Brake System Including E-brake

PO removed the e-brake (not sure why) all the way from the handle to the brake pads. I haven't pulled the wheels and hubs yet, but what I currently have is front and rear drums that look like they have been upgraded to 10" or 11". The rear drums have a stubby cut cable for the e-brake that is tucked away into the frame. Dana 18 T-case.

I plan to install front discs regardless. Everything else depends on how I approach the e-brake.

Can I reattach new e-brake cables to the rear drums in place of the cut cables and convert to rear drum e-brake with a later model foot pedal and new e-brake hardware?

Am I better off installing e-brake on the transfer case?

I have found most of the parts for an e-brake on the T case on the main jeep web sites, but I can't find a handle that matches my year. If I go with the T case e-brake, do I use a later model foot pedal, go to ebay or a junk yard, or use a handle that doesn't match the year?

Finally, regarding front discs, conversion kits range from 599-899 and they all look about the same to me (I'm very new to this, as you can tell!), so does anyone have a kit that they really like or a suggestion about how to differentiate the front disc conversion kits from kaiserwillys, jeepsterman, morris 4x4, etc?

Thanks in advance.

 

The early jeeps ONLY had the brake on the transfer case. It works well if you are parked on straight, level ground. Otherwise chock the wheels. The T-handle control went to it.

If you have rear drums with emergency brakes, then somebody upgraded them at some point. CJ5's had the e-brakes on the rear brakes starting in '72 and they used a pedal.

 

There are a Few , But I used this group :
https://www.horsepowersales-llc.com/


They offered pre ground Calipers ....... Something I did not want to do. I have some media posted here on this swap. You may want to check it out.

 

Foot pedal e-brakes are an abomination that came in with automatic transmissions.

A good hand brake is far more useful for hill starts, holding on a slope, bootlegger turns, etc, especially if you don't have three feet.

IMHO.

 

You got to know if the rears are 10" or 11". 11" can be equipped with parking brake (and self Adjusters). I have Modified mine with 11" and a foot pedal from a YJ on my '66.

 

My tcase mounted ebrake works just fine. What usually does them in is getting soaked with oil from leaky seals. Keep it clean & adjusted & it'll work well for you.

 

I am in the process of installing Brennan Metcalfs conversion.
Calipers pads and rotors, $200 from rock auto. Brennans brackets, $75. Longer studs, $30. I am not sure if the studs will work out yet so I won’t share the part number yet…
Maybe another $50 in misc hoses, banjo bolts etc…
So there’s about $350 with readily available parts.
I am doing a bit more to the front end so I’m a bit deeper in. I’ll be posting about it in my build thread when I get the rest of my parts. just food for thought. https://brennans-garage.com/collections/frontpage/products/trackick-disc-brake-conversion-bracket

 

I know for sure that there are detatched e brake cables on my rear drums (or the PO attached a radio antenna to the drums then subsequently cut it off). Are you able to replace the cut cable with a new cable? Seems like that would potentially save a lot of time and $$.

 

A few follow ups as I keep working through my jeep. The rear brakes are 11" drums. I can't find any identifying marks on the drums or backing plates, but I am still working to get the crud off everything. The shoes and drums looks OK to me - I still need to measure everything.

Do I need to know the brand of the brakes to order a parts kit, or just walk into my FLAPS with springs and wheel cylinder and have them match it up?

Also, you can see the cable housing for the E-brake, so I am going to try to modify the jeep to have rear e-brake instread of T-case drum braks which was already removed. Any ideas are appreciated.

 

Appears to me that you already have the correct backing plates & levers attached . Get new wheel cylinders & brake shoe hardware kit for your year . No, you don't have to know what brand shoes . Take your cylinders to compare what they want to supply you.

 

FLAPS may or may not have them, given the age.

I buy stuff like this on Ebay, where yes, brand may matter. Chineseum parts are cheap and plentiful, or you can get a little more spendy and look for brand names like Wagner.

A fringe benefit is that ebay descriptions and application listings are a useful swap/fitment guide.

 

Mine work great and they are soaked. Its the adjustment that makes the difference. I have to adjust them up tight a few times a year and all is good again. Though a brake cleaner bath doesnt hurt

 

My transmission E-brake is very effective. Better than the rear wheel brakes on my newer vehicles.

 

If it were me, and I didn't have any of the xfr brake parts, I wouldn't bother with that, they don't work reliably. I would either try to get a foot or hand lever on the rear 11" brakes, or a line lock (on all 4).

 

I like to split the rear E-brakes to two floor levers for "cutting brakes", and additionally I like to also have the stock driveline brake.

Makes a good traction device which we used to call a "Poor man's Locker". Last one I did was more than 30 years ago on a M38. I used the brake levers from a couple of mid 70s Ford Pintos I found in the junk yard. Not a lot of Pintos in the junk yards nowadays, but many out there will work.

 

Line lock is illegal for an e- brake, at least in my state. Must be a separate/redundant system.

And line locks can suffer sudden failure if a brake line blows. Happened to a fire engine in our department, while stationary, when the brake fluid became heated by proximity to the exhaust. The pump operator was lucky not to be crushed.

 

I agree. It's a personal choice, that I have never heard of failing, in a jeep. I have one that is good within its limits-don't rely on it in life or death situations, and it has never failed me. And yes, I would rather have a separate cable actuating my rear discs, coming soon to my 3B.

 

Sure.

But recall how dumb the average person is, and then think how half the population is actually dumber than that.

 

Line locks are unsafe for anything but burnouts. What about Brennan's electric E brakes are they available? Personally id go with reviving the axle brakes and find an original handle