Electric emergency brake...anyone running one?

[cpd004]

I know they're pricey, but with them being offered as OEM equipment, I'm curious if anyone has adapted a junk yard one to their own car.

[MonzaRacer]

NO. Worked with many of them, real pain in the back side and most are tied to factory BCM and real pain to deal with and many cause all sorts of issues.
Audi cars have electric rear brakes and take an expensive tool just too retract them and if you wear pads out too far you trash the calipers at around $1000+ a pair.

[cpd004]

I haven't seen an Audi version, but saw one a buddy had that I think was from a Cadillac. It appeared to be just a long rectangular box with an arm that came out to pull the rear cables. Like an actuator.

[andrewb70]

I was in the VW show room recently and several models had these. I am also sure that John Parsons uses these on some of his builds.

Andrew

[Paraman1]

A buddy of mine has a Hydroboost system on a heavily modified Toyota FJ55 and he is using a hydraulic parking brake setup since there is no rear parking brake assembly available for the rear of his Pig . I am kind of surprised to not see more of this kind of system in use on PT cars .

[cpd004]

Me too. E Stopp makes one but it seems pricey.

[Paraman1]

I am actually talking about a 30 dollar Swagelok valve built into the system . Push your brake pedal down to create pressure , turn the valve mounted into or underneath your dash and walk away .

This is my buddies setup that he installed on his FJ . The valve in the middle is what I am talking about .

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[gray86hach]

I like this idea. Would be really easy to mount it under the car with a lever and rod thru the floor. Pull up to set. About $30 in parts vs $500 for the rest of the stuff for the kore3 brakes.

Tim

[cornfedbill]

I am actually talking about a 30 dollar Swagelok valve built into the system . Push your brake pedal down to create pressure , turn the valve mounted into or underneath your dash and walk away .

This is my buddies setup that he installed on his FJ . The valve in the middle is what I am talking about .

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Does it bleed down over time?

[Paraman1]

Not with the Swagelok ball valve . He left this setup parked on the backside of his rifle berm for several days with no issues . Even after a week or so it will stop it better than the OE parking brake ever did .

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[andrewb70]

In the "old days" (whenever that was...LOL) the cable actuated brake was also an emergency brake just in case the hydraulic system failed. I guess VW (and presumably other OEMs) are not so concerned about the hydraulics failing. I assume that the push button systems on the VW are mechanical, but I bet they don't work when the vehicle is moving, so it is really just a parking brake. Found this video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar6pgZaAXrU

Looks like the rear calipers have the electronic motor for the parking brake built in.

Here is a Lincoln LS actuator:

http://www.2040parts.com/2003-06-lincoln-ls-electronic-parking-brake-actuator-3w4z-2598-aa-6w4z-2598-a-i671808/

Seems like it would be fairly simple to retrofit on an older car.

Andrew

[andrewb70]

I guess the caliper based systems are pretty smart:

http://www.traffictechnologytoday.com/news.php?NewsID=38414

They work with the traction control system in an emergency situation to stop the vehicle safely. Fancy stuff.

Andrew

[Paraman1]

In the "old days" (whenever that was...LOL) the cable actuated brake was also an emergency brake just in case the hydraulic system failed. I guess VW (and presumably other OEMs) are not so concerned about the hydraulics failing. I assume that the push button systems on the VW are mechanical, but I bet they don't work when the vehicle is moving, so it is really just a parking brake. Found this video:

Andrew

We actually discussed this at length and in the old days when you had a single reservoir master cylinder if the hydraulics went out you lost all braking . Modern dual reservoir master cylinders will generally keep one end or the other working if the hydraulics fail (Nissan actually used this as a selling point in the Hardbody trucks) . While it is a possibility that you could lose front and rear brakes at the same time we estimated that the odds of it happening would be akin to being struck by lightning while being eaten by a shark while holding the winning Mega Lotto ticket .

I am certainly not saying that brake failure couldn't happen and if someone feels that the added safety of an emergency/parking brake is warranted in their vehicle (Or if your sanctioning race body requires it) then by all means install it . If you simply don't trust your manual transmission to hold your pride and joy in one spot in the Wally World parking lot then the Swagelok valve braking system may be a more budget minded alternative . Probably not nearly as cool as a electronically actuated emergency/parking brake that you can set with your keyfob .

Sorry to derail the topic here .

Mike

[andrewb70]

Mike,

I think you are right on topic. We are discussing various options to the same problem. I personally would like to do something, because I haven't had a parking/e-brake in the GTO since it was "done." I like your simple valve idea and it would serve me well as a parking brake solution. I am with you in that I don't think a complete hydraulic failure is very likely to occur, so I am looking more for a parking solution. Happen to have a link to that Swagelok valve?

Andrew

[Paraman1]

Mike,

I think you are right on topic. We are discussing various options to the same problem. I personally would like to do something, because I haven't had a parking/e-brake in the GTO since it was "done." I like your simple valve idea and it would serve me well as a parking brake solution. I am with you in that I don't think a complete hydraulic failure is very likely to occur, so I am looking more for a parking solution. Happen to have a link to that Swagelok valve?

Andrew

I believe this is the one my friend used in his build .... http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Whitey-Swagelok-1-4-Stainless-Steel-Angle-Valve-SS-43S4-A-/361205666778?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item54198913da

This is a 1/4 inch valve but I think you would probably need a 3/16 ??

[andrewb70]

I believe this is the one my friend used in his build .... http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Whitey-Swagelok-1-4-Stainless-Steel-Angle-Valve-SS-43S4-A-/361205666778?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item54198913da

This is a 1/4 inch valve but I think you would probably need a 3/16 ??

I was just thinking that if you run it in the front line, it can double as a line lock when drag racing! LOL

Andrew

[gray86hach]

Allstar performance 48010

Tim

[Paraman1]

That part looks similar but I can't speak to how well the part you listed will work Tim . In speaking with my friend he chose Swagelok due to their high quality and industrial usage around the world . I am also not sure how well the brass fitting might hold up over time compared to a stainless one . Do you know if its a ball valve ?

Mike

[gray86hach]

I will check next time I am at the parts house.

Tim

[gray86hach]

http://allstarperformance.com/product.htm?prod=364&part=ALL48010&add=no

[parsonsj]

I love 'em. Gets rid of those messy cables and pedal (or lever), and when it's set, it's set. You ain't moving that car. I'll never use anything else again.

http://www.estopp.com

[andrewb70]

JP,

Any pictures of where you mount yours?

Andrew

[parsonsj]

I went and looked for some pictures... but didn't find any. I won't have the car back here for a couple months. The car (69 Camaro) has a DSE dash insert, and I mounted the button between the steering column and the wiper switch. The actuator is mounted inside the front frame rail.