E Brake

I went to use my EBrake (on the tranny) the other day when leaving Willie idling and it was a real pain. It was difficult to pull out and again to twist to return. Additionally, it's hard to reach under there to find and manipulate. First I think I need it to take it down and try lubing the shaft. What should I use? Does the cable need lubing? With what?

But, it seems to me that it is not much of an 'emergency' brake as a 'parking' brake, and pretty limited at that too. Not sure it would help much if needed because you lost your brakes.

 

take in down from dash . spray it with WD40 or equivalent

 

Actually, WD 40 is NOT a lubricant. It's more of a solvent and is abrasive. Not good for cable at all. Try a silicone based lube or equivalent. I don't think WD 40 has much use around vehicles. But, that's my opinion and I am probably wrong. Can someone on the tech side change my mind?

 

Check out FMVSS 302. "parking brakes" are required to be dynamic brakes also. An added safety in case of brake failure.

 

WD-40 is not abrasive, (Water displacement 40th try) was invented to protect the outer skin of Convair Atlas missiles from rust and corrosion by Norm Larsen in 1953.
People have speculated for years whats in it, I don't think WD-40 was ever patented, this was done to keep the contents secret.
Its made up of mostly of aliphatic hydrocarbons.

 

Didn't someone do a disk conversion on that e-brake at some point? I swore I saw one a few years ago but can't find the thread now.

 

The lower part of the cable (under the hood) probably has a twisted wire casing. They will absorb and hold engine oil or ATF if you drizzle it on the exterior. What I do.

 

Graphite lubricant? The type recommended for speedo cables. The petroleum distillate (smells like thinner) is supposed to largely evaporate and leave the graphite behind.

Otherwise, the cable lubricant most recommended for motorcycle use. WD-40 is not slippery enough IMO.

 

It may be FMVSS 355. Been out of that business for several years now.

 

low tech parking brake . and we have seen a lot of these

 

It's FMVSS 135. FMVSS FOR GVR above 7000 lb.

 

I would use some ATF on cable and upper part where handle is. can't hurt and it soaks in pretty good. I use it on my winch lines.

 

Not to be oobtrusive, but most articles I just read state that it is a rust preventive. Indeed, it was developed for missle rust prevention, but they almost all state it is not for lubricating. It was made for water displacement. Most sites recommend it not be used as a lube, but more as a penetrating oil. I see there is lots of disagreement on its usefulness. I am not changed. I will not use it as a lubricant. Way too abrasive and any lubricant properties it has quickly disolve and leave an abrasive film. Spray some on a non-absorbing item (glass, etc). Let it dry then rub the residue between your fingers.

 

Whatever is used needs to be friendly to the plastic around the casing. The casing is a wrapped wire with plastic on top. Just like a bicycle shift or brake cable. I last used bicycle chain and cable lube (wax) in a liquid carrier and it's worked good but I replaced the inner cable with stainless aircraft cable in 2006.

 

Napa chain and cable live worked well on park cables for me

 

No plastic on the Earlies. Just oil the exterior and it soaks through.

 

Even more reason to use a silicone type product.