The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Parking/emergency brake - AD pickup

I hate the e-brake pedal system on my 54. The crossbar is slowly being sawn in two where it passes through the support bracket. The pinch type holding mechanism has a mind of its own, releasing whenever it feels like it. It rattles.

I know some people have replaced their e-brake pedals with some thing better such as a Lokar unit or something salvaged from a newer car/truck. I prefer to go the salvage route. Can anybody suggest a suitable donor vehicle? Do you have pictures of how the pedal assembly attaches to the kick panel/firewall/dash?

try www.chuckthetruck.homestead.com. he has a whole series on restorations and ebrake is one of them. ron

Chuck's using a hand brake. I like that hand brakes don't fling dirt at you like the pedal ones do (when you release them), but it would require me to cut yet another hole in the floor. I would like to patch the hole where the existing pedal goes through and just have a small hole for the cable.

Im using the e-brake assy from a 87 full size blazer ,on my 51 3100. I also used the rear, out of the blazer as well, as the e-brake cables ,works great, old navy51.............

If you wanted to stay kinda original looking, the 47 AD pickups have a racheting lever next to the floor mounted shifter that would work great. If your truck has a three speed on the column, you could relocate near the existing floor petal. Many of the big bolts have the same lever that could be salvaged. The early 60's trucks have a lever that mounts under the dash that could be modified very easily to your truck.
Ralph

Thanks, everyone. I was planning to go shopping at the auto wreckers tomorrow, but we have about 10" of new snow. They have lots of 80's GM trucks, so that will probably be the best bet. Some of the Jap trucks had the under dash pull on type levers - I might have a quick look at them. The snow should be gone next weekend ...

fran and gord, i used a ebrake out of a dodge van late seventies i think. the brake usually is horizontally under the dash but i mounted it vertically where the old ebrake was. worked well until i changed to open drive shaft and i never rehooked it. i want the floor brake for looks. good hunting.the brake even maybe 60s, it has been 20 yrs since i got it. a good salvage yard will know. ron