Rear Brakes

Hi everyone,

I've got a small technical question for you. Can anyone tell me how much cable movement at the caliper is required to engage the rear brakes when parking? I've emailed a number of companies but as of yet I have not been able to get any answers. Any help would be appreciated as it would aid in developing my university project.

Cheers

Hi everyone,

I've got a small technical question for you. Can anyone tell me how much cable movement at the caliper is required to engage the rear brakes when parking? I've emailed a number of companies but as of yet I have not been able to get any answers. Any help would be appreciated as it would aid in developing my university project.

Cheers
Usually around 1/2 to 3/4's of an inch. Of course this can vary with pad wear, adjustment and if it is a disc or drum application.
Mark

Depends on the caliper.

I like the 1/2" number. Some are less or more depending on where the cable attaches to the shoes. Some use a high rate of mechanical advantage at the parking brake lever in the cabin while using a long throw in the brake itself. Others use a minimal rate of mechanical advantage in the cabin while the cable attaches further away from the pivot point of the shoe.

Best idea is to crawl under a car and mark the cable. Then set the parking brake and measure how far it goes.

I get about 1 1/2" of travel..