ELI5. What’s the point of a Jake Brake?

Question

Couldn’t you just put the truck in neutral and use the regular brakes?

In: 16

Answer 1

Air brakes are reasonably reliable but can fade or fail altogether if they get too hot. Assisted engine braking gives a truck driver the ability to manage the rig’s energy without risking heating up the brakes, especially useful on runs with a lot of elevation changes.