Ideas Wanted: Softer Release of Parking Brake

[NickyV]

A month or so ago I finally fixed my floor pedal parking brake. I managed to do it without removing the assembly. I had to get innovative with an off-the-shelf spring from the hardware store (I cut it to fit and bent the cut end so it would hook around the pawl… TikTok link below).

 

Now I’m wondering what those of us with working brakes do about how violently it snaps back when disengaging. Most of the time, I just put my foot on it and use that to guide it back up softly.

 

But what if I’m using it to get out of a hairy situation on a hill? I have a manual and I only have two feet! I don’t need to do this very often, but every once in a while I get into a situation where I’m on a steep hill at a dead stop and I can’t really afford to roll back, even a little bit.

 

Since it is rare, I guess it’s fine if the brake pedal disengages like a prize fighter landing a haymaker, but I is there something you all would recommend? Maybe just a thick piece of rubber for it to smack against? Is there a mod I could do that would allow me to release it gradually without the aid of my left foot?

 

I’ve been trying to keep things as stock as possible, but it really makes me wish I had the XJ hand brake.

 

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMnQP25Y/

[89 MJ]

I believe that there should be a rubber bumper there. 

To be honest though, you should only need the parking brake in emergency situations where you don't have any other brakes or when you are parking. It is possible to operate the brake and the throttle with the right foot and the clutch with your left to be able to start moving on a hill without rolling backwards. I can see how the parking brake makes it easier, but you shouldn't need it. 

[fiatslug87]

There was a bumper there. Look for a flat piece of metal with a hole in it on the kick panel side. The parking brake pedal has a flat spot that lines up with it when released. #23 in the diagram, PN 83505579.

[hgeranium]

Thanks for posting about this! I never knew if that violent parking brake release was just a Jeep thing or there was something missing lol. It has so much force I’ve seen it very slightly move the numbers on the odometer. I never use the parking brake for that exact reason except on hills but good to know there’s supposed to be a stopper. 
 

Before I make another thread: anyone have any stoppers to spare?

[eaglescout526]

This makes me wonder if I should check the Eagle for the same thing. 

[ghetdjc320]

It might be worth noting that adding the rubber bumper will not change the speed at which the brake releases. The bumper just keeps it from hitting your fingers as it returns and provides a little bit of cushion. It’s been my experience that improperly adjusted brakes tend to make the parking brake issue worse. Your parking brake should be engaging solidly without having to press it to the floor. If the drums (or parking brake shoes for disk swaps) are adjusted properly, the pedal travel will not go so far so as to wind up the return spring as harshly. Always thought it would be neat to retrofit one of the electric brake actuator kits. Looks like it would work pretty well for an MJ. 

[87MJTIM]

The pedal return will depend on the spring tension and cable tension. The rubber stop just keeps it from slamming metal to metal. 
 

[Gjeep]

I always though it was crazy how that thing released. Needed to be paying attention or fingers paid the consequences. Before deciding to switch to XJ hand brake in both MJ's I considered a correct tension spring off the pedal to the mounting bracket somewhere. Would need some trial and error. 

[A-man930]

Look on McMaster Carr for a bumper that'll fit.  

[watchamakalit]

6 hours ago, A-man930 said:

Look on McMaster Carr for a bumper that'll fit.  

Does anyone have one to get some measurements from?  Both of mine are mia

[rokinn]

This is what I did.  Put the two half flat sides together, run the bolt through and tighten it down to the E brake.  Recommend a lock washer or nylon nut.  Mine was a little loose when I looked at it.  I think I got the bumpers from Home Despot.  Works well although I think I am going to look for nylon lock nuts.

[NickyV]

Thanks everyone. Glad I started this thread. I feel like I'm aware of just about everything everyone has said in the general sense. I know the rubber stoppers exist. I know they won't change how fast the parking brake releases. I know I can use a single foot on both the brake pedal and the clutch, but I've never been very good at that. I don't make a practice of using the parking brake to do what I'm describing, but every once in a while...

 

Every once in a while I wish I had an e-brake like my old Isuzu Trooper had. That thing had a hand-pull parking brake that was pretty close to the shifter. My research shows me that certain years of the Toyota Hilux also had this style of e-brake. But I guess it's kinda rare in more modern trucks. It was cool though. To engage, you just had to pull back. To disengage, you would twist it, and you could let it out slowly by hand.

 

There are two situations where I'd want to use this:

 

1) If I was parallel parked on a steep hill with a car right behind me. Here in the Bay Area, there are lots of places where this can happen.

 

2) One time I was coming out of Death Valley in the MJ. I was on a steep incline and I had to come to a stop. There was a cliff not that far behind me. Truck stalled. Then it stalled again. (I still need to replace the fuel pump because it still will stall when low on fuel and facing uphill). Each time I stalled it, I rolled back a little bit. It was all very nerve-wracking, because this was back when the parking brake didn't work. I ended up getting out of it with help from some friends, large rocks and a heaven-sent team of fully equipped YJs that happened to roll by. Don't know what would have happened without those guys. 

 

Anyway... for now, I'm going to cobble together a rubber stopper, and I'll keep thinking about other solutions to this rare (but stressful) predicament that I can sometimes get into. Good thing is, I now have the brake working. And if I'm ever in this situation again, I can tolerate letting the e-brake slam open. I'd rather smash my fingers or ear drums than roll bass-ackwards off a cliff. Lol.