Any modified parking brake

[Hummer Guy]

I'm getting to change the cable, I just need to adjust it and put on the top spring on the upper shoe. Has anyone ever dummy proof the parking brake? As in dummy proof, I mean some indicator as to whether or not its applied. Its extremely easy to forget since the brake handle is literally hidden out of sight.

 

[Valley Rock]

To answer your question, no, I have no indicator telling me that the parking brake is engaged, other than the fact that my truck will not move if the parking brake is engaged, it works extremely well .

I hear guys say that their parking brake is absolutely worthless and I'm not sure why if your drum is in good shape your shoes are in good shape and it is squeezing that drum it's pretty effective .

There is a procedure to adjusting those shoes properly, I believe it's covered in tactical repairs videos on YouTube as well as the TM for that truck, when adjusted properly it puts more surface area of the shoes towards the drum and keeps the shoes wearing evenly .

If that doesn't work for you, you could always put a momentary switch on the handle and a light on the dash if need be .

 

[Hummer Guy]

To answer your question, no, I have no indicator telling me that the parking brake is engaged, other than the fact that my truck will not move if the parking brake is engaged, it works extremely well .

I hear guys say that their parking brake is absolutely worthless and I'm not sure why if your drum is in good shape your shoes are in good shape and it is squeezing that drum it's pretty effective .

There is a procedure to adjusting those shoes properly, I believe it's covered in tactical repairs videos on YouTube as well as the TM for that truck, when adjusted properly it puts more surface area of the shoes towards the drum and keeps the shoes wearing evenly .

If that doesn't work for you, you could always put a momentary switch on the handle and a light on the dash if need be .

Yea, Im hoping mines work this way, my shoes and drum looks good, before I broke my other cable, my truck would only go 30 mph with it on.

 

[HDN]

I'm getting to change the cable, I just need to adjust it and put on the top spring on the upper shoe. Has anyone ever dummy proof the parking brake? As in dummy proof, I mean some indicator as to whether or not its applied. Its extremely easy to forget since the brake handle is literally hidden out of sight.

The trucks with dual-circuit brakes have an indicator installed in the middle of the gauge cluster that shows whether the parking brake is engaged. It also lights up when a circuit loses hydraulic pressure!



I think it would be a neat idea to install such a light on the dashboard somewhere to show you whether or not the parking brake is engaged.

 

[tguinn]

The trucks with dual-circuit brakes have an indicator installed in the middle of the gauge cluster that shows whether the parking brake is engaged. It also lights up when a circuit loses hydraulic pressure!

View attachment 909770

I think it would be a neat idea to install such a light on the dashboard somewhere to show you whether or not the parking brake is engaged.

Like this, didn't cost much, l.e.d light and a microswitch

 

[Valley Rock]

@clinto said:

I don't think a pinion brake is a good idea on these trucks. There are several threads explaining the issues, but driveshaft speed and the open differentials make them not a good match for our trucks.


The pinion brake grabs on to the opposite end of the same driveline as the factory parking brake does, so there is zero difference as far as how the differentials work, but there are a few pluses such as the simplicity and the fact that you can run down to Napa and just get new pads or rotor and don't have to go through a technical adjustment procedure, and the parts are new .

I will eventually add one to mine as a back up, I am already converting from drum to disc brakes this winter/spring and eliminating those wheel cylinders, one at a time .

 

[HDN]

Like this, didn't cost much, l.e.d light and a microswitch

Does your gauge cluster have panel lights? That parking brake light went where one of the panel lights is supposed to go.

 

[topo]

I was able to make a mechanical linkage for my M52A2 it works good

 

[Hummer Guy]

@clinto said:

I don't think a pinion brake is a good idea on these trucks. There are several threads explaining the issues, but driveshaft speed and the open differentials make them not a good match for our trucks.


The pinion brake grabs on to the opposite end of the same driveline as the factory parking brake does, so there is zero difference as far as how the differentials work, but there are a few pluses such as the simplicity and the fact that you can run down to Napa and just get new pads or rotor and don't have to go through a technical adjustment procedure, and the parts are new .

I will eventually add one to mine as a back up, I am already converting from drum to disc brakes this winter/spring and eliminating those wheel cylinders, one at a time .

Im planning on doing the same next year with disc brakes.

 

[Hummer Guy]

I got the parking brake fixed up, it holds on a incline easily. I almost got everything perfectly functional besides a oil leak somewhere around the filter, I thought it was the housing under the filters but I was wrong, Im starting to think its the whole housing leaking.

Off topic, I turned the fuel up just a little because my truck was hard to start and it made a world difference, it starts like a brand-new truck and has much more power, the EGTs stay around 900F. No more being full on the throttle to just stay at 45Mph.

 

[topo]

This disc brake is in a 1943 White something like this with a maxi chamber in it would make a better park brake than the one that was put on these trucks ,

 

[LuckyWolf]

I was just thinking of that and I would have to concur, my old Deuce is a 63 Studebaker and the spare cable I have is out of a 68 Kaiser .

That old truck is not around anymore to compare to or see what type of handle it had, but when it comes to these Deuces it's often NOT a one size fits all deal .

Measure twice, buy once .


So, I'm literally editing as I'm writing this, I thought about it and I thought the handle I removed my spare cable from that I attempted to put on, was the same as the one in my 63 deuce and I just found it, and it is .

So I don't know what was different about that truck or possibly the handle, but I could not make that cable work in my 63 without modifying something .

I remember trying to put it on I thought I was losing my mind so if the cable you had fit and worked measure it inside and outside and get another one exactly like it if you can .



View attachment 908814

I have the squeeze lever type handbrake, is there somewhere in particular that stocks the cable for these and / or is it worth swapping handbrake lever types?