Club Cobra - Ineffective Parking / Emergency Brakes

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Ineffective Parking / Emergency Brakes

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08-09-2019 12:02 PM - permalink

cycleguy55

1/2

I have searched the forums and a number of members (with other make Cobras) are having issues with ineffective parking / emergency brakes, as I do. There seem to be few answers to the problem, however.

I've converted my rear brakes to GM 'large style' calipers with integrated parking brakes. The rear brakes work with the brake pedal, so they're not out of adjustment. The parking brake lever pulls up all the way (nearly vertical, FWIW) and the brakes actuate, but they'll barely hold the car on level ground, and won't hold it on much, if any, slope. I'm not happy with that. It seems to me the lever needs to pull more cable so the brakes actuate with less pull of the lever.

...2

08-09-2019 12:03 PM - permalink

cycleguy55

2/2

The Kellison build manual I have indicates the parking brake lever is a Chevrolet Vega lever (yes, seriously). I don't know for sure that is what's installed, but looking at the lever there's definitely a resemblance to the hand-drawn sketch in the build manual (volume 2, page 05.30-3). It's kind of an ugly lever and I'm inclined to replace it with a Lokar lever (EHB-7000F).

Do all parking / emergency brake levers have the same cable pull / ratio? If the Lokar lever (or another make / model) has a different ratio that pulls more cable for a given amount of lever movement, then that may solve my problem. If not, then I'll likely need to fabricate something to increase the cable pull, along the lines of this: Emergency brake problem

I have not yet contacted Lokar, but may well do so - I just thought someone here may have the answer.

Thoughts?

08-10-2019 06:07 AM - permalink

BAsque1

I had that problem, so I had my trusty mechanic adjust the cable pull and it took several attempts before the EB was had an effective hold, it works now. You might want to try that.
Hope this helps

08-11-2019 07:47 AM - permalink

Mark.Smith

I had the same issue. My handbrake did nothing to stop the car from rolling when the break was fully engaged. I ended up manufacturing an adjustable connection between the hand break cable itself and the cables leading to the breaks. There is now no slack in the cable nad the breaks engage after 2 clicks. It’s not the ideal solution and it could do with some tweaks from the mechanic but its seem to be working for now!

08-25-2019 10:18 PM - permalink

cycleguy55

Okay, I have sorted it out. The cables were all fully adjusted and the parking brake operational when the brakes were changed, but it seems the various components have 'settled' after some use, creating some slack in the cables. My suspicion is the ends on the cables that hook into the equalizer bar are the main culprits.

Simple fix. As BAsque1 suggested, a cable adjustment was all it took. Having said that, the space in which to turn the adjuster bolt is somewhat tight, so it's about a 1/6th turn of the nut with each crank of the ratchet. It's a 5/16" NF thread, so 24 TPI. There were lots of pulls of the ratchet before I got it to where it seemed to be in the proper range. The brakes are now fully engaged with the lever about 40°-45° up from horizontal.

I'm happy now.

08-29-2019 09:30 PM - permalink

cycleguy55

Well, I thought I had it sorted out. I had the car up in the air and had occasion to turn the rear tires by hand with the parking brake engaged. Passenger side was locked tight. Driver side, OTOH, still turned. WTH!!

To make a long story short, I discovered the brake arm that actuates the brake was missing the attachment nut. Gone. I checked the one on the passenger side and it wasn't anywhere near as tight as it should have been. 7/16" NF? I thought these were 'metric' calipers! The bleeder screw takes a 7/16" wrench. Huh.

Anyway, replacement nuts were installed with blue Loctite, as the exposed stud isn't long enough for a nylock nut or lock washer. Shame on GM for that oversight, and shame on me for not installing them the first time with Loctite.

Moral of the story: Even when you think you've found the fix, check and double check to make sure.

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