Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » foot pedal parking brake (Anyone done it?)
| foot pedal parking brake [message #201313] |
Mon, 11 March 2013 13:32  |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
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Ken Henderson and I have been talking about more efficient parking brake mechanisms. I'm about the limit as to what I can operate with my left arm and it is pretty marginal. My cables are free and have pulleys in the appropriate places.
I'm wondering if anyone has tried to adapt one of the ratcheting foot pedal units. I have one but have not yet investigated or measured the leverage. I seem to recall it has about 3-4 inches of travel with about a 12' lever.
On another note, my John Deere tractor (and most others) have a neat parking brake. Basically a ratchet lever that you flip over the brake pedal once depressed and it holds it down. This may be the best approach of all and I'm going to think about how something similar could be implemented. I'm thinking a spring to keep the arm out of the way until it is manually put in position. Brake pedal depressed as hard as you want and held down with no air or electric requirements....
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
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| Re: foot pedal parking brake [message #201316 is a reply to message #201314] |
Mon, 11 March 2013 13:57  |
Keith V
Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
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My plan for the parking brake is to use a linear actuator or even a small winch to pull the cable. then setting the brake involves no more than a flick-O-the-wrist.
My first implementation will be for the street rod I'm building which has space and aesthetics concerns
No I haven't found the suitable actuator, nor have I looked
Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] foot pedal parking brake [message #201317 is a reply to message #201314] |
Mon, 11 March 2013 13:57 |
sgltrac
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
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As long as the brake lights don't stay on it sounds like a good idea 2 me
Sully
77 royale
Seattle
Sent from my iPhone
On Mar 11, 2013, at 11:40 AM, Richard Andis <randisintexas@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> I don't think I'd be too keen on using an emergency/parking brake setup that utilizes any of the existing hydraulic brake system. At least not as a primary emergency/parking setup. Neither are some states. I'd sleep better at night with a mechanical setup.
>
> --
> "Vahalla" - 1978 GMC Royale
> "Walküre" - 1974 VW Thing
>
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Sully
77 Royale basket case.
Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list)
Seattle, Wa.
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| Re: [GMCnet] foot pedal parking brake [message #201325 is a reply to message #201317] |
Mon, 11 March 2013 15:52 |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
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Parking brake. I doubt if it would be much use in an emergency situation. A side foot pedal that could be pressured by the left foot and leg effort would be nice. You could almost stand on it. Using the existing Hydraulics might not be a good idea. How long would the booster support hold? There are hydraulic line locks that would do the same parking brake function.
Just my drift. Install the JC4 and reduce the worries.
Tom, MS II w/JC4
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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| Re: [GMCnet] foot pedal parking brake [message #201329 is a reply to message #201313] |
Mon, 11 March 2013 16:40 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Kerry,
Ken probably has mentioned some of the items below to you already, however, I figger'd I post links for others to see.
Albert Branscombe makes a pneumatically assisted parking brake:
http://www.bdub.net/branscombe/index.html
John Sharpe sent me these two links awhile back:
http://www.estopp.com/
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/E-Stopp-Electric-Emergency-Brake-Kit,65217.html
Ragusa: http://www.ragusarv.com/
makes these:
RV-111 Emergency-parking Brake Extension $18.00 ea.
Save your arm. We now have an extension helper to apply that tough parking brakes. Slip the new handle over the end of the parking
brake and tighten the screw This will allow the extension handle to slide forward and back to increase the leverage and not slip
off. When necessary to adjust brake, remove the brake extension, tighten brake and replace.
Look under Interior Items
Regards,
Rob M.
-----Original Message-----
From: Kerry Pinkerton
Ken Henderson and I have been talking about more efficient parking brake mechanisms. I'm about the limit as to what I can operate
with my left arm and it is pretty marginal. My cables are free and have pulleys in the appropriate places.
I'm wondering if anyone has tried to adapt one of the ratcheting foot pedal units. I have one but have not yet investigated or
measured the leverage. I seem to recall it has about 3-4 inches of travel with about a 12' lever.
On another note, my John Deere tractor (and most others) have a neat parking brake. Basically a ratchet lever that you flip over
the brake pedal once depressed and it holds it down. This may be the best approach of all and I'm going to think about how
something similar could be implemented. I'm thinking a spring to keep the arm out of the way until it is manually put in position.
Brake pedal depressed as hard as you want and held down with no air or electric requirements....
Kerry
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: [GMCnet] foot pedal parking brake [message #201330 is a reply to message #201325] |
Mon, 11 March 2013 16:39 |
sgltrac
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 1
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If you set the brake off of the pedal with the engine turned off, the booster is removed from the equation.
I've spent a few hours adding pulleys, re routing the cables, and adjusting slack trying to get the original lever e brake to work with the rear disc calipers on The Pig and can only get slight drag on the wheels on flat ground after max adjustment before constant drag from the calipers even when released. I dont have plans to spend hundreds of dollars and the time to instal for a modern built version of the same design. A mechanical line lock has been my current thought until this thread. The factory design is heavily flawed. I don't even use it. Completely worthless. I'm actually tempted to rip the whole setup out and clear more floor space. Park to camp on a grade? Currently wouldn't trust the park pin to hold.
