E-Brakes...How many of you have them?

[reed62]

Just wondering how much of a pain it is to replace all the parking brake pieces on my ride. I think I have used parking brakes during driver training and that was it. How many of you have replaced them or just done away with them altogether?

[PGSigns]

I put new stuff on mine. Not to bad. In Virginia they are required and checked on state inspection.
Jimmy

[Larry64]

Use mine stopped on hills, because of the 5 speed & not wanting to slip the clutch.

[LostMy65]

Please don't think you'll never need them.
It isn't just about you.

[Backpayne]

My 64 only had the under dash lever with the short cable coming off of it. I used the Lokar universal kit. It was $120 but super easy to setup.

[ChrisDollins]

I use mine quite a bit. Being a manual I use it more than the one in either of the automatic cars. The new cables were pretty easy to replace. Definitely worth keeping. I drove the truck a little when the rear cables were frozen, but used wheel stops. That was much more of a pain.

Chris

[DPowers]

Mine works and I use it.

[AcampoDave]

Mine is stock and I got it working great. It will lock up the rear wheels. In fact, I really enjoy using it to pitch the truck sideways now and then on loose dirt or gravel. Must be the redneck in me.

[61ChevyPanel]

When I broke a brake hose, the E brake is the only thing that stopped me.

My daily driver Audi has an electronic one. I don't like it because it's either off or on and it doesn't respond as quick as a cable.

[duallyjams]

I use mine every day.

[zach_carver]

Mine doesnt work either, I wish it did. I like being able to use it on hills and steep places. Havent put forth the effort of replacing all the cables. Its missing nearly everything.

[Backpayne]

Originally Posted by 61ChevyPanel

When I broke a brake hose, the E brake is the only thing that stopped me.

This is the main reason I had to get my ebrake working. I have the single reservoir master cylinder and if any brake line leaks/splits I would be screwed without the ebrake.

[vince1]

Definitely get it working.

As for the single master cylinder, if a rear axle and drum came out I don't think the E brake would stop you.

[Backpayne]

Yeah, that would be a disaster.

[R_W]

Mine is not hooked up.

Then my brakes, a dual setup disc in front drum in rear, went out. On a steep hill. Had multiple failure modes all tied back to sloppy work by the PO - proportioning valve was mounted in frame with one front line rubbing on frame. So that caused the fronts to go out completely. PO never drilled new location hole in pedal when upgrading to booster/dual MC, so rear brakes were not engaging all the way. And I was too lazy to setup e-brake. So those three things left me on a 25% grade going downhill with almost no brakes....in an automatic so I couldn't gear down.

Remain Calm
Don't Panic

I managed to hold her on the road and coast to a stop with the 25% or so of rear braking that was available.

I won't be back on the road without a full rebuild (never trust work done before you) and some e-brakes.

[LostMy65]

A truck i got parts off a few years back was totalled because he didn't have an e-brake with his automatic.
He got pretty busted up. But that's not the real issue.
It's the innocent person in the wrong place at the wrong time. I know a lady who ran over a little one. Even though it wasn't her fault, it ate her up inside.
So, our first priority over every little upgrade or some cool wheels or seat covers is make it safe as possible.
Don't be stupid. Don't be unsafe.

[R_W]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

A truck i got parts off a few years back was totalled because he didn't have an e-brake with his automatic.
He got pretty busted up. But that's not the real issue.
It's the innocent person in the wrong place at the wrong time. I know a lady who ran over a little one. Even though it wasn't her fault, it ate her up inside.
So, our first priority over every little upgrade or some cool wheels or seat covers is make it safe as possible.
Don't be stupid. Don't be unsafe.

For sure. It's easy to get lulled in on a few bad decisions that can cost you later. E-brakes are rarely hooked up on any of the old cars I find. Combine that with the false sense of comfort with an "upgraded" brake system and time is not on your side.

It's like the fusible links that burn out and people replace them with a solid wire. A lot of rides have burned due to that shortcut.

[reed62]

Originally Posted by vince1

Definitely get it working.

As for the single master cylinder, if a rear axle and drum came out I don't think the E brake would stop you.

Very true...if your drum and axle came out you'd have ,much bigger problems.

[reed62]

Originally Posted by 61ChevyPanel

When I broke a brake hose, the E brake is the only thing that stopped me.

My daily driver Audi has an electronic one. I don't like it because it's either off or on and it doesn't respond as quick as a cable.

Well the first order of business I had was to upgrade the lines, hoses and brakes with a disc/drum system, power booster and dual master. So the odds of me losing brakes because of a hose is greatly diminished....but I will probably go and replace all the e-brake stuff too.

[Brad54]

Originally Posted by vince1

Definitely get it working.

As for the single master cylinder, if a rear axle and drum came out I don't think the E brake would stop you.

About 15 years ago, I blew the right rear wheel cylinder on my daily-driver '54 Buick. (they were new wheel cylinders, too!)

Coated the inside of the drum with Dot3, which makes a wonderful lubricant.
Single-reservoir, so there were no hydraulic brakes at all.

I came out out of the seat standing on the e-brake--which only had the driver's side shoe to contact, since the passenger side was lubed with brake fluid.

The car didn't stop... even when I clutchlessly slammed the 3-speed manual down into 1st.

Blew through the intersection on a 4-lane highway and miraculously didn't get creamed.

Drove the car to the shop at work, and didn't put it back on the road until it had a dual reservoir in it.

[Willie 66]

Most definitely hook the E brake up. My truck has the single pot MC at the moment and if it went out, especially at speed, I'd hate to think of the consequences. Don't just hook it up for yourself, hook it up for your family.

[66ChevyMax]

Made me cringe just reading this

Originally Posted by Brad54

About 15 years ago, I blew the right rear wheel cylinder on my daily-driver '54 Buick. (they were new wheel cylinders, too!)

Coated the inside of the drum with Dot3, which makes a wonderful lubricant.
Single-reservoir, so there were no hydraulic brakes at all.

I came out out of the seat standing on the e-brake--which only had the driver's side shoe to contact, since the passenger side was lubed with brake fluid.

The car didn't stop... even when I clutchlessly slammed the 3-speed manual down into 1st.

Blew through the intersection on a 4-lane highway and miraculously didn't get creamed.

Drove the car to the shop at work, and didn't put it back on the road until it had a dual reservoir in it.

[La Zona Imagery]

my '65 didn't come with any emergency brake whatsoever...I need to get them installed. I only have the single mc

[Clyde65]

When i did my LSx swap, i had to replace the trans mount which had the e-brake pivot device mounted to it. I went ahead and replaced all the lines with stainless and converted to the 1966 c10 type e-brake setup. Not too bad but not cheap either. Do it right, do it once!

[cru_zn_29]

I won't leave home without IT!