Emergency/Parking Brake Idea?!?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 2
From: Allen TX
Emergency/Parking Brake Idea?!?
Ever since I bought my car my emergency/parking brake has never worked. My inspection was due last month and when I took it in they said I needed to get my parking brake to work.(why they said that this year and not last year I have no clue) I removed all the parking brake pieces that go inside the rotor a couple years ago when I was replacing wheel studs. I know the original system is not that well of a design and I have heard alot of people on here complain about it.
So my thought was to somehow get an external e-brake from a different GM car. I could purchase this external e-brake or get one from a junkyard for cheap. What is everyone thoughts on this idea. I would have to...
1. Mounting plate
2. Find a way to route the cable
It looks fairly simple I would just have to find size to fit my rotors. This would make it alot simpler to change wheel studs and such and not have to worry about resetting up the parking brake. Thoughts please, thanks.
Ryan
Edit: I was searching around for mechanical parking brakes and found these, mechanical brake calipers
Ok, I am thinking out loud. The only difficult thing would be to fabricate a bracket. Then you would have to run one cable from the lever. Doesn't seem too technical.
So my thought was to somehow get an external e-brake from a different GM car. I could purchase this external e-brake or get one from a junkyard for cheap. What is everyone thoughts on this idea. I would have to...
1. Mounting plate
2. Find a way to route the cable
It looks fairly simple I would just have to find size to fit my rotors. This would make it alot simpler to change wheel studs and such and not have to worry about resetting up the parking brake. Thoughts please, thanks.
Ryan
Edit: I was searching around for mechanical parking brakes and found these, mechanical brake calipers
Ok, I am thinking out loud. The only difficult thing would be to fabricate a bracket. Then you would have to run one cable from the lever. Doesn't seem too technical.
Last edited by CrossedFlags77; Apr 26, 2005 at 04:29 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,486
Likes: 10
From: Big Pine Key FL
Originally Posted by CrossedFlags77
Ever since I bought my car my emergency/parking brake has never worked. My inspection was due last month and when I took it in they said I needed to get my parking brake to work.(why they said that this year and not last year I have no clue) I removed all the parking brake pieces that go inside the rotor a couple years ago when I was replacing wheel studs. I know the original system is not that well of a design and I have heard alot of people on here complain about it.
So my thought was to somehow get an external e-brake from a different GM car. I could purchase this external e-brake or get one from a junkyard for cheap. What is everyone thoughts on this idea. I would have to...
1. Mounting plate
2. Find a way to route the cable
It looks fairly simple I would just have to find size to fit my rotors. This would make it alot simpler to change wheel studs and such and not have to worry about resetting up the parking brake. Thoughts please, thanks.
Ryan
Edit: I was searching around for mechanical parking brakes and found these, mechanical brake calipers
Ok, I am thinking out loud. The only difficult thing would be to fabricate a bracket. Then you would have to run one cable from the lever. Doesn't seem too technical.
So my thought was to somehow get an external e-brake from a different GM car. I could purchase this external e-brake or get one from a junkyard for cheap. What is everyone thoughts on this idea. I would have to...
1. Mounting plate
2. Find a way to route the cable
It looks fairly simple I would just have to find size to fit my rotors. This would make it alot simpler to change wheel studs and such and not have to worry about resetting up the parking brake. Thoughts please, thanks.
Ryan
Edit: I was searching around for mechanical parking brakes and found these, mechanical brake calipers
Ok, I am thinking out loud. The only difficult thing would be to fabricate a bracket. Then you would have to run one cable from the lever. Doesn't seem too technical.
Rotor thickness is the first problem with those devices...
Why not just rebuild the stock setup with stainless hw.
or add a second hydraulic caliper on each rear wheel like the baby single piston wilwoods and a master cylinder under the brake lever...
or tricker yet use a wheel cylinder with the stock shoes...
just thinking out loud
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 2
From: Allen TX
Originally Posted by 84rzv500r
Rotor thickness is the first problem with those devices...
Why not just rebuild the stock setup with stainless hw.
or add a second hydraulic caliper on each rear wheel like the baby single piston wilwoods and a master cylinder under the brake lever...
or tricker yet use a wheel cylinder with the stock shoes...
just thinking out loud
Why not just rebuild the stock setup with stainless hw.
or add a second hydraulic caliper on each rear wheel like the baby single piston wilwoods and a master cylinder under the brake lever...
or tricker yet use a wheel cylinder with the stock shoes...
just thinking out loud
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
i had stainless steel hardware installed when my restoration was done in 2002, 7,000 miles later and 3 yrs and the parking brakes work fine, i think the problem with them was rust forming on parts and non use,, i use the parking brake every time i park my truck and 126,000 miles they also work very well, gotta keep moving those parts!!!
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Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 4
From: Northern NJ
St. Jude Donor '04 & '05
I had mentioned this awhile back but as my 75 is old enough for antique plates and no inspection, I hadn't investigated it yet. However it's still bouncing around the back of my head for possible future use.
