Electric park brake conversion for defender

[Grunta]

Hi crew,

I am new to the forum and new to owning a defender. I have used them for years as I used them in the army, but it's nothing like owning one. I have a 2001 td5 and want to do some thing with the handbrake.
My question is has any one converted the park break in the defender to something else, or has shifted it?
I was thinking about an electric one out of a range rover
Any ideas please?

[Bush65]

Some replace the hand brake with a disco or RRC version, or you can get a tapered spacer that tilts it further away from your leg.

[Blknight.aus]

let me get this straight...

you want to take something thats simple effective and mechanical and convert it to something thats electrical, on a vehicle from a company thats primary failure history is electrical in the model that they managed to get oil to leak out of a computer.

Brave man.

[goingbush]

put it this way, If I had a car with an EPB I'd be wishing it was mechanical

you could try X-eng Disk Brake , one on my Defender its an awesome handbrake but they do rattle unless you sikaflex the pads in. (perhaps if the disc was honed it might be quieter )

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/12/293.jpg

[clubagreenie]

I'm sure there's a few Range Rover drivers who'd happily swap your mechanical unit for their elec ones.

[twr7cx]

Terrafirma Disc Brake Handbrake Conversion Kit | Brakes - Handbrake Conversion Kit Accessories for Land Rover Vehicles (http://www.terrafirma4x4.com/products_php.php?cat=34&grp=135)

[Lotz-A-Landies]

put it this way, If I had a car with an EPB I'd be wishing it was mechanical

you could try X-eng Disk Brake , one on my Defender its an awesome handbrake but they do rattle unless you sikaflex the pads in. (perhaps if the disc was honed it might be quieter )

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/12/293.jpgI bought one of them, and geez, the caliper is massive, it won't solve the problem I bought it for but I will end up using it on my Defender.

[rick130]

Terrafirma Disc Brake Handbrake Conversion Kit | Brakes - Handbrake Conversion Kit Accessories for Land Rover Vehicles (http://www.terrafirma4x4.com/products_php.php?cat=34&grp=135)

A rip off/copy of the X-Eng one.

I generally don't support large companies that rip off designs from smaller, innovative ones.

Personally I don't have e problem with the standard drum brake either.

[VladTepes]

The big question is - what are you actually trying to accomplish?

Dealing with the location of the brake handle ? (Just fit a RRC or Disco lever between the seats and re-route the existing cable).

Better/ more effective brake ? Disc Brake.

[350RRC]

A rip off/copy of the X-Eng one.

I generally don't support large companies that rip off designs from smaller, innovative ones.

Personally I don't have e problem with the standard drum brake either.

And compare where the 'pistons' sit relative to the disc faces on each version......... I know which I'd prefer.

DL

[Lotz-A-Landies]

The TerraFirma conversion doesn't seem to have a very good clamping area when compared to the X-Eng one.

Terra Firma
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/modified-zone/70178d1387328076-electric-park-brake-conversion-defender-terradiskbrake1.jpghttp://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/modified-zone/70180d1387328090-electric-park-brake-conversion-defender-terradiskbrake2.jpg
X-Eng
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/12/293.jpg

[mox]

Have solved the annoying problem of handbrake lever against left leg in Defender by moving it exactly 5 inches to the left - about as far as it is possible to go. Probably the easier part making bits to support lever, etc and no problem with linkage as standard one is just a cable. More fiddly with the bits you have to cut out of the transmission tunnel and then make up new bits to cover the hole while clearing both the lever and gearbox.


For a start to make the job less difficult, the first thing to do which is a good idea to help with access problems is to cut the transmission tunnel in half lengthways. ie Short sections in front of and behind what is covered by rubber "boot" surrounding gear levers. When transmission tunnel floor mat piece is in place, cannot see the cuts anyway. If you ever want to remove the transmission tunnel to readily access anything underneath, it easily comes off in two halves. Or much of the time, eg with this handbrake moving project, only one side - the right half need come off. Note I recently had left side off mine. Reason- could easily get reversing light switch out of left side of gearbox. Mate needed to borrow one that worked in a hurry to get roadworthy on a Discovery 1

[VladTepes]

WHy not just move it up next to teh cubby box using a RR or Disco lever? Easier, less cutting, uses same cable....

[Bush65]

Easier to move the handbrake lever at an angle to give more leg clearance.

LRA sell what they call a 'kicker' for a simple bolt on solution, or I modified the bracket to do the same on mine.

[justinc]

The Defender park brake is way more efficient than the disc ones, unless it gets full of mud or oil....:angel:
Disco park brake lever fitted next to the seat is way more ergonomic.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/177250-defender-handbrake-relocation.html Pic at post # 10

DO NOT fit an EPB!!!!!

JC

[mox]

For those who have a cubby box, it is obviously much easier to move the handbrake lever into it than moving it 5 inches to the left, as I have which involves fiddly modification of the transmission tunnel However, I have a 130 with the 8 inch extended truck cab. Want to continue with the option of carrying a passenger in the middle seat, which is more usable than in a standard single or twin cabcab . Have moved it back 8 inches so backrest is same distance from rear of cab as in standard one. Seat base in front of middle seat good for low profile junk temporary depository but certainly do not want handbrake sticking up there when have occasional use of middle seat for passenger.

[350RRC]

The Defender park brake is way more efficient than the disc ones, unless it gets full of mud or oil....:angel:
...................

JC

Never tried it before today, but the stock LT 95 drum handbrake (it's in perfect nick) is very capable of locking the wheels on my pos (RRC) on gravel when used to stop on its own.

Defender drums are bigger dia I believe.

DL

[H3nry]

@Mox:
Do you have pics, I'd like to learn more about using RR lever.