It's been done, but there's a couple of issues. One, the pressure can bleed off if the car sits for too long, releasing the brakes. Two, the power for the solenoid will be a pretty heavy draw and can **** the battery down, again releasing the brakes with a semi-dead battery thrown in for good measure. For short term use it would probably be ok, but not for parking for extended periods.
Some places they aren't legal (or the valve they use in line on some VW stuff). If you're trying to get legal, I'd check with an inspection station before I installed it.
Just use a "remote reservoir" type single master cylinder inline with the rear brake circuit. The brake line is fed into the remote reservoir port and out of the pressure port . When the park brake is not in use , fluid flows through like a normal open circuit. When the park brake is in use, the piston blocks off the reservoir port to stop back-feeding up the line Rally cars use this system as a "fly off" hand brake [I believe they are getting popular in drifting]
Been done since the '30s. First version is the "Hill Holder" operated manually by clutch linkage, & optional on dozens of cars for years, but seldom seen on anything but a Stude. It is not designed to use as parking. What you'd need is an electric Mico lock, which blocks fluid to rear axle with a solenoid triggered valve. Many styles, push ****on, 6 or 12 volt. Also came as lever operated, non electric. Almost standard equipment on any vehicle used in the '40s - '60s for constant stop/start operation. Still can be found in yards, but scarce. They aren't legal for a parking/emergency brake.
Nope But two Hurst Roll Control switches side by each on a Comp. Plus shifter sure make neat R/L self-canceling turn signal controller switches.
Dunno about your neck of the woods, but in Canada the emergency brake HAS to be mechanical. No electrics, no hydraulics, nope, nope, nope!
I too think it's a bad idea. If you wanted a hydraulic wheel lock it would have to be mechanical and held by an over center lever that used a remote master cylinder. Why? Cable brakes have been reliable for decades. Even the big outer drum on a driveshaft is a good system.
I believe there are kits for a pinion mounted disc/caliper also. Not sure if those are available as a mechanical mechanism.
Same here in NZ. But we can get a motorsport exemption for road driven compe***ion cars. Even with the method I posted above there are pitfalls. Hydraulic parking brakes are the standard over here on trailers with Hydraulic surge brakes. The problem arises when it has been parked for some time with the brake on, and the M/C corrodes because the back side of the cylinder is exposed to air. I've had to tap the M/C with a mallet to get the park brake released
Not meaning to hijack your thread, I just like alternative minded hot rod people. How: Can't find the photo, but two Hurst switches on mount on shifter stick, always at a fingertip. Ties into hidden little black controller box for self cancelling turn signals. Why: Because I never really liked having all that clutter hanging on a steering column in a bare bones hot rod. No need to worry about an indicator reminding to cancel.
What year car are you working on? If you're doing it to make it legal have you checked the laws. I read that in Texas, if the vehicle is pre-1960, you don't have to have an emergency brake. Maybe your state is the same.
In my thinking, an emergency brake is what you use when the hydraulic system fails. If its all in one circuit you are in the sh!t if things go wrong. JW
I had a hydraulic handbrake on a special I built in my 20's. Kept finding the car at the bottom of the drive. Had to install an ac***ulator as the brake releases as the fluid cools after s run. Was good for a park time of a few weeks after!
I am running 4 wheel discs. like 26 t said there is a lever and cam on the caliper actuated by a cable.I am currently working on brake lines and the parking brake on my 40 , and was just wondering if it's done.
So, what about the new models that have electrically actuated parking brakes? I have seen several mentions of them lately on various makes. Are they legal up there?
Yup they are legal here, the difference is, they require power to be applied to an actuator or motor to release them whereas a line lock can bleed off pressure from sitting and your car is rolling away, there is no means to ensure they cannot release on their own.
Yeah, electric actuated E brakes lock up normally, and require power to release. Same general idea as air brake Maxi's, need air pressure to release.
I considered line lock...Might have better holding power on a boat ramp. Yes I had to get in my truck with water up to dash after it rolled into river because of poorly adjusted parking brake.
Oh and in HAMB friendly cars they are emergency, anything modern is a parking brake, the dual piston masters took care of the need for an emergency system
That makes sense. If the OP was wanting to go electric then, he could use some kind of spring loaded system that a solenoid or actuator would release when power was put to it. That way, there would not be any power draw when the key was off, only when on to retract the brake.
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