Those with rotors in the back, how good are your parking brakes?

[scottryana]

Yeah but what is reasonable? This inspector swore it was like 2000 or maybe even 2500rpms. I know I failed in both my LX and my GT-R and had to go to another inspector.

P.S. This was one of those authorized inspection shacks in Bexar county.

@scottryana I hate to disagree with you after seeing so many of your posts, but as a Texas state inspector that is not the official test. do you really think any parking brake would hold 2000-2500 RPMs on the newest generation of diesels with 800 ft/lbs of torque stock? I had someone try to tell me that with my 64 Falcon while I was between shops. Parking brake is not required to be upgraded to match the 347 stroker and loose converter.

The parking brake should hold from a stop with reasonable load applied. In other words it has to horrible to not pass.

PS: They are brakes, not BREAKS.

 

[biker1007]

Yeah but what is reasonable? This inspector swore it was like 2000 or maybe even 2500rpms. I know I failed in both my LX and my GT-R and had to go to another inspector.

P.S. This was one of those authorized inspection shacks in Bexar county.

That's the hard part about being an inspector. I can get in trouble if I pass something that isn't safe but also for not passing something that meets minimum requirements. Inspection only places tend to not be mechanics so they don't have a true understanding of what they are looking at. They just got hired then sent to a 1 day class after their last job at McDonalds usually.

 

[Dragos80]

Just as a side note, the e-break uses break shoes not pads to do it's job.
I was probably unclear with my previous statement.

 

[1973Guppie]

mine works really well actually, if you follow the fsm to adjust the cable, etc it help alot.....

 

[Apounder]

Mines useless, truck might even roll better with it engaged lol

 

[LINUS]

Just tried what @scottryana said. Flat road, parking brake all the way up, in drive. No problem, brake holds. Give it gas, holds till 1200rpm then the rear brake sounds really angry and the truck pushes past the brake's holding power. I didn't like the noise. May need to do some inspecting.

Call it a hunch, after this foray I expect we'll see a Wit's End e-brake kit! XD


On a serious side, I re-did my brakes ~2 yrs ago (new wear parts, all calipers rebuilt) - - adjusted as FSM req'ed, only to have it set at it's current lackluster performance.
It wouldn't be worth-while to avoid a wreck if the booster failed on the interstate (my understanding of the litmus test), starting to wonder about pads - only questionable part.

I remember my EBC pads only came with the rotor pads, the drums were whatever the Napa average pad was (wasn't any particular thing like 'silver'/'gold' IIRC.

Anybody else get shortchanged on EBC pads for the e-brake or was it just me?
-Didn't seem too odd at the time, but since we're talking it.....

 

[Mr Cimarron]

That's the hard part about being an inspector. I can get in trouble if I pass something that isn't safe but also for not passing something that meets minimum requirements. Inspection only places tend to not be mechanics so they don't have a true understanding of what they are looking at. They just got hired then sent to a 1 day class after their last job at McDonalds usually.

I have never had issues with awful parking brakes during annual inspection. My Liberty CRD's is so bad I have accidentally driven with it on without noticing. Have tried to fix it several time but it reverts back to crap pretty quick.

 

[FirstToy]

My parking brake couldn't hold back a 80lb hobbled grandma rushing a free meal at hometown buffet

Wish there was a better setup than what I have.

 

[Rusco]

Using your parking brake as a service brake will usually break something in the parking brake. That might make you want to use the rifle that has the muzzle brake on something.....
I spent many years (I might be old) as a state inspector in TX also (mandatory if you work in a dealer) and all the parking brake has to do is hold the vehicle in place during a mild application of throttle while in a forward gear. There is no RPM range specified, but it's generally assumed to be right around converter lockup speed for most automatic transmission vehicles. Two things come to mind that would be exceptions:
1) Diesels. I forgot to release the P brake on my 03 Dodge and just ripped all the junk out of both backing plates. I broke my brake.
2) Electric vehicles, like Teslas for instance, that make their maximum torque at zero RPM. I don't even know what a Tesla uses for a P brake, but it's just one more worm in the can.
I like italics, by the way.
And the P brake in my 80 will hold just fine under test conditions, and will significantly slow the vehicle while in motion. If I have to use it to stop one day, I really hope I have time and space to apply it gradually, because it's not designed to be an "emengency" brake.

