For those who’ve added a np205 e-brake, which is best?

[Warkmeister]

Hey fellas, I have an 81 crew cab with 350/sm465/205 and I just finished up the rear 14ff disc brake conversion, using 3/4 ton standard calipers instead of the complicated Eldorado stuff. Being a manual, I’d love to have (read: wife is demanding) an e-brake for the old Blue Moose. For those of you who have them or are in the know, is any one of the 3 available kits better than the others? NW Fabworks is $399, High Angle Driveline is $375, and TSM is $300. I’d love to get the cheaper one if the real world difference isn’t that great. Thanks.

 

[78C10BigTen]

I learned to drive on a standard, i wasnt taught to use the E-brake... and never have lol. In fact the only time ive used an E-brake was for rear slides in a front wheel drive.

 

[bucket]

I'm interested to hear what kit you go with and how well it works out

 

[HotRodPC]

Until you get an E brake kit, just be sure when you park it that you put the shifter in L1 granny gear or reverse. That should hold it pretty good.

These "kits" you're talking about?!?!? Are you talking like a Mico electronic lock kit or what?

 

[Warkmeister]

The kits are essentially all the same, at least in function. They involve sandwiching a disc rotor between the transfer case output and yolk, and have a bracket with caliper that bolts to the body of the case. It’s supposed to hold well, and retain pedal functionality, albeit with a shortened cable.

 

[rpcraft]

If you used a rear end that was made for calipers already it should have a setup on it so you can just mate up your current ebrake setup to the cables and adjust it. My 06 14 bolt came with evverything but the calipers, pads, and rotors, which is fine with me, but I know it included he ebrake setup and cables and it just kind of replaces the cables going to the splitter at end of the cable that comes from the foot operated e-brake.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Basically grain truck style with a drum style brake on the output shaft lol

 

[Warkmeister]

Forgot to mention, it’s the original or period correct drum brake 14bolt. It was retrofitted for discs with a RuffStuff conversion kit, so no original provisions for parking brake.

 

[highdesertrange]

drum brakes are far superior for parking brakes. I have never seen those add on disc kits for the parking brakes hold worth a damn. highdesertranger