Deleting e brake

[kev2809]

Is this OK to do? I hate the handle on my 67 and my cables are frayed under the cab. also hate the steel cable coming through the firewall. is it OK to just delete the whole thing? truck will have an LS with 4l60E auto trans. also has air ride and it can not roll when aired out.

anyone else delete the whole setup?

[sick472]

Even though I have driven autos for 99% of my driving life (36 years) AND never got in the habit of setting the parking brake.... I have had to use it a few time for during brake failures. I cannot recommend deleting the system, but rather fix it and keep it working in good order.

The park/emergency brake system is not that good to use as a way to get home after the master cylinder goes out, the line breaks, or otherwise....but, I guarantee that regret will be the first thing to go through your mind in a brake failure.

[Moore87]

Originally Posted by kev2809

Is this OK to do? I hate the handle on my 67 and my cables are frayed under the cab. also hate the steel cable coming through the firewall. is it OK to just delete the whole thing? truck will have an LS with 4l60E auto trans. also has air ride and it can not roll when aired out.

anyone else delete the whole setup?

How is your truck registered? In TX gotta have a parking brake to pass safety inspection


Personally It wouldn’t bother me. If I was worried about brake failure I wouldn’t drive the truck

[jocko]

Nope, it’s not ok in most states (and zero that I’ve ever lived in, and have moved around quite a bit). And it’s really not a good idea either, even if you think you won’t need it, you eventually will (or should) use it. Cannot roll when aired out is probably not a viable workaround when in a scenario where you actually need a pbrake - yes, there are times you should use one even with an automatic.

[kev2809]

tbh I have been driving for 20 years and not once have I ever had to use my e brake. nothing but flat lands where I'm from but I see you guys point. I will look into it more in detail and see what needs to be replaced to get it working right

[BAD1916]

Maybe get an electric parking brake. They aren’t that bad to Install either. The only thing I don’t like is they are all or nothing.

[Peanut74]

The only time I use my e-brake is when I'm working on my other vehicles. For my '67 I removed it as I would have had to rebuild the whole system. I will be upgrading my master cylinder from a single line system to a dual, just to be sure I have some brakes. As for when I work on it I will just chalk the wheels so it don't roll.

[Grumpy old man]

Rock auto for all 4 cables AC Delco gold is only about $60.00 , Really not something to delete when the name starts with "Emergency" brake

[Zeroman]

kev2809, Sent you a private message

[Getter-Done]

That is one of the features I like on the 67 & 68.
It reminds me of older trucks that had hand brake lever in the center.

I vote fix it.

If it's the big handle you don't like?
I don't know how hard it would be to convert it to 69-72 style?

[Grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by Getter-Done

That is one of the features I like on the 67 & 68.
It reminds me of older trucks that had hand brake lever in the center.

I vote fix it.

If it's the big handle you don't like?
I don't know how hard it would be to convert it to 69-72 style?

It's an old guy thing , The 67-68 hand brake and manual trans worked great if you had a load or pulling a trailer up hill and had to stop halfway for a traffic light or stop sign , You just reached down and pulled up on the hand brake rather than ride the clutch waiting on traffic to clear made it a whole lot easier to get going again and saved your clutch , You can't do that with a floor E brake .

[Getter-Done]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

It's an old guy thing , The 67-68 hand brake and manual trans worked great if you had a load or pulling a trailer up hill and had to stop halfway for a traffic light or stop sign , You just reached down and pulled up on the hand brake rather than ride the clutch waiting on traffic to clear made it a whole lot easier to get going again and saved your clutch , You can't do that with a floor E brake .

Very True

[kev2809]

Well. I'm thinking of just wrapping the actual cable by the firewall in a wireloom or something and repairing whats missing. The actual handle under the column doesn't bother me all that much but i figured if there was a chance to remove it all together than why not.

[MySons68C20]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

It's an old guy thing , The 67-68 hand brake and manual trans worked great if you had a load or pulling a trailer up hill and had to stop halfway for a traffic light or stop sign , You just reached down and pulled up on the hand brake rather than ride the clutch waiting on traffic to clear made it a whole lot easier to get going again and saved your clutch , You can't do that with a floor E brake .

I love my ole hand pull! A must have for me......180's in the snow works great!

[MySons68C20]

Originally Posted by kev2809

Well. I'm thinking of just wrapping the actual cable by the firewall in a wireloom or something and repairing whats missing. The actual handle under the column doesn't bother me all that much but i figured if there was a chance to remove it all together than why not.

I like that plan!

[May70]

I actually really like the hand style. I had a manual truck before that it was VERY handy when towing, heck even stop/go/parallel parking etc on an incline. I used it all the time. It got me out of some sticky situations. I really don't like the pedal E brake with a manual not sure why they moved it. The pedal style really limits it as a tool.

Anyways, its most likely illegal where you live and if you did cause an accident you better hope the other party doesn't find out. That's prime lawsuit material! Personally I would not drive something that didn't have an e brake.

[jaros44sr]

16401849429525845957225115628482 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/97391199@N06

I wouldn't delete it, but you could convert it to something more functional

[dagnabbitt]

The one time I really needed an ebrake was in a 67 GMC, and that handle probably saved someone's life. I am not sure I would have found it if it was on the floor, either.

[CG]

I had the brakes go out in my 72 Burb in evening rush hour traffic and I had around a 40 mile commute left.

I used the foot ebrake and the ebrake release handle to get home. Well most of the way until the black handle popped off. Luckily, I was still able to hold on to the piece the handle is stuck to, good grip =)

Its the opposite of flat here out in the west side of the Cascades, an ebrake is essential.

[57larry]

don't have an E brake on my 68. It was missing when I bought the truck, never thought about looking for one. maybe I should

[CastIron]

What is all this talk about e brakes? My truck doesn't have one. It does, however, have a park brake.

[dmjlambert]

Well, it is a parking brake that is mighty useful as emergency brake. I like maintaining my truck in 100% operating condition and passing inspection every year, and driving it all over the state.

['68OrangeSunshine]

[quote=jaros44sr;9011341]16401849429525845957225115628482 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/97391199@N06

I wouldn't delete it, but you could convert it to something more functional[/quote]

Jaros44sr -- Is that a dual Left/Right bootlegger hand brake system?

[tj1970cst]

I don't think the self adjusters will work properly with no e brake.

I know I have seen it on other vehicles, not 100% if these are the same.

[toms68cst]

The customs and CST's have a cover for the handle. It dresses it up a bit. Should be an easy thing to pic up and fit to your truck.

I've had my truck for 20+ years and never touched the e-brake. I have too many unpleasant memories of my mom driving away forgetting to release the e-brake with a cloud of smoke rising from the back of whatever she was driving!

On a side note, I'm afraid that if I set mine after 25+- years of having never been used, it won't release. Is this a consideration? My brakes are in otherwise good condition.