Line Lock

[BroncoBrummet]

Thoughts on using a line lock instead of cable park brake?

 

[Ethansdad73]

dont think it street legal..



ill probally be doing the same thing... lol

 

[dbevans2249]

It will bleed down and let the vehicle roll away. It is not intended to be a parking brake. It was designed to stop a race car from rolling out of the lights and red lighting. The vehicle should never be left alone using a line lock to hold it.

 

[BroncoBrummet]

I know of people who have used them on FJ's and worked perfectly but anyone use one on a Bronco?

 

[Explorer]

By the time I got to Bronco's I already knew better. Tried one on my dunebuggy going against everything I was told. It was the press brake and push button type and it did lock up on me in the middle of nowhere. Luckily I had a wrench to crack brakeline loose and get home with air in brakes. Electric style are not made to be used for over about a minute. Just plain not a good idea even if your state will pass it on inspection.

 

[rustbucket]

Don't know why it would make a difference whether it's in an FJ or Bronco. The brake systems work the same. i.e., hydraulic pressure engages the brakes. The line lock holds the pressure.

A buddy of mine had a Lever Lock http://www.awdirect.com/lever-lock-mico-brake-locks-02640125/brake-locks-pto/ on his CJ3B. It worked very well, but as was mentioned, they are not street legal. You still must have a mechanical e-brake. That being said, he didn't have one, and never got in trouble for it. I guess it depends on where you are, and how strictly the law enforces it. Some states require an inspection every year where they check. Some don't.

One problem with them is that when they go bad, the bleed off pressure as dbevans2249 mentioned. I wouldn't trust it enough to set it and walk away from it on a hill.

 

[bmc69]

I know of people who have used them on FJ's and worked perfectly but anyone use one on a Bronco?

I've been running front and rear line locks on my trail rig for years now. My brakes are hydroboosted and the line locks do a great job of locking 'er up. I never ran any kind of test to see how long they will hold before bleeding down. I've seen a few folks use them as a 'parking brake' on the trails...and they had low-pressure alarm systems built in that would set off an audible alarm when the pressure dropped below a certain threshold.

I would never try to use line locks as a traditional long-term parking brake though.

 

[El Kabong]

Would it work to shift twin sticks into high & low for a parking brake? It'd be useless as an emergency brake, but it seems like as long as you're not sliding or breaking a u-joint it might hold for parking.

 

[Z Bronco]

I ran a line lock for years (Mico Lock) and it was great on the trails when on a steep hill if you needed it to hold the rig for awhile as you rested your braking leg. One note is that it could be overpowered if you forgot to unlock it, don't even want to think about where all that torque was going as I would wheel with the line lock on (brain was line locked). As a overnight parking brake, I never did totally trust it. I put back in the factory parking brake with longer cables two years ago.

 

[FFMDX]

For my rear disc, I am using an aircraft ball valve by Swagelock. Talking to the rep (long time ago) he "assured" me that it wouldn't bleed down. I have left it "on" over nite in my driveway by accident, got in the next morning and couldn't figure out why my rig wasn't moving so well...duh....no bleed down at all. I also run a mico lock up front, but they heat up pretty good if left on. I like having them, but I still wouldn't trust them like a mech brake/big rock.....

 

[BroncoBrummet]

I think i will put it in and carry a chock block with me in case stopped on hill while hunting or something, or buy all new stuff for mechanical. the problem is the previous owner cut off the bracket on the underside middle of Bronco.
What do you think??:?

 

[BroncoBrummet]

And I live in Rural NE Nevada so no inspection to worry about.

 

[Bronchole]

I run a Summit racing electric line lock on the F&R. It's nice when winching or if you want to dig in one axle (assuming you can shift F&R seperatly). I would not trust them with my life though. Someone needs to be in the vehicle if it could move.

Heat? The units I bought were rated for continous duty and do not seem to get dangerously hot.

One other concern I have not heard mentioned is the possibility of the electronic units un-locking due to winching or starting. I have watched for this and not had it happen, but I still would be aware of the possibility. I have been present when someone had the electric line locks on and disconnected the battery to work on the rig..... that was fun!

The bleedown thing is not just due to the linelock, but the bleedown can happen from the wheel cylinders and calipers or at any of the brake line joints. it takes VERY LITTLE fluid bleed to substantially reduce the line pressure. My rear system will hold for hours, but I am not as confident in my front system. I'd say it is down to about half PSI withen an hour.

As an emergency brake, a line lock is by no definition an emergency brake. An emergency brake is primarilly meant to be a backup brake system for your primary brake system. The line lock depends on your fully functional hydrolic(sp?) system in order to be activated.

Personally, I like having the line locks, they serve their purpose, but by no means are they a replacment for an emergency brake.

 

[Apogee]

Emergency brake versus parking brake...most OE's refer to it as a parking brake since in the event of an emergency, most OE parking brakes do not have the brake torque or capacity to safely stop a vehicle travelling at anything but the slowest of speeds. Double redundancy in the hydraulic circuit as mandated in 1967 with tandem master cylinders has all but eliminated total, simultaneous front and rear brake failures.

Line locks are the best, most effective method to lock the front tires, rear tires and/or both at the same time, which can be very valuable in various offroad scenarios. Parking brakes are good for just that, parking and passing inspections if so required IMHO.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Emergency brake versus parking brake...most OE's refer to it as a parking brake since in the event of an emergency, most OE parking brakes do not have the brake torque or capacity to safely stop a vehicle travelling at anything but the slowest of speeds. Double redundancy in the hydraulic circuit as mandated in 1967 with tandem master cylinders has all but eliminated total, simultaneous front and rear brake failures.

Line locks are the best, most effective method to lock the front tires, rear tires and/or both at the same time, which can be very valuable in various offroad scenarios. Parking brakes are good for just that, parking and passing inspections if so required IMHO.

Very well stated.

I would never step away from a vehicle held soley by a line lock. But to use one as a driving aid I would use it. The biggest problem (if you mechanical engineers want to get involved) is there is no accumulator. If a drop of fluid weeps past anything the pressure will drop off. The closest thing to an acumulator in the system is the springness of the brake lines. I couldn't leave a vehicle that could roll away soley on the fact that the brake line has stretched enough to hold pressure on the pad material.

I have not seen the phrase "emergency brake" on any new car for many decades. in an emergency that is about the last thing you want to panicly apply.

 

[Broncorex]

I have a Jamar hydraulic type and you have to be careful when setting it. Apply too much initial pressure when setting it and you will never get it released without cracking a line to release some pressure. I have braided lines or tubing through out my entire system and have left my "line lock" on for days while the Bronco is in the garage and it has held but like everyone has said, I would never use it as a vehicle holding device. As a side note, Jamar makes replacement guts for this which makes me wonder... hmmmmm

 

[Viperwolf1]

Would it work to shift twin sticks into high & low for a parking brake? It'd be useless as an emergency brake, but it seems like as long as you're not sliding or breaking a u-joint it might hold for parking.

It does work if the hubs are locked but I wouldn't do it on a regular basis. There will be a time that you forget and try to drive away. That's when the damage is likely to occur.