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Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:40 pm

I was just wondering if it is even possible to have a properly working parking brake on a bus. Could be my cables have seen better days, but before I replace them I'd like to get your view on this one.

We have resorted to the African parking brake :twisted: , which means chocking with a block of wood that we conveniently store on the roof.

Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:50 pm

I actually do park nose downhill in SF!

The curb is your friend!

Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:54 pm

Seriously? How is possible to not have a working parking brake? Its a pretty simple mechanical operation involving cables and levers. Check your Bentley, make sure everything is adjusted properly and you should be able to park on any grade you can find without problems.

Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:10 pm

my bus slides a little bit on super steep slopes if i dont pull really really hard. otherwise, i use it on hills, take the bus out of gear, pull the handle a bit....and i stay at a steady 25, right at the speed limit! :D

Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:10 pm

"african" parking brake? are you serious?

Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:13 pm

I replaced all the rear brake parts and still had a crappy parking brake. Finally I bought nice german cables and problem solved as the old cables were stretched and continued to stretch..
I still want to switch to the 86-87 Vanagon rear brakes so I can have self adjusting rear brakes, now that would be sweet.

Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:19 pm

maybe a fair slope for me...but I always put it in gear (crazy not to IMO)

I still need to adjust mine to the recommended 6-8 clicks or whatever it is. One of my cables recently broke on our road trip, and before I could fix it properly I threaded it through a hole in the frame and used vise grips on the other side and pinched the broken cable taut in there. It worked on a slight slope by actuating the other side, but I was dreading having to actually use it to try to stop in case the brakes went out.

It's cheap enough to fix, super easy (only have to remove rr wheel and drum), and, well, even with new brake hoses and other parts, I wouldn't want to regularly drive without a functional parking brake. My life (and that of my passengers) is worth more than the 30 bucks or whatever the cables cost...you know?

Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:21 pm

I'd park on a hill in SF if I was there, no problem. good cables and shoes and clean tight well lubed hardware does make a difference, usually 4-5 clicks for the really steep hills.

Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:22 pm

MadMax78 wrote: We have resorted to the African handbrake :twisted: , which means chocking with a block of wood that we conveniently store on the roof.

I thought it was a convenient rock:

(at the start, and 2:15 in)

Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:33 pm

Most of the hippie/surfer busses around here use the Tofino hand brake (piece of old growth cedar stashed behind the front seat), or the Surrey handbrake (brick behind front seat). :P

Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:05 pm

I rolled that way for awhile, without a p brake. You can get into trouble, though. A few times I didn't have the block or anything. It's like you can't get out and leave it running which just sucks.

One thing you learn with no parking brake is to start it up with the 'heel toe' manoeuvre.

Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:18 pm

Ok, seems clear to me, new cables are on the to-do list. I think there is too much stretch in these. I have gone through the procedure of adjusting them per the Bentley manual about three times in a year now but they have never been better than only working on a very slight incline.

Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:31 pm

african reference is just wrong.

Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:37 pm

silverside61 wrote: african reference is just wrong.

African-American?

Wed Aug 04, 2010 6:02 pm

They work but the lever is not lining up. A job I should do and will one day but like I said the curb is your friend. I think my parking brake hasn't worked for 9 years maybe!

Perhaps in Africa they use wood blocks... Is Dutch Door or Dutch Uncle wrong too?

Wed Aug 04, 2010 6:03 pm

Bleyseng wrote:
I still want to switch to the 86-87 Vanagon rear brakes so I can have self adjusting rear brakes, now that would be sweet.

My e-brake works pretty darn well.

I never adjust my rear brakes. I just replace the shoes every few years. I hate dealing with those holes and stars.

Wed Aug 04, 2010 6:29 pm

hazetguy wrote: "african" parking brake? are you serious?

silverside61 wrote: african reference is just wrong.

He did just drive across the entire continent of Africa.

Wed Aug 04, 2010 6:45 pm

RhynoBoy wrote: hazetguy wrote: "african" parking brake? are you serious?

silverside61 wrote: african reference is just wrong.

He did just drive across the entire continent of Africa.

where in this post does it mention him driving across africa? and, why not call it "block of wood parking brake" just sounds like a cheap shot if reference isn't included

Wed Aug 04, 2010 6:58 pm

silverside61 wrote: RhynoBoy wrote: hazetguy wrote: "african" parking brake? are you serious?

silverside61 wrote: african reference is just wrong.

He did just drive across the entire continent of Africa.

where in this post does it mention him driving across africa? and, why not call it "block of wood parking brake" just sounds like a cheap shot if reference isn't included

Wow. Sensitive. If I hear one drunken Irish reference here.....

Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:10 pm

Bradgt74 wrote: silverside61 wrote: RhynoBoy wrote: hazetguy wrote: "african" parking brake? are you serious?

silverside61 wrote: african reference is just wrong.

He did just drive across the entire continent of Africa.

where in this post does it mention him driving across africa? and, why not call it "block of wood parking brake" just sounds like a cheap shot if reference isn't included

Wow. Sensitive. If I hear one drunken Irish reference here.....

not sensitive, just alert to how people get offended these days. i am pretty sure if i made a remark like that someone would have said the exact same thing.