear halfway down the hill.

By the end of the run, vehicle speed was a way-too-fast 68 mph — an increase of 13 mph!
LOSER: BD
pacbrake fails Another tough install. Like PacBrake, BD is a mechanical valve that installs about 3 feet behind the turbo in the exhaust system. Cutting, welding, and wiring work was needed. No electronic management; BD also uses Tow/Haul mode to enhance its functionality. Like PacBrake, BD barely braked as the vehicle started down the grade. It quickly gathered speed and shifted into a higher gear. Our guys were ready to mash the foot brake by the end of the run!

The terminal velocity at the end was a gut-wrenching 69 mph — a gain of 14 mph!
WINNER: SPEEDBRAKE
SpeedBrakes wins “AUTO” mode test: The driver set the target speed to 50 mph, began descending in 5th gear and lifted his foot off the accelerator. That’s all he had to do. SpeedBrake varied the turbine vanes and downshifted the transmission to 3rd gear. The vehicle slowed down to 50 mph and SpeedBrake kept it there. No problem. SpeedBrake slowed the vehicle to the 50 mph target speed and automatically kept it there!

“MANUAL”
mode test: (“High” strength setting) SpeedBrake made BD and PacBrake look like wimps! The transmission automatically downshifted to 3rd and the vehicle immediately slowed. Since the ON mode has no target speed, the Silverado slowed to a crawl, shifting all the way down to 1st gear without any effort from the driver and never operating outside the normal rpm range. In less than a mile, the vehicle slowed to 15 mph! — without using the foot brake! This is an astonishing speed reduction of 40 mph from the start. 53 mph slower than PacBrake & 54 mph slower than BD!

BANKS STOMPS THE COMPETITION

FEATURE BANKS SPEEDBRAKE BD PACBRAKE
Easy Installation YES!
Simple plug-in installation, no cutting or welding required

NO!
Requires cutting & welding

NO!
Requires cutting & welding

Free from Wire Tapping & Splicing YES!
Simple plug-in installation using factory style connectors
NO!
Requires Posi-taps, cutting & splicing of factory wiring
YES!
Included wiring requires no cutting.
Maintenance-free YES!
All-electronic device requires no maintenance ever!
NO!
Brake requires adjustment after installation & again after some operating time
NO!
Has a mechanical butterfly, electric pump & air plumbing
Silent Operation YES!
Uses factory turbo’s variable vanes; quiet operation
NO!
Noisy electric compressor under the hood
NO!
Noisy electric compressor under the hood
Automatically
Shifts Transmission
YES!
Controls torque converter lock-up & gear selection for maximum braking
NO!
No transmission interface. Relies on factory Tow/Haul
mode for trans. control
NO!
No transmission interface. Relies on factory Tow/Haul mode for trans. control
Maximum Braking YES!
Vane control + trans. shifting+ torque converter clutch control slowed vehicle to 15 MPH!
NO!
Only slowed vehicle to 69 MPH on 6% grade
NO!
Only slowed vehicle to 68 MPH on 6% grade
Adjustable
Strength Settings
YES!
Exclusive Strength settings let user select braking aggressiveness
NO!
Only On or Off
NO!
Only On or Off
Adjustable
Speed Presets
YES!
Patented downhill speed control; user selects target speed
NO!
Only On or Off
NO!
Only On or Off
Foot Pedal
Integration
YES!
Customizable feature lets user select exhaust brake/foot brake relationship
NO!
Only control is a dash-mounted switch
NO!
Only control is a dash-mounted switch
User Interface YES!
Banks iDash is packed with user interface features, lets user communicate with vehicle
NO!
Only control is a dash-mounted switch
NO!
Only control is a dash-mounted switch
System Status Indicator YES!
Communicates system condition & has engine coolant/oil temp warnings
NO!
No means of communicating
NO!
No means of communicating
OBDII Scan Tool YES!
Includes full communication with vehicle OBDII, allows for reading & clearing vehicle codes
NO!
No means of communicating
NO!
No means of communicating
Prone to
Exhaust Leaks
NO!
Simple plug-and-play installation means no cutting of the exhaust
YES!
Required cutting and welding compromises exhaust system
YES!
Required cutting and welding compromises
exhaust system

As tested on a 2006 vehicle.


THE REVIEWS ARE POURING IN!

See what the top magazines have to say about the SpeedBrake:

click for magazine review Diesel Power Nov 2009

click for magazine review Trailer Life June 2009

click for magazine review Diesel World Sept 2009

click for magazine review Diesel Builder Aug 2009

click for magazine review 8-Lug Sept 2009

click for magazine review Diesel World July 2012

Note: The Palm Tungsten and Banks iDash shown in some of the magazine articles have been upgraded to the new Banks iDash DataMonster ? call for details!


free test report

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