Handbrake replacement

Little Jo · #1 01-04-11, 02:31

Hi All

Ever started a job and wished you should have left well enough alone. Well I started a job feel like that now.

I decided I would make my 1942 Willys Jeep a bit safer by replacing the existing park handbrake and fit new transmission brake linings. I purchased a new inner and outer handbrake cable and new bonded linings fitted to the transmission brake. And that was when the problems started.

After first feeling pleased with myself, I strarted to reinstal the transmission brake. There is a frustrating bolt with a hooked end which after an hour of fiddling and colourful languageI, just could not put back into place. There is just not enough room to move as the top of the bolt is restricted by the jeep body.

I am sure there are restorers out there that have also come up against this problem. I can now see I have only a couple of options left.

1. Raise the body to allow movement to drop the bolt into place.

2. Cut a 2 inch (50cm) square hole in the floor and drop the bolt into place, then cover the hole with a cover plate. ( for future use. )

3. Appeal to you guys for an easy solution????

I have attached a couple of photos indicating my problem.

Little Jo

Tony Van Rhoda

Lynn Eades · #2 01-04-11, 05:55

Can you let the cross member under the trans down? (lower the whole back end of the motor/g-box/ transfer case etc)

Cameron Reed · #3 01-04-11, 06:06

possible to take a little of the bolt? when mine is adjusted up there is a lot of thread protruding? maybe silly but if it came out it should be able to go back in although sometimes there has to be some choice words good luck

Mike K · #4 01-04-11, 06:17

Tony

A friend in the VMVC , many years ago, installed one of the later Jeep handbrake systems in his WW2 Jeep ..e.g., the internal expanding shoe type used on the CJ Jeeps ? , - he fitted everything , new cable ..After a lot of work, the thing did work, but you still have to really pull hard on the dash handle to make it work, and even then, it is somewhat marginal.

The cable is the weak link... it will stretch , even a new one is iffy.

Land Rover hand brakes work so effectively cos it's a direct / short link with levers , down to the drum.... no cables to stuff it up.

MIKE

Jordan Baker · #5 01-04-11, 06:23

Stupid question but how did you take that bolt out in the first place? Why not just do the opposite.

Lang · #6 01-04-11, 08:57

Tony,

I presume you removed the whole thing as a unit to refurbish it with the bolt hanging there and forgot to put the bolt back when you bolted it all up again.

I assume you tried putting the hook upside down into the bottom of the hole then running the bolt in a semi circle until it stands upright. You might need to widen the hole a little to get it around the corner.

Best thing to do and only about 20 minute's work is to drop the universal. Unbolt the output shaft flange and pull the brake bracket unit off, drop the bolt in and put it all back.

I wouldn't do that but I am a bit rough. The hole is not critical with the hook so I would just get a drill of the bolt diameter and run through the hole and elongate it at the same angle you have the bolt jamming. By the looks of your photo it will not take much. You could also try a bar beside the bolt on the floor to prise it up, not so much that you permanantly bend the floor (but you could tap the lump back down again if you did). It is amazing how much movement you will get and as I said it does not look like you will need much.

Last choice is to just get another bolt, threaded a both ends and slide it up fom the bottom and put a lock nut and heavy washer on it in place of the hook.

The whole exercise is a basic waste of time because only one jeep in a thousand has a handbrake that could be described as working effectively. Your new modern brake linings are likely to be much too hard to work properly, despite perfect mechanical operation, anyway.

Keep at it you will get it back together.

Lang