Jeep Wrangler Forum banner

Disc Handbrake ????

3K views 32 replies 12 participants last post by  wasaw 
#1 ·
I am really surprised with this handbrake problem being so common (every JK) that none of you have come up with a simple system like has been 'small company' engineered for the Landrover Defender.......I,m pretty sure one of you could get rich pretty quick if you do 'fab' one up. I for one would be one of the first to order. Go google Landrover disc handbrake. It just bolts in before the rear prop front UJ and then all you need are brackets to bolt your 'gripper' to. You could probably base your design on one of these Landrover ones. Please somebody get rich and sell me a disc handbrake that actually works for my JK...Now if you brain tells you 'It aint woith it'!!! Just think how many JKs on the road? if 10% buy your mod.....??? think yacht....think beach house....think any Jeep you like? Me I,m just to lazy to do it..but not to lazy to buy it and fit it. Oh and I am expecting many posts about just why it can't be done......maybe they said that about the original Jeep?
 
#2 ·
Are you talking about the POS drum parking brake?

My friend just tried to change his rear pads and he could not get the rotors off because the parking brake was holding it.

Biggest problem with that Land rover design is there is no good mounting location on the differential.
 
#3 ·
That is a good idea, and I've seen it done once or twice on build threads around the internet, but nobody makes one for the JK as a direct bolt-in.
Here's one:
Tom Wood's Custom Drive Shafts - Brake Rotor Kit
Here's two that go together:
Transfer_Case_Rotors
Transfer_Case_Caliper

Those could be DIY'd it seems.
There are also a couple people using the master cylinder from like an older Ram 2500 and some kind of small caliper and rotor setup for a hydraulic parking brake. I believe I saw those setups over on Pirate4x4 forums.
 
#7 ·
Gentlemen you have given me so many ideas.....but think of it...the disc (rotor) does not even have to be a huge thick thing.....only a fool would use it to try to slow the vehicle...the only vexation with my JK is this business of keep on adjusting the handbrake drums and nothing works. But a disc interposed just behind the gearbox before the prop starts to move through angles.....then some kind of 'grabbing device' bolted on brackets, easily bolted to the back of the gearbox. I never thought of the diff end??? but that would also be possible...the diff casing is strong enough and steel, so it could take a bracket for the grabber being welded to it. Somebody please go build it?
 
#9 ·
I'd be all for this!!! My e-brake doesn't work since I had to back way off to get the rotors off. And everything seemed good until I put the wheels back on and did a true test that I found out I didn't get it adjusted right. Then factor in you gotta jack up the rear, remove the wheel, remove the caliper just to get to the asinine little window. So I said screw it. I'll mess with it whenever I do the brakes again. Even brand new that shit-tastic factory setup barely held the Jeep on flat ground in gear.
 
#10 ·
I'd buy an e brake mod. I hate my ebrake... I Park on a hill, leave it in gear and set the parking brake. The Jeep makes a xreaking sound every few seconds and rolls back until the transmission locks up. Wherever I Park, 10 minutes later I'm a foot lower on the hill. I bought new rotors and pads but am bot looking forward to dealing with the rear...
 
#11 ·
Hmmm

"I don't know if this will work for you , and I have no idea what kind of Jeep you have but I am buying 1978 Cadillac Eldorado rear brake calipers today for my project .They have cable activated emergency brakes built into the caliper .Just pull the emergency brakes and it pulls in the brake pads until you release it .Good luck"
 
#14 ·
#13 ·
I had a look...this is the idea I am thinking of......If some small business came up with a kit, bolt on.....or maybe using a new cable, but keeping everything else stock, then I see many, many sales and big profits. It has to come, the original brake is so bad even new, that the designers should hang their heads in shame. Even so, it leaves room for the small guy to profit from the stupidity of the big guy.
 
#15 ·
Ringer's build of JKarl - Page 7 - JKowners.com : Jeep Wrangler JK Forum

Here's where he shows off the rotors. One for his build and another for his buddy's. Unfortunately they were custom rotors he designed and had someone with a waterjet cut for him.
Rotor is 1/4" 304 SS. The caliper is floating. Rotor is fixed to the yoke.


Here's another post from that thread with the caliper information:
Ringer's build of JKarl - Page 8 - JKowners.com : Jeep Wrangler JK Forum

And he follows with a bit more info on the lever a bit after that last one. Not a 100% write up, but definitely a good source of info!
 
#19 ·
Ringer's build of JKarl - Page 7 - JKowners.com : Jeep Wrangler JK Forum Here's where he shows off the rotors. One for his build and another for his buddy's. Unfortunately they were custom rotors he designed and had someone with a waterjet cut for him. Here's another post from that thread with the caliper information: Ringer's build of JKarl - Page 8 - JKowners.com : Jeep Wrangler JK Forum And he follows with a bit more info on the lever a bit after that last one. Not a 100% write up, but definitely a good source of info!
Thanks for digging that up.
 
