parking brake necessary?

[mrn2obelvedere]

Would it be ok to just use the wilwood rear disk kit without the parking brake? Has anyone ever heard of the park feature in the trans failing?
Also is it worth the extra coin for the cross drilled rotors on a mostly street driven car? The car at some point will go autocrossing but I have no hopes of actually being competitive with it, only for fun.

[Larry Callahan]

I would save the money on drilling and put it into the added safety of a mechanical parking/emergency brake.

[dannyho]

can you register a car without a parking brake? I was under the impression that you can't.

[HotRod47]

can you register a car without a parking brake? I was under the impression that you can't.

That all depends... I registered my project that has no engine, trans, interior or front sheetmetal!! You gotta love Ct. DMV!!


But yes, you are supposed to have an E-Brake.

[Vegas69]

Some guys will say it's a waste of time. I'm here to tell you it's not. The argument is it won't do you any good if you need it. I say bologna. There are million scenarios where it saves your butt and car. Put it on.

[b-man]

Parking on any kind of incline won't work out too well without a parking brake. Your park pawl inside your auto trans will take a beating and eventually fail. Good luck trying to get your car out of park without the parking brake taking at least some of load off the park pawl.

Put a parking brake on your car. All of our cars came equipped with one for a good reason, and there's really no good reason not to have one.

[mrn2obelvedere]

All points well taken. I just find it appealing to be able to reduce the unsprung weight. I'll just get the parking break model kit when it comes time to do the brake conversion.

[Vegas69]

All points well taken. I just find it appealing to be able to reduce the unsprung weight. I'll just get the parking break model kit when it comes time to do the brake conversion.

You're fretting over nano seconds here. While it sounds great, it's really not that tough to run a factory mechanism. Feel free to PM me for the parts I used.

[mrn2obelvedere]

You're fretting over nano seconds here. While it sounds great, it's really not that tough to run a factory mechanism. Feel free to PM me for the parts I used.

I'd be curious to know what you mean about using factory parts. Remember we're dealing with a Mopar here. I want to use an aftermarket setup for braking performance reasons, and I don't see how I'll be able to use my factory parking brake parts (the factory parking brake just engages the factory drums after all).

[z06fromhell]

put on the parking brake. it is helpful for many reasons and not that much weight/difficulty.

[mrn2obelvedere]

put on the parking brake. it is helpful for many reasons and not that much weight/difficulty.

I know. I already agreed on this point.

I am just curious what Vegas69 was talking about.

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

I'd be curious to know what you mean about using factory parts. Remember we're dealing with a Mopar here. I want to use an aftermarket setup for braking performance reasons, and I don't see how I'll be able to use my factory parking brake parts (the factory parking brake just engages the factory drums after all).

I have a link at home of a site that sells brackets so you can use stock caddy calipers with a parking brakes in the rear. Works pretty good. I have one for my Ford 9" on my 'Bird. I can use my stock parking brake setup also. I may need a slightly different length intermediate cable. But all the other stuff seems to work so far. They may have a kit that works for you I didn't notice you had a Mopar. But I'll send you the link just in case.

Found it - http://www.tsmmfg.com/

[JRouche]

I have a link at home of a site that sells brackets so you can use stock caddy calipers with a parking brakes in the rear. Works pretty good. I have one for my Ford 9" on my 'Bird. I can use my stock parking brake setup also.

Yup, I have the caddy calipers on my 9 inch , love it.

IMO a street car should have a "parking brake" They are also called emergency brakes for a reason. They are independent of the hydraulic system, completely mechanical. So if the off chance the hydraulic system fails you can still grab a limited amount of braking power by grabbing the handle. Much better than just giving up and saying lets crash, I have NO brakes.

Oh, and for the guys with inspections. Ouch!! I thought california was tight. Maybe not. If its a pre whatever the year is now, what? 73? You just show up with the papers. No car needed. Heck, I registered a piece of metal and they were happy to take my money.

Now.. The street cop may have his own issues on what he determines what is legal. Cause if you get pulled over then he has the right to make sure it is within the confines of the vehicle code which is about three inches thick and full of requirements. If you flaunt your car all about the city and he takes offense cause you say hey dude, Im registered, back off. Then it doesnt matter that the dmv issued you a registration for an open exhaust, or a blower on top. He can cite you for any of the violations within the vehicle code and bring you to court. Then to show the cranky ol judge some registration papers wont matter much cause he will say thats not what we are here about. We are here about CVC *****. The book is fat, it covers ALL our cars. Every car is in violation of the CVC.. Thats how cops get into every car on the road. Tint, hangy things from the mirror, bald tires, loose door, license plate lamp, exhaust fumes. I dont know, the list is endless. Every car can be rightfully stopped under the CVC. Havent seen one yet that wasnt... God forbid you have had a couple of drinks. Off to jail. Ok, solly.. I drifted JR

[John Wright]

Sometimes a brick under the tire is tough to operate...think big hill.

In Va. they make us have an operating e-brake or it won't pass the annual inspection.

[wmhjr]

Interesting discussion. I'm "sort of" in the same boat. However, I've got a TREMEC TKO600 tranny. Because of some fitment concerns, I elected not to install a parking brake at this time. However, I'm considering later retrofitting a pull up lever activated parking brake on my tranny tunnel between the bucket seats. I honestly don't even really trust a parking brake as I've seen them fail as well, and plan to have a plastic wheel chock - plus the use of this car doesn't really include street parking on hills. my Wilwood rear discs are equipped for the P-brake. Just not using it at this point.

Since my car will be licensed as an "antique" no state inspection is required.

[rentedmule]

I know you're already sold on the parking brake but I just thought I'd add a personal experience. I had a new caliper put on my truck once and a defect caused a massive failure/fluid leak while I was on the highway. If I hadn't had the e-brake it would have been a scary situation.

[cheapthrillz]

Another thought is: if it is a manual, how do you let the car idle while outside of the car? Wheel stops? This is something that I am thinking about also because my Galaxie has a small bearing rear and I cannot afford the drum-in-hat parking brake right now.... I may need to research my options too...

[Jeffrotech]

"Parking brake" or "emergency brake"? Whatever you want to call it, I would like to have one just in case - God forbid you have to use it in an emergency (loos of brakes!), but it's important for safety.

I'll 2nd the comment for parking on a hill - you'll be asking that tiny finger to hold the entire weight of the car - not safe at all. Not good for the trans either.

[John Wright]

Besides, The brick in front/behind the tire looks goofy in magazine pictures....LOL, and it is tough to get out from behind the tire on a steep up hill slope.

[formula]

NECESSARY?!?!?!

Is it necessary that I drink my own *****?

NO. But it's sterile, and I like the taste.