Electric handbrake conversion

[Paul fairall]

Just replacing the rear axle on my 1957 Ford pop and have disc brakes all round. Original brakes were cable operated, new brakes hydraulic obviously. From what I heard the original umbrella type handbrake will not have enough travel to apply the pads enough. So I was thinking to use an electric actuator from say a Peugeot but don’t know if it’s possible to fit without ecu or other controller

[esuuv]

Thats some pretty good lurking!!

I can't help with the query - but will probably get a better response in the classics section..........

[Paul fairall]

Been busy.
Looking for someone familiar with moderns with electric handbrake

Edited by Paul fairall on Friday 20th November 19:43

[bearman68]

Tricky. EPB requires all sorts of inputs from other sensors not available on a 1950 something Ford. You could just wire to motor to a 12v switch, but it's hard to understand the tension in the brake cables. Maybe possible to take an output from the force sensor, but not the easiest.

[GreenV8S]

Paul fairall said:

From what I heard the original umbrella type handbrake will not have enough travel to apply the pads enough.

Have you tried it? Seems worth confirming how big a problem you have before trying to fix it.

[stevieturbo]

Paul fairall said:

Just replacing the rear axle on my 1957 Ford pop and have disc brakes all round. Original brakes were cable operated, new brakes hydraulic obviously. From what I heard the original umbrella type handbrake will not have enough travel to apply the pads enough. So I was thinking to use an electric actuator from say a Peugeot but don’t know if it’s possible to fit without ecu or other controller

This company offers aftermarket conversions.

http://hispecmotorsport.co.uk/epb-menu.html

Although not sure what you mean by the "umbrella type" ?

Don't see why you couldn't just fit a mechanical setup from another car, it's bound to be easy enough ?

Not sure about just randomly using an OEM caliper and throwing power at it without some sort of controls in place ? Never tried just applying power and leaving it there etc

[GreenV8S]

stevieturbo said:

Although not sure what you mean by the "umbrella type" ?

I guess this is a reference to the dash mounted 'pull and twist ' type handbrake handle.

[Paul fairall]

Yes I should try it first, I’ve been thinking that. I couldn’t think of a better description, yes some twist and release, this is pull and has a trigger to release.

[Dave Brand]

The only car I've had with an umbrella-type handbrake was a Mk1 Cortina GT; on that, the handle pulled on a lever, the other end of which pulled on the cable. If your car has a similar setup the relationship between handle travel & cable movement could be tweaked by modifying the lever.

[Paul fairall]

Dave Brand said:

The only car I've had with an umbrella-type handbrake was a Mk1 Cortina GT; on that, the handle pulled on a lever, the other end of which pulled on the cable. If your car has a similar setup the relationship between handle travel & cable movement could be tweaked by modifying the lever.

Yes there’s a cable pulling on a lever that pulls a rod, another lever by the axle pulls two cables. I have Sierra calipers with a cable round a plate each end to a caliper. May have to alter the lever for more cable travel.

[stevieturbo]

fit a more conventional lever somewhere or a foot pedal operated setup ?

There are OEM setups that use an electric motor and retain cables, but no idea how you would control it, or how much force they can apply if used with random calipers.

[Paul fairall]

stevieturbo said:

fit a more conventional lever somewhere or a foot pedal operated setup ?

There are OEM setups that use an electric motor and retain cables, but no idea how you would control it, or how much force they can apply if used with random calipers.

If the original does the job all well and good, foot operated looks like a lot of work and not cheap. Conventional, no and the tunnel will have a cable duct along it.

[anonymous-user]

Lotus elan, Europe and +2 have disk brakes and umbrella hand brakes, I'd check the statement, that umbrella won't work before I did anything else.
I know first hand thd lotus hand brakes aren't great but they get you through an mot.

[Equus]

Berw said:

Lotus elan, Europe and +2 have disk brakes and umbrella hand brakes, I'd check the statement, that umbrella won't work before I did anything else.
I know first hand thd lotus hand brakes aren't great but they get you through an mot.

Just barely, on a Lotus, but they might not do so on something heavier.