#17 ·
I am not sure where the complaints are coming from? I put mine in reverse, turn it off let it creep into gear then lock the parking brake and no issues. Even parking in san francisco?

Then again only 13k miles on her.
 
#18 ·
Just wait, you'll see why everyone is complaining about the parking brakes in the JK eventually. When I had 13k, mine was pretty decent still too! Now at 30k it's getting to the point that I need to look for a solution soon.
 
#21 ·
I've had a YJ, TJ and now a JK. I cannot remember the last time I've needed a parking brake. The area I live , Middle Tennessee, and drive is relatively flat. Seriously guys. We have three vehicles and we just never see the need to use our parking brakes. I suppose it's good to know that the JK's don't work, if and when, we'll need it.

So how much money is the inventor of this devise going to make from the hundreds of thousands of other JK owners, like me, who never use their parking brakes? Just saying!
 
#24 ·
Oh and I am expecting many posts about just why it can't be done......maybe they said that about the original Jeep?
Just noticed this at the end of the OP and wanted to point out something entertaining...

I'm pretty sure the original Jeep did actually have a tcase parking brake!
At least the few super old military jeeps I've looked underneath had them.

It can always be done! It's a Jeep!
 
#25 ·
I do see the point made by a couple of you...but I am also supposing that in your part of the world there is no yearly safety inspection?? where the handbrake has to perform well and hold your vehicle on the equivalent of an % slope? Much of Europe has these tests in force and they are enforced well. These are the people that will be forced to buy any forthcoming kit...by Law...I know that some parts of the Land of the Free have very easy going vehicle laws...but I suppose that also some states are very strict about car safety? Please tell me if there is a state in USA where there are no yearly safety tests and they just say "Hey, we wont check up on you, you are a responsible citizen, you look after the car..if it rolls away and kills someone..Boy you better have some good insurance..because we be throwing the Book at you" So customers for the kit... = all those in Western Europe (lots of Wranglers here) and all those in the rest of the world where they actually do enforce car safety and you can't go beating around in some ratty old pickup with the doors and wings falling off and throwing out an old anchor for the brakes....I,m thinking Duellin Banjos country....which is great if your sister looks OK!!! but even some hillbillys might get a little annoyed about the parking brake not working and buy the kit...when they get bored playing with sis of course?
 
#26 ·
Please tell me if there is a state in USA where there are no yearly safety tests and they just say "Hey, we wont check up on you, you are a responsible citizen, you look after the car..if it rolls away and kills someone..Boy you better have some good insurance..because we be throwing the Book at you"

Yeah... That's pretty much Indiana. That's why I have some good insurance!
 
#27 ·
I guess i'm missing something here. My 2010 (manual transmission) has around 32,000 miles on it so far, and I have had no problem with my handbrake. Where I work, the parking lot has about a 12% slope to it. I can have it in neutral, pull up the brake handle, and it stays put with no problem.
 
#31 ·
Now I am going to be honest with some of you who maybe didn,t like my remarks about places where they don,t check up on car safety. I don,t like being told what to do by the authorities!!! If I lived in USA and had citizenship one of my proudest possessions would be an L1A1 Self Loading Rifle!! (some of you will know it as the FN) and a big old Webley Revolver. I run a Unimog and a Pinzgauer as 'classics' so I don,t have the hassle of a yearly test on them, but boy do I take care with maint schedules and self safety checks.....because if anything goes wrong and I maim somebody I might as well go hide out in Timbuktoo for the rest of my life!!!....I also have a UAZ (Russian Jeep-alike - not!) and I run that and my 2012 Wrangler JK as normal road cars....I have to have the road cars inspected, yearly....it,s not the cost?? it,s the hassle of having to report to some state testing station and bribe the operators with vodka!! (This is Poland) I would love to live in a world where everyone takes as much care of their vehicles as I do....but I realise that they don,t, hence the need for enforcement of yearly testing. As for the guy who,s park brake is good.....I suspect he has some 'all powerful god' on his side, because every other JK owner I have met heaps praise on the Jeep as a whole but lays curses upon the Park brake or lack of!! plus in Europe I would say that over 95% of JKs are Diesel and Manual shift.
 
#32 ·
Im with ya brother. I remember helping a guy with his TJ. My stock JK was parked on a steep incline for a few hours. The jeep started up near his garage, by the time i finished it was almost in the road :eek:
I brought it back to the dealer because it was certified pre owned. The tech fixed the brake but it only temporarily held. The JK's parking brake IS a piece of sh**
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top