Hi all,

Finally getting the brakes plumbed on my XR and I've run into a small snag, namely my giant rear race calipers don't exactly have a provision for a cable handbrake.  The relavent section from the act reads:

"Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, when driven on a highway shall be equipped with at least two braking systems, each with a separate means of application and effective on at least two wheels, one of which shall be adequate to stop the vehicle as required by regulations made by the Ministry and the other of which shall be adequate to hold the vehicle stationary."

As I see it, there could be 3 resolutions to this:

1.  A dual master (front/rear) and locking hydraulic handbrake inline with the rear circuit.  Provides two seperate circuits, and the rear would have seperate actuation.

2.  A second circuit to the rear calipers with a second handbrake handle/MC with a lock.  Still would attach to the same fitting on the calipers.

3.  A second set of calipers on the rear wheels with their own lines and handle.  (Worst case scenario)


I'm curious what anyone else who has come across this hangup has resorted to.  I can be contacted off-list if you'd prefer:  patrick(dot)mcveigh(at)gmail(dot)com

Thanks in advance!

Quote:


Now that I do not agree with.  It stipulates two systems with seperate means of application, not how they are actually applied.  Since the stock mechanical handbrake on many cars simply engages the same mechanism which the pedal would, I can't see needing a second set of calipers, and would instead run a second lockable line to the rear.  

What I'm questioning is if that is even necessary, or if the virtue of having two systems (front/rear) with seperate actuation means (pedal box/lever) is sufficient.   ie., what does the phrase "one of which shall be adequate to stop the vehicle as required by regulations made by the Ministry" require?  It's only $200 or so more to add the extra hydraulic circuit to the rear, but that's a couple good used tyres...

You could try to rig up something similar to the way the first gen Legacy's e-brake works. The e-brake is actually a mini drum brake where the shoes press against the inside of the rotor when you pull the cable.

Just a thought.

See, I don't believe the strict "cable interpretation" since a lot of newer luxury cars (like the MB S class) have an electronic handbrake, which otto-magically sets and unlocks itself based on the shifter position.  I really don't think that's a cable-actuated system.

My current mocked-up hydraulic ebrake setup uses the stock lever, so the locking mechanism could easily remain in place.  I'm just concerned since the car will need to get safetied once I drop the motor in, and I'm not sure if this system is "secondary" enough.  I'dve kept the stock ebrake if I could have (I don't envision needing the ebrake that often), but those tiny drums were about 30 years behind the times.

I know ACP's car has the stock cable brakes still intact, but I can't seem to spot them on the last revisions of the Subaru Canada cars.  Anyone know what they did?

PAddy wrote on 08/07/6 at 19:10:04:


Ah, but it doesn't have to be a cable.  It just has to be something other than hydraulic.  So if there's some type of electronic system, that would still be okay.

I'm not saying I'm any kind of stickler for the law myself.  I'm just making sure you know what you're getting into.
As long as there is some kind of working handbrake, I really doubt any mechanic would have a problem safetying it.

If I was really nervous about the car passing the safety I would leave standard brakes alone until such point as the mechanic issued me the paperwork.  I acknowlege though that in some cases doing this may cause extra work and expense on your part unless you had planned everything out that way.  My two cents - but Craig's interview method also works.  

On the topic of safeties...  In my experience, mechanics I have known seem to be more stringent when doing a safety for a person they didn't know previously or if it was on a car which was begin sold to someone else.    I've always had better luck going to a small shop where I am already a good customer  then by going to someone new (sometimes on recommendations from friends that they'll let anything pass etc...)

big_Ian wrote on 08/15/6 at 21:14:12:


it's 22 and counting...