E-brake Question

Hi All,
My Project Old Goat build is using Cadillac rear disc brake calipers with the built in parking brake. My Jeep didn't come with any type of e-brake handle. Do you think the original cane style hand brake has enough leverage to activate the Cadillac calipers or should I use a floor mount type hand brake for the additional leverage?

Mike

 

The cane style has a lever attached to the drum at the rear of the transfer case, so I think you would have to rig some kind of a lever to use it for the rear brakes. Norcal recently did this using a floor mounted lever from a forklift.

 

The original brake handles are known for breaking the plastic Tee handle, so I might be looking at other options. The Willys Wagons from the early 1960's used an Orschein parking brake lever, an industrial unit used on equipment. These are a lever type operator with an adjustment knob that fit in the same space under the dash.
They have a lot of leverage to easily out-pull the cane type straight pull lever.
-Donny

 

And within this lever, I would give it a substantial increase in leverage. The original cane pulled on a long arm that had quite a mechanical advantage on the single drum. You'd be losing that advantage by running the cane directly to your brakes.

 

Ok, thanks all, that's what I suspected. I'll find a floor mount lever to use.

Mike

 

Is there any pics of this?

 

Check out eBay item #2833 6041 3502. This is not the exact part as used on the Willys Wagon, but is the same brand/design. This style brake actuator can be found made by Tug and Dorman too.
-Donny

 

You might try looking at Vegas and Pintos, IRRC they both had between the seats floor mounted hand lever.

 

I'll be buying new. Now that I'm on St Croix, I don't have access to junkyards, and there are new ones that are reasonably priced.

Mike