Now up front I'll say this really won't work for an emergency brake, but should work OK as a parking brake. You would need to add a pressure valve in line w/the rear brakes. To set the parking brake, press down on the pedal and close the valve. This will keep the pressure on and the calipers clamped down on the rotor. To release, just open the valve.
You might even be able to find the appropriate remote operated solenoid valve to work with the stock brake handle by fabbing up a bracket and a switch. Only down side to this would be with long term application, the solenoid would eventually drain the battery.
FWIW. Good Luck!
edit: probably could even use the stock parking brake light switch w/no fabbing/bracket needed too. Again FWIW.
Now up front I'll say this really won't work for an emergency brake, but should work OK as a parking brake. You would need to add a pressure valve in line w/the rear brakes. To set the parking brake, press down on the pedal and close the valve. This will keep the pressure on and the calipers clamped down on the rotor. To release, just open the valve.
You might even be able to find the appropriate remote operated solenoid valve to work with the stock brake handle by fabbing up a bracket and a switch. Only down side to this would be with long term application, the solenoid would eventually drain the battery.
FWIW. Good Luck!
edit: probably could even use the stock parking brake light switch w/no fabbing/bracket needed too. Again FWIW.
Last edited by ACECO; Apr 26, 2005 at 08:39 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 2
From: Allen TX
Originally Posted by MsVetteMan
I use a brick.... 
Does anybody know of any cars that came with a separate mechanical caliper for a parking brake?
I called a guy that makes mechanical parking brakes for Vipers and Panteras but he wants $150 and thats without a bracket designed up. Maybe I could get him to sell me one caliper cause I only need one since I only want to do this to one side.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,426
Likes: 1
From: VetteMOD
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Not sure but I think Stainless Steel Brakes makes a mechanical caliper (for e-brake).
ACECO: I have been thinking about your proposed setup also. I think you could do it with a bi-stable valve that would not require energy to "hold" pressure. The valve you describe is a "line lock" (that requires constant power). I suppose the downside would be: constant pressure on the calipers may freeze the caliper pistons if left on for an extended period and on/off operation would not work as an emergency brake.
ACECO: I have been thinking about your proposed setup also. I think you could do it with a bi-stable valve that would not require energy to "hold" pressure. The valve you describe is a "line lock" (that requires constant power). I suppose the downside would be: constant pressure on the calipers may freeze the caliper pistons if left on for an extended period and on/off operation would not work as an emergency brake.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 2
From: Allen TX
Originally Posted by BBShark
Not sure but I think Stainless Steel Brakes makes a mechanical caliper (for e-brake).
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 0
From: COVINGTON LA
Originally Posted by ACECO
I had mentioned this awhile back but as my 75 is old enough for antique plates and no inspection, I hadn't investigated it yet. However it's still bouncing around the back of my head for possible future use.
Now up front I'll say this really won't work for an emergency brake, but should work OK as a parking brake. You would need to add a pressure valve in line w/the rear brakes. To set the parking brake, press down on the pedal and close the valve. This will keep the pressure on and the calipers clamped down on the rotor. To release, just open the valve.
You might even be able to find the appropriate remote operated solenoid valve to work with the stock brake handle by fabbing up a bracket and a switch. Only down side to this would be with long term application, the solenoid would eventually drain the battery.
FWIW. Good Luck!
edit: probably could even use the stock parking brake light switch w/no fabbing/bracket needed too. Again FWIW.
Now up front I'll say this really won't work for an emergency brake, but should work OK as a parking brake. You would need to add a pressure valve in line w/the rear brakes. To set the parking brake, press down on the pedal and close the valve. This will keep the pressure on and the calipers clamped down on the rotor. To release, just open the valve.
You might even be able to find the appropriate remote operated solenoid valve to work with the stock brake handle by fabbing up a bracket and a switch. Only down side to this would be with long term application, the solenoid would eventually drain the battery.
FWIW. Good Luck!
edit: probably could even use the stock parking brake light switch w/no fabbing/bracket needed too. Again FWIW.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 4
From: Northern NJ
St. Jude Donor '04 & '05
Originally Posted by BBShark
ACECO: I have been thinking about your proposed setup also. I think you could do it with a bi-stable valve that would not require energy to "hold" pressure. The valve you describe is a "line lock" (that requires constant power). I suppose the downside would be: constant pressure on the calipers may freeze the caliper pistons if left on for an extended period and on/off operation would not work as an emergency brake.
However for short term parking situations, this may very well be viable solution to other much more expensive alternatives. It certainly would be questionable if an inspection station would accept this solution however they might here in NJ as the only test they do is to see if the car moves in gear w/the parking brake applied. Just would have to give the inspector the heads up on how to "set it".
I may have to look further into this option in the future. However LOTS of stuff to do before this one becomes further up on the list.
Thanks for you input.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 4
From: Northern NJ
St. Jude Donor '04 & '05
Originally Posted by ICEMAN59
You could use a normally closed solenoid so it would only have to be energized when the car is running.
At least a line lock valve would fail in the off position vs on. However I think BBShark's bi-stable valve might be the best solution overall.
FWIW.
Last edited by ACECO; Apr 27, 2005 at 12:21 AM.
