I saw a sign in a small town the other day that said, “Jake Brakes are illegal in this town.” I must admit I am not sure what they are. Must have something to with sound and trucks. Anyone?
I did a quick search of the archives and came up with this aha. http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mjake.html
I hope that answers your question:
Keith
It’s a really loud way of slowing/stopping a truck.
To quote from Stephen’s post:
“Yup. It pretty much indicates a neighborhood that got tired of hearing BBDDBBDDbdbdbddbdbdbdbddbbbddbdbbdbdbb bdddbdbdbddbd bdbbdbddbdb at all hours.”
I’ll attest, they’re really loud inside the truck too, having ridden with (former)Roommate on some of his trucking deliveries and driving carnival rides.
I am crushed, aha.
Around here, the signs say “unmuffled compression brakes prohibited” instead of “no jake brakes”. I bet that makes Jacobs Vehicle Systems a bit happier.
I’ve never ever heard a loud compression brake. That means either 1 of 2 things:
1)muffled compression brakes really aren’t that loud
2)I mistook another sound for a compression brake
3)no, I won’t do it. I really won’t Not this time, buddy
I believe that the answer was #1, but it could have been #2. Anyways…
Jacobs Vehicles Systems have been threatening to sue the !#$%%@ out of municipalities and states that use Jake’s Brakes on their signs. They’re claiming trademark infringement. Of course, JB’s is the common term for it outside the lawyer’s offices, no matter what Jacobs thinks.
They’re going through this now in the Gettysburg area.
Why are you crushed Jill? What am I missing here?
You missed her Staff Report in the archives.