Classic Mustangs List Archive

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Mail From: dcp125 (David Peabody)

Does anyone know where to get a "Solid" handle for the parking brake?

I bought a replacement handle from NPD and when I pulled it for the first time, the damned handle snapped right off!

The old handle was all chewed-up, but at least it had a metal base. The NPD replacement handle is made from cheap plastic.

Dave

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Mail From: carl.fuller (Carl Fuller)

Don't know how stringent you are on originality, but I opted to ditch the
dash mounted handle and went with a floor mounted handle and ebrake cable
kit from Lokar. Of course, it set me back $160. That's if you don't mind
ditching the center console/making provisions in the console for the handle.
My console was trashed when I got the car, so I'm not out anything.

Carl

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Mail From: chris (Chris Russell)


What year? I have a 68 and even the stock handle would crack/bend/weaken
over time. I didn't have much luck with the replacement either.

Eventually I got frustrated, and I made (fangled) a new heavy-duty handle
using a couple of plumbing pipe nipples sawed off to the right length (a
little longer than stock for a good solid grip) screwed into a 90 degree
fitting. I picked the pipe so the ID was slightly too small, and I drilled
it out to size. I also drilled a hole for a small allen head screw (with
small nut on other end) to go threw where the old roll pin was (I forget if
I had to drill out (enlarge) the roll pin hole bigger on the rod).

Over time it started to rattle a little, so I took it off and coated the ID
of the handle with RTV and put it back on and tightened down the screw/nut
real good, and let the RTV cure -- no more rattle since.

it doesn't look great, but not as bad as you might think either. I painted
all the pipe semigloss black, and slid on/glued a piece of rubber hose over
the straight part of the handle, and I put black heat shrink tubing over
that.

I've been using it nearly everyday that way for at least a few years now,
functionally it works great.

Maybe some better looking handle could be found in the mcmaster catalog
that could be modified to fit.

Chris

At 12:04 PM 7/15/2004, David Peabody wrote:
>Does anyone know where to get a "Solid" handle for the parking brake?
>
>I bought a replacement handle from NPD and when I pulled it for the first
>time, the damned handle snapped right off!
>
>The old handle was all chewed-up, but at least it had a metal base. The
>NPD replacement handle is made from cheap plastic.
>
>Dave
>
>_______________________________________________
>Classic-mustangs mailing list
>(email redacted)
>lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs

--
Chris Russell
Engineering Manager, ZK Celltest Inc.
408-986-8080 x209
(email redacted)

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Mail From: dcp125 (David Peabody)

I have a 67, so your idea sounds possible.

Thanks!
>
> From: Chris Russell <(email redacted)>
> Date: 2004/07/15 Thu PM 04:17:49 EDT
> To: A list for owners of Classic Mustangs <(email redacted)>
> CC: (email redacted)
> Subject: Re: [CM] Parking Brake Handle
>
>
> What year? I have a 68 and even the stock handle would crack/bend/weaken
> over time. I didn't have much luck with the replacement either.
>
> Eventually I got frustrated, and I made (fangled) a new heavy-duty handle
> using a couple of plumbing pipe nipples sawed off to the right length (a
> little longer than stock for a good solid grip) screwed into a 90 degree
> fitting. I picked the pipe so the ID was slightly too small, and I drilled
> it out to size. I also drilled a hole for a small allen head screw (with
> small nut on other end) to go threw where the old roll pin was (I forget if
> I had to drill out (enlarge) the roll pin hole bigger on the rod).
>
> Over time it started to rattle a little, so I took it off and coated the ID
> of the handle with RTV and put it back on and tightened down the screw/nut
> real good, and let the RTV cure -- no more rattle since.
>
> it doesn't look great, but not as bad as you might think either. I painted
> all the pipe semigloss black, and slid on/glued a piece of rubber hose over
> the straight part of the handle, and I put black heat shrink tubing over
> that.
>
> I've been using it nearly everyday that way for at least a few years now,
> functionally it works great.
>
> Maybe some better looking handle could be found in the mcmaster catalog
> that could be modified to fit.
>
> Chris
>
> At 12:04 PM 7/15/2004, David Peabody wrote:
> >Does anyone know where to get a "Solid" handle for the parking brake?
> >
> >I bought a replacement handle from NPD and when I pulled it for the first
> >time, the damned handle snapped right off!
> >
> >The old handle was all chewed-up, but at least it had a metal base. The
> >NPD replacement handle is made from cheap plastic.
> >
> >Dave
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Classic-mustangs mailing list
> >(email redacted)
> >lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs
>
> --
> Chris Russell
> Engineering Manager, ZK Celltest Inc.
> 408-986-8080 x209
> (email redacted)
>
> _______________________________________________
> Classic-mustangs mailing list
> (email redacted)
> lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: walt.boeninger (Walt Boeninger)

You guys actually *use* your parking brakes?
... there is an easier solution....