Sully
77 royale
Seattle
Sent from my iPhone
On Mar 11, 2013, at 1:52 PM, Thomas Phipps <tph1pp5@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> Parking brake. I doubt if it would be much use in an emergency situation. A side foot pedal that could be pressured by the left foot and leg effort would be nice. You could almost stand on it. Using the existing Hydraulics might not be a good idea. How long would the booster support hold? There are hydraulic line locks that would do the same parking brake function.
> Just my drift. Install the JC4 and reduce the worries.
> Tom, MS II w/JC4
> --
> 1975 GMC Avion, under forever re-construction
> Vicksburg, MS. 3.7 miles from I-20
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Sully
77 Royale basket case.
Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list)
Seattle, Wa.
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| Re: [GMCnet] foot pedal parking brake [message #201336 is a reply to message #201316] |
Mon, 11 March 2013 16:48 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Keith,
Many years ago, now deceased GMCer Bobby Moore used an electric seat motor
as a linear actuator to operate his parking brake; very effective. Stick
Miller's recently acquired coach, long owned by Bill Telgen (also now
deceased), retired Delta mechanic, has the same basic setup but with a true
linear actuator with enclosed screw.
It's not a difficult concept to implement, but there's one feature of those
installations I don't much like: They're travel-limited by the electrical
limit switches they use. That means they'll need occasional adjustment.
I'd prefer for the motor to be tension-controlled. The simplest way I can
think of to achieve that is to mount the actuator (or perhaps one or more
of the pulleys) so it can move under spring restraint. The motor would
still have travel limit switches, but they'd deactivate the motor with
enough spring compression or extension to compensate for any wear/stretch
in the system.
Linear actuators are available from such places as:
http://www.surpluscenter.com/sort.asp?catname=&byKeyword=yes&search=linear%20actuator
That will still provide only a parking brake. :-(
These installations are perhaps not suitable for some jurisdictions, which
may want purely mechanical systems. From our discussions, I believe that's
the main reason Albert Branscombe's systems BOOST the OEM system, not
replace it. He's arranged the pneumatic cylinder in his system so that the
brakes can still be applied, a la OEM, without the boost working.
Ken H.
On Mon, Mar 11, 2013 at 2:57 PM, Keith V wrote:
>
>
> My plan for the parking brake is to use a linear actuator or even a small
> winch to pull the cable. then setting the brake involves no more than a
> flick-O-the-wrist.
>
> My first implementation will be for the street rod I'm building which has
> space and aesthetics concerns
>
> No I haven't found the suitable actuator, nor have I looked
> --
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] foot pedal parking brake [message #201337 is a reply to message #201330] |
Mon, 11 March 2013 16:59 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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When using the GM parking brake calipers, it is essential to have a parking
brake actuator of some sort and to use it frequently. Why? Because those
calipers are not like ordinary disc brake calipers: they DO NOT adjust
automatically to whatever clearance the bearings, rotors, rubber
hysteresis, and other factors cause the pistons to be pushed back. Rather,
they wear like a drum shoe until there is sufficient pad clearance (0.030"
?) for the the parking brake mechanism to ratchet to its next position.
That adjustment happens ONLY when the parking brake lever is actuated.
If I ever again utilize that style of caliper, I intend to install a linear
actuator and wire it so that the parking brake is automatically set every
time I put the shift lever in Park.
Ken H.
On Mon, Mar 11, 2013 at 5:39 PM, Todd Sullivan wrote:
> If you set the brake off of the pedal with the engine turned off, the
> booster is removed from the equation.
>
> I've spent a few hours adding pulleys, re routing the cables, and
> adjusting slack trying to get the original lever e brake to work with the
> rear disc calipers on The Pig and can only get slight drag on the wheels on
> flat ground after max adjustment before constant drag from the calipers
> even when released. I dont have plans to spend hundreds of dollars and the
> time to instal for a modern built version of the same design. A mechanical
> line lock has been my current thought until this thread. The factory design
> is heavily flawed. I don't even use it. Completely worthless. I'm actually
> tempted to rip the whole setup out and clear more floor space. Park to camp
> on a grade? Currently wouldn't trust the park pin to hold.
>
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] foot pedal parking brake [message #201347 is a reply to message #201329] |
Mon, 11 March 2013 19:05 |
George Zhookoff
Messages: 398
Registered: December 2004
Location: Snellville, GA
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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[quote title=Robert Mueller wrote on Mon, 11 March 2013 16:40]Kerry,
Ken probably has mentioned some of the items below to you already, however, I figger'd I post links for others to see.
Albert Branscombe makes a pneumatically assisted parking brake:
http://www.bdub.net/branscombe/index.html
Kerry,
I have the Branscombe parking brake system installed on my coach. Reaction arm, Kelsey Hayes lever park brake caliper, SS cable and pulleys from Albert. I have a nice gentle hill as you leave our driveway. I can park the coach on the hill, set the park brake and there is no movement. The system works. I have on hand but have not installed the assist air cylinder.
