Brake Line Locks

[OlllllllOCJ]

Anyone using brake line locks?

Very common product for drag racers. But they only want the brakes to hold for a few seconds. Most of the brands don't actually give specs on their product.

Would like to find a continuous duty type solenoid. Don't want to hear a crash and then find that it was my junk or get run over by the darn thing either.


Dale

[Jim_Lou]

A buddy built a Lotus 7 and used a line lock for the parking brake. It's a manual push-pull knob located on the driveshaft tunnel. As far as I know it holds as long as it needs to.

[Rio_Grande]

Cousin has a 1/2 ton pickup on ton axles and uses one for a parking brake. It is all he has and the truck is a manual so I am guessing it works well. Big red button also on the trans tunnel

[OlllllllOCJ]

Originally Posted by Jim_Lou

A buddy built a Lotus 7 and used a line lock for the parking brake. It's a manual push-pull knob located on the driveshaft tunnel. As far as I know it holds as long as it needs to.

Yes a mechanical brake lock would be perfect... But remember that none of the existing brake lines come anywhere near arms length from my fat tail setting in the tub that is likely only held on by rust. Long and short of that would be rubber lines and isolation of the movement of the tub.... Much more simple to find an electronic solenoid solution that may be installed into the brake lines on the frame. Wires may break but that won't break my brakes.

So Jeff... How does it work?


Dale

[Rio_Grande]

I Honestly don't know, he just showed it to me and bragged about how well it works.

[CJ7Taz]

One brand is Mico brake lock they have the electric and other styles. When I was a kid they used some on tow truck to lock the brakes for winching. There was one type that was clamped to the steering wheel and had a big lever. If you applied the brakes and then pulled the lever, it would put some pressure on the cylinders. Had a gauge with a red zone so you didn’t over do it.

Personally, I don’t like the electric for an e-brake unless they would hold with the power off.

Originally Posted by OlllllllOCJ

But remember that none of the existing brake lines come anywhere near arms length from my fat tail setting in the tub that is likely only held on by rust. Long and short of that would be rubber lines and isolation of the movement of the tub....

You’ve got brake lines just on the other side of the firewall. If you wanted to pick up after the multi-purpose valve, you wouldn’t have to use flexible hose, you could bend about three turns in the line into a spiral, same as Jeep where they go body to frame.

[OlllllllOCJ]

Some good ideas Taz... I couldn't remember Mico (kept thinking Micro). May be a little more money than I am looking to spend.

Winching and just giving my foot a rest while on a hill are my first goals. With no load the mechanical e-brake works fine, it's a rear disk setup from SSB, actually Lincoln calipers with cable actuated e-brake.

Mico has a web site: Mico I'll do some reading.

TSM also has some info on Mico systems. Found that in a quick search.

Personally, I don’t like the electric for an e-brake unless they would hold with the power off.

There are some issues with that... Mostly it could interfere with normal service brake operation.

You’ve got brake lines just on the other side of the firewall. If you wanted to pick up after the multi-purpose valve, you wouldn’t have to use flexible hose, you could bend about three turns in the line into a spiral, same as Jeep where they go body to frame.

I'm thinking that the line lock needs to be after the combination valve... I'll need two, one for front and one for rear.

And for whatever reason AMC didn't put those pig tails in the brake lines with power brakes after about 1981 or 1982. Manual brakes and the lines were curly. I have no idea why.

Thanks


Dale

[CJ7Taz]

Originally Posted by OlllllllOCJ

I'll need two, one for front and one for rear.

Well, if you just want them separate. Saw some for dual braking system and 4 channel ABS.

[thorjeep]

I did some research into the electronic solenoid ones a few years ago. What I found was the electronic are definitely not built to hold for any extended length of time, even while winching may be too long. The electronic line locks will heat up and fail, not a good thing. The best use of the electronic I could find was as a third foot while you are handling the clutch and throttle. However, I decided to go with a hand throttle, cheaper and more uses.

That said the mechanical ones are supposed to be fine. In what I read, you hold the brake down with your foot, push a button, or turn a knob, then let your foot off, the brakes are still applied. To disengage, just press the brake pedal. You need one for each line. They can hold for extended periods of time, such as a parking brake.

I am sure something can be fabbed up with cables to run the control(s) within reach, while leaving the line lock on the brake line.

[RickCJ7]

Originally Posted by OlllllllOCJ

Would like to find a continuous duty type solenoid. Don't want to hear a crash and then find that it was my junk or get run over by the darn thing either.


Dale

The Line Lock isn't the only thing to consider for how long they will hold pressure, just the most obvious. If you have anything between the Line Lock and the brake pads that is leaking, then that leak will quickly reduce the length of time that that Line Lock is effective at holding the brakes.

We all would take quick action to cure a brake fluid leak near the wheels because of the potential for that turning into a much more expensive repair, but how many of us will ignore a slight leak at the other connections?