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Mail From: psawyer (Dr. Paul R. Sawyer)

A brick?

On Jul 15, 2004, at 4:02 PM, Walt Boeninger wrote:

> You guys actually *use* your parking brakes?
> ... there is an easier solution....
>
> _______________________________________________
> Classic-mustangs mailing list
> (email redacted)
> lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs
>

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Mail From: walt.boeninger (Walt Boeninger)

I like that.... No, my idea is hinted at in my first sentence...

Dr. Paul R. Sawyer wrote:

> A brick?
>
> On Jul 15, 2004, at 4:02 PM, Walt Boeninger wrote:
>
>> You guys actually *use* your parking brakes?
>> ... there is an easier solution....
>>
>> ________________________________

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: carl.fuller (Carl Fuller)

I don't actually call mine a parking brake. I'm calling it an emergency
brake. Sure the brakes should stop the car at the end of a 130mph run, but
why take a chance?

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Mail From: W427 (David)

Whooo...I'm still laughing so hard I can hardly type!! I needed that,
after just now knocking the glued-in driver's door glass out and off the
frame, which simultaneously jammed the lock mechanism so I can't open
the door... LOL! Thanks Carl!
:-D

Carl Fuller wrote:
> I don't actually call mine a parking brake. I'm calling it an emergency
> brake. Sure the brakes should stop the car at the end of a 130mph run, but
> why take a chance?

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Mail From: carl.fuller (Carl Fuller)

I'd rather hit the end of the runout doing 60 rather than 90... ; )

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: chris (Chris Russell)


to rationalize the amount of effort I put into my parking brake handle...

the place where I used to live had a steep and short driveway, just big
enough to park my car on. I found even if I put the car in 1st or reverse,
it would sometimes slowly roll out if I didn't have the parking brake
on. turning the wheels into a curb wouldn't help in this case, no curb.

on my first mustang, a 66 (single reservoir MC), one of the brake lines
developed a hole while I was on the road. it was an automatic. I was able
to use the parking brake to help slow down he car, after the pedal went to
the floor. I know with the dual reservoir this isn't supposed to be an
issue, but I left a bleeder open purposely one time to see what would
happen on my 68 (stock dual reservoir setup), the brakes were not very
effective at least not for long.

also it is kind of lame, cosmetically, to have a broken off handle parking
brake handle.

Chris

At 04:13 PM 7/15/2004, Dr. Paul R. Sawyer wrote:
>A brick?
>
>On Jul 15, 2004, at 4:02 PM, Walt Boeninger wrote:
>
>> You guys actually *use* your parking brakes?
>>... there is an easier solution....
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Classic-mustangs mailing list
>>(email redacted)
>>lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs
>
>_______________________________________________
>Classic-mustangs mailing list
>(email redacted)
>lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs

--
Chris Russell
Engineering Manager, ZK Celltest Inc.
408-986-8080 x209
(email redacted)

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: a_64_n_a_half (Mustang)

Speak....

----- Original Message -----
From: "Walt Boeninger" <(email redacted)>
To: "A list for owners of Classic Mustangs"
<(email redacted)>
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2004 2:02 PM
Subject: Re: [CM] Parking Brake Handle


> You guys actually *use* your parking brakes?
> ... there is an easier solution....
>
> _______________________________________________
> Classic-mustangs mailing list
> (email redacted)
> lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: rpprince (Paul & Christina Prince)

lol...in no way is the parking brake an emergency brake.

In an emergency I would bet money you are toast if you rely on using it to
stop the car

I am very serious about that too...

Paul Prince
1965 Mustang 2+2
1989 Mustang GT Convertible
1989 Mustang 5.0 LX Coupe


-----Original Message-----
From: (email redacted)
[mailtoemail redacted)]On Behalf Of Carl
Fuller
Sent: Friday, July 16, 2004 9:17 AM
To: (email redacted)
Subject: [CM] Parking Brake Handle


I don't actually call mine a parking brake. I'm calling it an emergency
brake. Sure the brakes should stop the car at the end of a 130mph run, but
why take a chance?


