Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[JamesH]

Weighing up options at the moment in preparation for getting an MOT. Currently I have ZJ calipers and discs but no backing plates and drum style handbrake. I really don't want to go for drum handbrake but the option is there as a final resort - I have the backing plates but no hardware.

I've been thinking about lever operated calipers and leaning towards ones from a van because they should be spec'd for heavy vehicles - late model Transits seem to have suitable ones. I'd need to get calipers, carriers, pads, hoses and fabricate (get CNC / laser / waterjet) brackets. If this works it would give decent brakes and handbrake and is probably within my fabrication limits. It might also mean I could piss around with the ZJ setup for fiddle brakes.

The other option I've considered is a prop brake like and X-eng kit they do for landys. It would be a bit less kit to buy but a bit more head scratching fab. I know there is a bit of a risk of stressing halfshafts if I pull it on when moving and I am a bit stupid so this could happen.

What do you think would be the best option? I need a working handbrake for MOT as a minimum (and MSA regs if I ever went that route).

[wildwood]

transfer case handbrakes must be OK cos Lardies have em...... They do have the advantage of being powerful as they have the axle ratio working to their advantage.
US boys have kits to fit Atlas, Dana300 and maybe 231s but they ain't cheap.
More of a raff but I bet VW ones that others  have used and some machining will work out as the cheaper option.......

[Delk]

I used newer transit calipers with the built in hand brake and modified landy disks. First time in my life I have had a hand brake that works. I already had teraflex disc conversion that is similar to the zj setup and the hand brake was utter crap.

I don't have a laser cutter so I did the brackets with a hack saw and grinder.

[bgbazz]

My Nissan  (Y61) uses one similar to the Landy set up and it works fine..just gotta remember to chock wheels when jacking up the rear on a slope!!

[isle of man]

Look at the Tom Woods E-Brake this is what I put on the Mafia in the end......

[JamesH]

I used newer transit calipers with the built in hand brake and modified landy disks. First time in my life I have had a hand brake that works. I already had teraflex disc conversion that is similar to the zj setup and the hand brake was utter crap.

I don't have a laser cutter so I did the brackets with a hack saw and grinder.

Interesting - did you mount the caliper brackets to the end of the axle tube with the 4 studs or weld to the axle tube? Pictures would be great if possible. I think I've found some discs with the correct bolt pattern and thickness to work with Transit calipers and hoses and cables should be easy enough. Is the braking when driving ok? Any noticeable over or under braking on the rear?

[Plank]

This week was my 2nd MOT with the ZJ and again it has failed on Handbrake efficiency. The lad who sorted it was scratching his head and bemoaning the shitty set up that it is.

After much adjusting it passed (only just) so no guessing what it will fail on next year.

[Nosebolt]

all Jeep handbrakes are designed to only work one day a year, the skill is lining it up with the MOT 

[Delk]

I just arrived in Leith to dry docking one of my boats so I wont be home for a couple of weeks so no pictures.

The calipers were transit T280 or something
I used D90 front rotors. I had to open up the inside of the hat a bit but they are about 25mm thick and drill new bolt holes.
My handbrake cables were already the ones with the looped ends for the disc brakes
Hoses were ebay ones for something and I replaced the fitting on the end of the hard pipe and reflaired them.
The brackets are a simple flat 10mm plate welded to the axle tube with a few extra gussets.

All in for less then 100 pounds and they work great. The braking is now spot on and don't lock up early. Before the rears were not up to much and the fronts were doing all the stopping.

I have an early JB conversions short shaft kit in a NP231 that will not accept any of the newer shaft brake mods. It would have cost me a lot more to change that out for a shaft disc and wasn't worth it for me.

[dtooth]

I run rover 820 rear calipers with modified xj cables and a modified hand brake lever to give more throw .

Flat 12mm steel bracket mounted to (bolted to ) the four bolt holes on the axle end (dana44)

Looking for pics been running this setup for a couple of years now

[Jonny Jeep]

all Jeep handbrakes are designed to only work one day a year, the skill is lining it up with the MOT 

Mine must be broken then.  It works just fine. The only time it didn't, replacing the star adjusters and cables got it working.

[isle of man]

all Jeep handbrakes are designed to only work one day a year, the skill is lining it up with the MOT 

Mine must be broken then.  It works just fine. The only time it didn't, replacing the star adjusters and cables got it working.

Interesting......One must ask, do you go in the glup much? Normally this fooooks the poxy shoe compound to putty.

[JamesH]

Thanks for the ideas, I think I'm going to go the Transit caliper route and hopefully a fairly simple 10mm - 1/2" bracket (flat would be good). I hope to get some discs with the right bolt pattern but have redrilled discs before so will do if necessary.

I'll post up progress in my build thread.

 

[Jonny Jeep]

I try and avoid gloop. Mostly because I can't be arsed with the cleaning afterwards.

[dtooth]

I used zj rear discs

[JamesH]

I already have ZJ rear discs but they are 9/10mm thick and the Transit ones are 16mm so I was going to try and match these. I've found Nissan 350z rear discs from vehicles without the Brembo pack have the same bolt pattern, 16mm thick discs that are only 12mm larger diameter than the Transit ones (about 293mm iirc).

[dtooth]

Beefy 

[JamesH]

We'll see how it goes 

[Delk]

I tried putting the transit calipers I picked up on the zj discs but that pads were hanging over by about 10mm. The diameter of the center hat was to large because the parking brake leaving the braking flange narrower then the pads. The landy front disks had just enough meat to fit the entire pad and were the correct thickness.

I think the Mintex or whatever brake site had a lot of the specs for the different discs and was a big help.

[cuffm]

James,

Late to this thread, if you want to go down the X-Eng route, give Simon a call, I've chatted to him on several occasions about making a Jeep one, he just needs somebody to lend him a vehicle.

Mike C

[Ezz]

James,

Late to this thread, if you want to go down the X-Eng route, give Simon a call, I've chatted to him on several occasions about making a Jeep one, he just needs somebody to lend him a vehicle.

Mike C

This would be great if somebody could lend him their jeep, I'd buy a X-eng hand brake.

[JamesH]

Ok, had a go at this yesterday. Didn't give myself enough time to do much but re-drilled the Landy discs and had to grind a tiny amount off the face of the mounting surface on the axle shafts to get the discs to fit nicely because the diameter was just a hair too large. (first fit had loads of run-out).

Calipers are big and leaf springs are in the way to fit them high up where I'd like to fit them so have to fit them at 9 o'clock as you look at the o/s rear disc. The brackets will be fairly simple which is good.

Brake pipes will need to be made up - it will need to be new hard line with a Jeep (imperial?) fitting at one end and a metric for the Transit line at the other. I have a flaring tool and copper brake line but seem to remember the Jeep brakelines are a funny size. Is this right and am I going to have problems or is it just the fittings that are unusual?

I'll get some pics up this week, hopefully the longer evenings will help and I might actually get home before it's dark.

[isle of man]

Have you considered..

THIS ??

[JamesH]

Getting there with this - one thing I could use some help with is a way to modify existing handbrake cables.

I have cables that work in terms of length and most fittings but could do with getting a metal hook crimped on the end where the caliper hooks will attach and possibly a new ferrule on one at the other end where it joins the 2 into 1 lever mechanism. does anyone know anywhere or a way to DIY it?

I could loop and use cable clamps but would like to do it properly (whatever that really means) this time.

[isle of man]

Try HERE