 

[Howard705]

In IL- trucks 8001 gvw or higher still have to be IDOT Safety tested. If you tow a trailer 10000gvw or more- lower gvw trucks are tested (or ambulances/rebuilt salvage vehicles/drivers ed cars/busses/limos/tow trucks. They use a brake testing machine capable of measuring the braking force at each whee and the total Where I worked used an older Bear machine and I think that they still use it. You drive onto the machine and make a HARD stop with the Emergency Brake and then the Service brake. I DON'T remember the amount of force (pounds) required but I'm sure that it can be found in the IDOT manual appendix "G" procedures. The point is that it was a moving test to see that the emergency brake would stop the vehicle.

 

[Tools R Us]

The drums are relatively small, so relatively weak. Have seen several instances of running with them on 'till smell/smoke alerted the driver. It's best to just say; I detected low performance, so was bedding them to improve holding power?

 

[Tools R Us]

...
Anybody else get shortchanged on EBC pads for the e-brake or was it just me?
-Didn't seem too odd at the time, but since we're talking it.....

How were you shortchanged, I didn't know that EBC even made e-brake shoes? Have replaced tons of pads and e-brake shoes have never been included. They get little use, so are for the most part lifetime pieces.

 

[Iceaxe]

Great thread. Always wondered what the functional purpose of the e-brake was... coming from the world of rally cars, we often used "e-brakes" to drift the car around turns.

In my rig, after going through a full brake / rotor change this weekend, I did go through the process of checking my e-brakes using the procedure noted in the manual... and saw that I did indeed need an adjustment.

On Hell's Revenge, my brake booster blew. Let me tell you, there's a whole new meaning to "sweaty palms" as I spent the remaining half o f the day standing on the brake with both feet and pulling the steering wheel to my chest with all my might... while going down a fin with cliffs on either side. I didn't touch the e-brake at all, and I'm damn sure it wouldn't have helped one bit.

 

[Dave 2000]

In Spain's ITV (yearly inspection) the parking brake should be able to pull 20% of the service brake but, it does not allow for the fact that the disc/pad combo is way more powerful than the small drum parking brake.

It is tested on rollers, first you pull the brake gently to check for oval drums, this is held for around 10 seconds and also checks balance across the axle, and then a full application.

It is a known weak area on the 80 and to get mine right the year before last, I fitted new disc/drum combo and shoes and spent ages getting the balance right (ITV requires balance of all brakes to be held within 'X' kg's of each other), and it got through OK but, I have found during 'testing' on the street a good yank will lock one wheel only.

This year will see the rear brakes getting a full overall, including callipers and so forth, there have been modified 'dog bone' bars between the shoes on offer, and various other ideas to get them perfect but even when perfect, and for something that does not actually 'wear' they do not seem to stay very effective for long.

As an asides I got a warning years back on my old Land Rover Discovery that there was imbalance on the handbrake, I told him it was tyre slip or his rollers needed recalibrating, he started saying how they are regularly checked, I just pointed to the transmission brake, PASSED!!


regards

Dave

 

[Apounder]

My truck needs a hydro ebrake like my race car, idk how I've had the cruiser this long and not added a hydro...

 

[LINUS]

How were you shortchanged, I didn't know that EBC even made e-brake shoes? Have replaced tons of pads and e-brake shoes have never been included. They get little use, so are for the most part lifetime pieces.

If the norm from EBC is what I got, then I wasn't shorted - that was what I was getting at.

My original pads back ~2002 the kit from Napa had both pairs, that was why I asked here about what others had gotten in brake kits.

 

[NCFJ]

I found these a while back, have yet to try a set.
Hard Candy 4x4 Landcruiser Dog Bone Extended Spacer

 

[LINUS]

^^^^^ Heck yeah, I'm ordering a set - good to see someone else has felt strongly & addressed the issue.

Thanks for the link, never knew anything existed for this!

**Edit - just tried to order, no bueno for us 'Mericans "no shipping options available".
Have to give 'em a call.

 

[cruiserdan]

It's a PARKING BRAKE! Properly set up it fulfills that definition. "Properly set up" is the moving target.

My BJ74 with rear drum brakes kicks ass on the 80 "parking brake" function. It loses out on service braking however.

 

[BrotherRob]

Parking brake? What parking brake?

If you cut the cable, it makes a good donut holder