_______________________________________________
Classic-mustangs mailing list
(email redacted)
lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: carl.fuller (Carl Fuller)

That's your opinion. It actually works, to a degree. It won't stop the car
on a dime, but it will slow it down. Try it sometime. Of course, I don't
recommend this with a dash-mounted or pedal type in rush hour traffic (for
some reason, I felt like I needed to add that here ; ) ). The tranny hump
mounted type (which I have installed in my '67 and had installed in my '72)
is better because you can keep the release button depressed to vary the
pressure.

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: rpprince (Paul & Christina Prince)

No, it is not my opinion.

It is by the design of the manufacturer. There is a reason Ford calls the
brake a "Parking Brake" and not an "Emergency Brake".

I have tried to use my "Parking Brake" at 50 mph to see what would happen if
I needed it in an emergency since this urban myth persists.

This is not an opinion but fact. By the time I reached under my dash and
grabbed the handle and reefed it back I had gone a fair distance. Then with
the brake on full the car gently slowed. If I had been in an emergency
situation the parking brake would have been next to useless. I would have
had more stopping power by downshifting into second and turning the engine
off.

I was in an emergency situation last fall when someone ran a stop sign in
front of me. Forget using the parking brake. By the time I would have
realized my brakes were gone (of course my brakes were fine on my Blazer)
and searched for my parking brake it would have been too late. As it was it
was too late and I hit her square in the side of her Jeep. At least I was
only going between 5 and 10 mph by that time.

As you said, it only works to a degree. That hardly makes it an "Emergency
Brake".

In the interest of all concerned lets not pass on the urban myth that the
parking brake is an emergency brake.

If you want to be prepared for an emergency make sure your brake system is
in tip top shape. That means the hard and soft lines are solid, the master
cylinder is perfect, the wheel cylinders are perfect, etc.

Paul

-----Original Message-----
From: (email redacted)
[mailtoemail redacted)]On Behalf Of Carl
Fuller
Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2004 2:49 PM
To: (email redacted)
Subject: [CM] Parking Brake Handle


That's your opinion. It actually works, to a degree. It won't stop the car
on a dime, but it will slow it down. Try it sometime. Of course, I don't
recommend this with a dash-mounted or pedal type in rush hour traffic (for
some reason, I felt like I needed to add that here ; ) ). The tranny hump
mounted type (which I have installed in my '67 and had installed in my '72)
is better because you can keep the release button depressed to vary the
pressure.


_______________________________________________
Classic-mustangs mailing list
(email redacted)
lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: mach70 (mark thispot)

I have a 70 so can't relate to this problem. How does the crappy plastic
handle attach to the brake shaft? If the shaft is smooth & square I might
have a solution. I needed a T-handle for a project and found the ideal one
at Home Depot (or was it Lowes?). A garage-door replacement handle.
All-metal, chrome plated, cheap. Definitely solid.

> > At 12:04 PM 7/15/2004, David Peabody wrote:
> > >Does anyone know where to get a "Solid" handle for the parking brake?
> > >
> > >I bought a replacement handle from NPD and when I pulled it for the
>first
> > >time, the damned handle snapped right off!
> > >
> > >The old handle was all chewed-up, but at least it had a metal base. The
> > >NPD replacement handle is made from cheap plastic.
> > >
> > >Dave
> > >

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This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: walt.boeninger (Walt Boeninger)

It's round with a roll pin holding it. AFAIR.

mark thispot wrote:

> I have a 70 so can't relate to this problem. How does the crappy
> plastic handle attach to the brake shaft? If the shaft is smooth &
> square I might have a solution. I needed a T-handle for a project and
> found the ideal one at Home Depot (or was it Lowes?). A garage-door
> replacement handle. All-metal, chrome plated, cheap. Definitely solid.
>
>> > At 12:04 PM 7/15/2004, David Peabody wrote:
>> > >Does anyone know where to get a "Solid" handle for the parking brake?
>> > >
>> > >I bought a replacement handle from NPD and when I pulled it for the
>> first
>> > >time, the damned handle snapped right off!
>> > >
>> > >The old handle was all chewed-up, but at least it had a metal base.
>> The
>> > >NPD replacement handle is made from cheap plastic.
>> > >