nunes81

Has anyone used a pinion gear parking brake on a C3 ('81)??

AGVI

I can't answer your question, but welcome to the forum.
I noticed we have the same last name and you own an '81...I have an '80. Cool.

Easy Mike

Why?

Van Steel

You mean where you would actuallt stick a rotor & caliper on the end of the driveshaft right at the pinion? Kind of like what some 4wheelers use. I don't think there would be enough room.

nunes81

You are correct on an 81 Vette there appears to be no space, but a technician at Streetrod Manufacturing indicates that 77s and older C3s have space (they sell one). This would alleviate the GM parking brake issues.

SilverBeast

I replaced my parking brake guts (on a '79) with stainless and don't have any issues. Works great!

Mark70

Hmmm, that's VERY interesting! Has anyone tried this?

http://www.tsmmfg.com/Pinion_Mounted_Parking_Brakes.htm

Van Steel

Could be enough room. I have never seen it done before. How big is the rotor?

Jasonty

We use those on a lot of heavy duty aircraft tow vehicles. Kinda overkill. I think you should spend your money rebuilding the stock parking brake system. Works fine for me...

nunes81

I'll go with the stainless upgrade for now. Thanks for everyone's input.

68/70Vette

Getting rid of that pesky emergency brake cable that runs down along the trailing arm would be nice. On a stock trailing arm, the emergency brake cable is just another thing that can interfere with a wider than stock rear tire and wheel. I have 17 inch Wheel Vintiques rally wheels and the emergency brake cable is about 1/8 inch away from the tire. (The Wheel Vintiques wheels look like the stock early C3 15 inch rally wheels if you're standing about 20 feet away. It's only when you get close and see that they're really 17 inches and the "beauty rings" are really polished aluminum and part of the wheel. They have the stock rally wheel caps. The wheels are all aluminum.)

ACECO

Welcome to the insanity nunes81!

Has anyone considered a "line lock" type valve inserted in the rear brake line to function as a parking brake? Seems that with a simple valve you could apply the brakes, close the valve and volia, instant parking brake.

Am I missing something here???

BBShark

I have asked about doing this a couple of times and had no response (or responses that what I'm asking about is an adjustable proportioning valve). It is NOT an adjustable proportioning valve.

I think you could do a "line lock" valve on the rear brake line as you described. I am pretty sure you could do it with an electric actuator, valve and a master cylinder from a motorcycle.

litevette

I think the line lock might work fine for a parking brake, but what about emergency braking in case of regular brake failure?

I like the idea of the pinion brake, but am so into trying to get every tiny bit of free horsepower that I think the added weight on the shaft that would have to be turned would outweigh the benefit of having it. If that's not important to someone then that type of brake looks like it would be a really trick peice.