I highly recommend the Branscombe system.
George "headed to Dothan next week" Zhookoff
78 EL II
Atlanta
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| Re: [GMCnet] foot pedal parking brake [message #201363 is a reply to message #201337] |
Mon, 11 March 2013 21:37 |
Kosier
Messages: 834
Registered: February 2008
Karma: 1
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Hang in there, Ken. When I get healed up, I think I will have what you
want.
But, not as soon as planned.
Gary Kosier
77 PB Cad 500
-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Henderson
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2013 5:59 PM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] foot pedal parking brake
When using the GM parking brake calipers, it is essential to have a parking
brake actuator of some sort and to use it frequently. Why? Because those
calipers are not like ordinary disc brake calipers: they DO NOT adjust
automatically to whatever clearance the bearings, rotors, rubber
hysteresis, and other factors cause the pistons to be pushed back. Rather,
they wear like a drum shoe until there is sufficient pad clearance (0.030"
?) for the the parking brake mechanism to ratchet to its next position.
That adjustment happens ONLY when the parking brake lever is actuated.
If I ever again utilize that style of caliper, I intend to install a linear
actuator and wire it so that the parking brake is automatically set every
time I put the shift lever in Park.
Ken H.
On Mon, Mar 11, 2013 at 5:39 PM, Todd Sullivan wrote:
> If you set the brake off of the pedal with the engine turned off, the
> booster is removed from the equation.
>
> I've spent a few hours adding pulleys, re routing the cables, and
> adjusting slack trying to get the original lever e brake to work with the
> rear disc calipers on The Pig and can only get slight drag on the wheels
> on
> flat ground after max adjustment before constant drag from the calipers
> even when released. I dont have plans to spend hundreds of dollars and the
> time to instal for a modern built version of the same design. A mechanical
> line lock has been my current thought until this thread. The factory
> design
> is heavily flawed. I don't even use it. Completely worthless. I'm actually
> tempted to rip the whole setup out and clear more floor space. Park to
> camp
> on a grade? Currently wouldn't trust the park pin to hold.
>
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] foot pedal parking brake [message #201369 is a reply to message #201364] |
Tue, 12 March 2013 00:38 |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
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Al branscom's standard unit works very well.
We have installed them on customers coach with great results.
It is expensive as he uses all top notch hardware. $500
I don't think your going to do much better.
No design is 100 %, but Al's kit , I would rate 95%.
We use his kits designed for drum,disc,and combo.
On Mon, Mar 11, 2013 at 8:13 PM, A. <markbb1@netzero.com> wrote:
>
>
> Kerry Pinkerton wrote on Mon, 11 March 2013 13:32
> > ...I'm wondering if anyone has tried to adapt one of the ratcheting foot
> pedal units. I have one but have not yet investigated or measured the
> leverage. I seem to recall it has about 3-4 inches of travel with about a
> 12' lever. ...
> Even if it works better than OEM, there are other considerations.
> See page 56 of this presentation:
> http://www.bdub.net/branscombe/Drum_Park_Brake_Improvements.pdf
> --
> '73 23' Sequoia For Camping
> '73 23' CanyonLands For Sale
> UA (Upper Alabama)
> "Time is money. If you use YOUR time, you get to keep YOUR money."
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--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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| Re: [GMCnet] foot pedal parking brake [message #201456 is a reply to message #201330] |
Tue, 12 March 2013 21:00 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
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""The factory design is heavily flawed. I don't even use it. Completely worthless. I'm actually tempted to rip the whole setup out and clear more floor space. Park to camp on a grade? Currently wouldn't trust the park pin to hold.
""
I'm surprised to hear that. My stock system with drum brakes is quite effective.
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
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| Re: foot pedal parking brake [message #201473 is a reply to message #201313] |
Tue, 12 March 2013 22:16 |
GeorgeRud
Messages: 1380
Registered: February 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Karma: 0
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I think that if a foot operated parking brake actuator pedal could be designed, it would be a worthwhile improvement in my opinion. Even with the Ragusa extension handle, it doesn't really allow for easy operation.
George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
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| Re: foot pedal parking brake [message #201622 is a reply to message #201473] |
Wed, 13 March 2013 22:46 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
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| GeorgeRud wrote on Tue, 12 March 2013 21:16 |
I think that if a foot operated parking brake actuator pedal could be designed, it would be a worthwhile improvement in my opinion. Even with the Ragusa extension handle, it doesn't really allow for easy operation.
|
George, I suspect you are correct and I think a mechanical foot operated system will work, but just like the base brake system, I'm still convinced that a correctly set up and maintained original system works quite well. Most people have never experienced a good original system and immediately move on to modifications which may not always be well founded.I know that Cinnabar is not a well liked company, but one thing they did make me realize on our coaches is that their position regarding original equipment materials and "set-ups" is well direcyed and yeilds surprisingly good performance for most systems that we routinely try to out-engineer without the capability to do so.
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
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