E-brake boot pulling out of console - fixed it for good

dave6666 · November 10th, 2012, 05:48 PM

I've got the SRT brakes which means the e-brake is the aftermarket one. Which really isn't an e-brake, it's a parking brake. A "spot" caliper is what they are called, designed to hold a stationary vehicle stationary. NOT... to stop a rolling vehicle in any amount of time. Although it would be better than nothing.

Anyway, the mechanism and caliper in general are not near as robust as the factory caliper was, and short of over tightening the cables so the pads drag, if you yank too hard on the console handle, you'll go past the last ratchet point and pull the leather boot out of the console. Sans while my car was being shop bitch this year that happened. I know better, they apparently didn't.

Soooooo... It looked like this:

Some boot frames - the metal part with the tabs - has one right up front. This one does not, and even so, it won't hold when the handle is over extended.

I took some measurements for my radical 0.032 20 gauge fix-it clip.

The thickness of the boot, frame and console - the middle dimension of the super clip - is about 3/8"

Up inside the boot, about 3/8" again.

The outside part will be 3/4"

And... how about 1-1/2" wide.

So I laid it out on the sheet. I allowed a Sharpie tip width for bending radius so the layout was:

-> 3/8"
-> pen ink width
-> 3/8"
-> pen ink width
-> 3/4"

Bingo presto.

Made the basic shape.

Discovered the sharp corners would have to go so snipped them.

dave6666 · November 10th, 2012, 05:49 PM

Finished the shape with the duckbill pliers and snapped it on. Fits like a charm. Boot can't pull out any more. More drinking time less interior bullshit.

**Mr. Hollywood** · November 10th, 2012, 05:50 PM

Clownshoe problems

dave6666 · November 10th, 2012, 05:55 PM

Chick magnet

LifeIsGood · November 10th, 2012, 06:51 PM

...send me one and I'll cover the R&D and S&H...no really.

jslimm · November 10th, 2012, 09:08 PM

I have the same issue for the same reason; but, have been too lazy to investigate a solution. I had been thinking that maybe I had missed something in my install and adjustment of the IPSCO ebrake system.

This clip is certainly an easier fix than coming up with some mechanism to get greater cable movement. I was picturing some kind of pulley multiplier ( or would it be a divider)? Hey, I'm an EE, not an ME !! I think that I will go with the clip idea. Thanks Dave !

kanadianpride · November 11th, 2012, 02:53 PM

Crafty.. Next week on Dave's DIY.. How to construct the perfect wreath for the holiday season.

Twinscrewd · November 11th, 2012, 03:35 PM

Very creative and super clean work!!

virginiavenom · November 11th, 2012, 11:11 PM

very nice Dave. I'll keep it in mind.

dave6666 · November 12th, 2012, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kanadianpride

Crafty.. Next week on Dave's DIY.. How to construct the perfect wreath for the holiday season.

I am an expert on all things of holiday drinking and decorating.

WDW MKR · November 13th, 2012, 10:15 PM

Anyone have better luck installing the OE SRT parking brakes rather than the aftermarket setup? I'm currently considering picking up one of Vipair's kits and I'm on the fence with the parking break.

dave6666 · November 14th, 2012, 06:40 AM

The spot caliper aka parking brake aka e-brake does fit well and work ok. Also looks ok. It's just not going to be as effective as a factory type brake caliper that in some cases shares the same rear caliper and pad as the hydraulic operation. Pretty sure it sounds like the SRT's have yet a separate mechanic caliper for the e-brake. I would imagine it to be better at stopping a car than the add-on one most of us upgrade guys are using on the Gen 2.

**GTS-R 001** · November 14th, 2012, 08:08 AM

The SRT10's use a separate Brembo park brake. The SRT BBK calipers do not have any provisions in them for acting as a park brake.

My very first original BBK on my 2000GTS, way back in 2004, used a line lock hooked up to the rear caliper brake line. It worked OK, but sometimes would bleed out. I always put my car in gear when I park anyways so this was not a big problem but still something to keep in mind.

The Park brakes included with the kit work every bit as well as the ones you get from Brembo or Stoptech for use with their kits but these cost $575 instead of the $1100+ for the other guys park brakes.

These park brakes I sell are used by a number of car manufacturers now and they work great as a park brake, they are not made to be a hand brake for drifting or other. We make them in either the plain black face or with a couple of different Viper emblem versions

dave6666 · November 14th, 2012, 08:28 AM

Line locks are not "legal" emergency brakes. Although the average inspector (if your state requires that - TX does) would not know it's not legal. It must use an entirely different actuation method than the primary method i.e. the cable. Because if the primary hydraulic pedal goes, the line lock is useless.

**GTS-R 001** · November 14th, 2012, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave6666

Line locks are not "legal" emergency brakes. Although the average inspector (if your state requires that - TX does) would not know it's not legal. It must use an entirely different actuation method than the primary method i.e. the cable. Because if the primary hydraulic pedal goes, the line lock is useless.

Exactly,

That is why you need a park brake with any of these BBK's, and I can attest from personal experience that they do not work as a park brake, they bleed out over time (an hour or 2) and then fail. The separate mechanical park brake works great for it's intended use.

One issue that has come to light on the brembo park brakes like used on the factory SRT10's is that they always put brake pad pressure on ones side of the rotor and cause irregular pad wear/failure, which can, unless noticed early cause excessive wear on your rear rotors