DWinTX
Well-Known Member
We recently had a complete brake failure due to a bad master cylinder:
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/brake-failure-is-it-the-mc.134226/
So this has gotten me thinking about the emergency/parking brake. It's one of those things I never thought much about, especially on an automatic. Can't think of the last time I used it other than testing it when I put the brakes together. But that was just while the car was sitting, not going down the road.
So I'm wondering how effective this brake is in an emergency, versus just as a parking brake. And is one setup better than the other. The brake on the car in the post above did work to hold the car still while parked, but didn't seem to be terribly effective at slowing the car is when it's rolling. Maybe I didn't have it adjusted correctly, I'll be checking that more closely.
So I'm wondering if doing a disc conversion like this:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MI7p6vx7yL1QIVCo9-Ch29WgL-EAQYASABEgL4N_D_BwE
provides a better brake to use as an emergency, rather than a parking, brake. I've never had rear discs, how does the EB work on them? Does it use the brake system's hydraulics, specifically the master cylinder, or is there a manual cable that somehow applies pressure to the pads?
I really don't need rear discs on this car, the disc/drum setup works great. But this MC failure has spooked me a bit. It's not like these cars have airbags and other safety features. We need our brakes!
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/brake-failure-is-it-the-mc.134226/
So this has gotten me thinking about the emergency/parking brake. It's one of those things I never thought much about, especially on an automatic. Can't think of the last time I used it other than testing it when I put the brakes together. But that was just while the car was sitting, not going down the road.
So I'm wondering how effective this brake is in an emergency, versus just as a parking brake. And is one setup better than the other. The brake on the car in the post above did work to hold the car still while parked, but didn't seem to be terribly effective at slowing the car is when it's rolling. Maybe I didn't have it adjusted correctly, I'll be checking that more closely.
So I'm wondering if doing a disc conversion like this:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MI7p6vx7yL1QIVCo9-Ch29WgL-EAQYASABEgL4N_D_BwE
provides a better brake to use as an emergency, rather than a parking, brake. I've never had rear discs, how does the EB work on them? Does it use the brake system's hydraulics, specifically the master cylinder, or is there a manual cable that somehow applies pressure to the pads?
I really don't need rear discs on this car, the disc/drum setup works great. But this MC failure has spooked me a bit. It's not like these cars have airbags and other safety features. We need our brakes!