FACT SHEET

Retarder RET-TH

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

Compact and durable design with few moving parts results in a long
service life and high vehicle productivity.
Coordinated with the engine’s exhaust brake.
High braking torque that increases driving safety and reduces wear
on the vehicle’s ordinary brake system.
Easy-to-access manual control provides exactly the right amount of
braking power in every situation.
Cruise control function provides automatic cruise control on
downgrades.
Approved for ADR transport.

SPECIFICATION

Designation RET-TH
Manufacturer Voith
Max. brake torque on propeller shaft 3250 Nm
Max. brake torque at 750 r/min 3000 Nm
Max. brake torque at 500 r/min 1800 Nm
Installation weight including oil 105 kg
Oil change volume 5.4 l

RET-TH is a compact, gearbox-mounted, hydraulic retarder that

Max brake power* (approx.) with engine brake EBR-, kW
effectively supplements the vehicle’s ordinary brake system. It is
Engine EPG VEB VEB+ VEB7 VGT
suited to a number of manual gearboxes as well as to I-Shift.
D11 610** 740
D11K (Euro 6) 610** 740
The retarder is coordinated with the engine’s exhaust brake, which
D13A (Euro 3) 630** 750 805
results in high overall braking power. Volvo’s most powerful engine
D13A (Euro 4) 630** 750 825
brakes can be used, and a special function ensures that the rear axle
D13B 790 630***
is not overloaded.
Using the additional brake as primary brake limits wear on the D13C (Euro 5) 630** 750 825
truck’s ordinary brakes, which reduces total operating costs. D13K (Euro 6) 650** 825
The compact retarder is very suitable for regional and long-haul D16C (Euro 3) 680 875
transports in hilly areas. Retaining a safe driving, the average speed D16E (Euro 4) 680 875
can be increased as the retarder makes it possible to maintain higher D16G (Euro 5) 680** 875
speeds when driving on long downgrades. This results in a D16K (Euro 6) 680 920
considerable increase in vehicle productivity.
The retarder is fitted with a cruise control function that makes it * In the case of continuous operation, effect is reduced when water and oil
easier for the driver to maintain a constant speed when driving temperature increase. ** Also for EBR-EPGC. *** Also for EBR-VGTC.
downhill. Since the retarder is connected to the propeller shaft, braking
power is also utilised when changing gears. Engaging and regulating
the retarder is carried out conveniently with a lever next to the steering
wheel.
The retarder should be regarded as an integrated part of the brake
system, and it must be factory mounted as it cannot be retrofitted.

ENG 2014-03-10 Version 06 1(2)

 FACT SHEET
Retarder RET-TH

Multifunction control stalk Simple design provides high vehicle reliability

The control stalk for auxiliary brakes has three or five positions, The RET-TH is a compact, closed unit with few moving parts, which
depending on the type of gearbox that the truck is equipped with. results in minimal wear and high vehicle reliability.
A Automatic mode. Brake Blending is active if Cruise Control is The retarder consists primarily of two impellers; a fixed one (stator)
inactive. When the brake pedal is depressed, the braking force is and a rotating one (rotor) which counteract each other with the help of
blended between the ordinary brakes and the auxiliary brakes. oil. Due to the fact that the blades on the stator and rotor are angled
O All auxiliary brakes are off. towards each other, the flow of oil between them is counteracted.
1-3 Brake level settings. Provides settings between 20 and 100%. When the rotor (1), which is fitted to the gearboxes’ output shaft,
The total brake torque depends on which auxiliary brakes that are rotates oil (2) is forced toward the stator (3), which is fixed in the
fitted on the vehicle, load condition and retarder temperature. The retarder housing.
auxiliary brake is activated when the accelerator pedal is released.On When oil reaches the stator’s blades, a braking effect is created
control stalk with setting 1 only gives full braking effect from the against the movement of the rotor, which means that the rotation of
Exhaust Pressure Governor. the propeller shaft is braked.
B Brake program mode. On vehicles with I-Shift or Powertronic, there The retarder’s control module regulates the oil volume and the oil
is also a “B-button” that is used to activate the “brake program”. This pressure in the retarder. The amount of brake force is dependent on
function provides faster down-changes during braking. the pressure and the amount of oil pressed in between the rotor and
the stator.

Control stalk for auxiliary brakes

Gearbox Stalk design
I-Shift
Exhaust Pressure Governor without Retarder A, 0, 1 and B-button
Reduced operating costs increase profitability
A, 0, 1, 2, 3 and B- Thanks to the retarder’s high braking torque, it can handle the majority
Volvo Engine Brake without Retarder
button of all braking situations. This results in reduced wear on the ordinary
Retarder
A, 0, 1, 2, 3 and B- brakes, which means lower maintenance and repair costs.
button
The retarder is coordinated with the engine’s exhaust brake, which
A, 0, 1, 2, 3 and B-
Powertronic button provides high total braking power. A special function also ensures that
the rear axle is not overloaded at high simultaneous braking torque.
Manual
The retarder installation is integrated in the transmission.
Exhaust Pressure Governor without Retarder A, 0, 1
The retarder weighs approximately 105 kg and the gearboxes’ total
Volvo Engine Brake without Retarder A, 0, 1, 2, 3
length is increased by only approximately 100 mm. Gearboxdriven
Retarder A, 0, 1, 2, 3
power take-offs can be used with no limitations.
The compact retarder normally does not require any service or
maintenance in addition to one oil change per year.

Auxiliary brake symbol.

Trailer brake symbol. When the truck is equipped with trailer

brake this function is also controlled with the auxiliary brake
control stalk.

Volvo Truck Corporation

www.volvotrucks.com

ENG 2014-03-10 Version 06 2(2)