E brake and inspections

K45

K45

Active Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2007
Location
Statesville
Does anyone know how thorough inspection places are at checking e brakes while doing an inspection? Mine does not have them because my vehicle has a disc brake conversion. It is a 79 k5 automatic so it is not really needed anyways. With this new law I need my tag, but reluctant to get inspection, and have to deal with the ebrake issue. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks
 
It definitely depends on the inspector. If you roll into just any place, they will most likely check and fail you, since you arent even attempting to pretend you have a functioning p-brake. They might let it slide if its out of adjustment.
 
the new laws may make it a bit harder to get inspected...even visual inspections are supposed to last 30 minutes
 
Jiffy Lube. Here they do the same crappy inspection as they do oil changes...lol I had to take mine to two different ones because they told me ahead of time it wouldn't pass (height issues). The second one I went to said looks good to us and had it done in under 5 mins. Wouldn't let them get near it to do an oil change but for inspection they may be a good place.
 
Valkyrie45 said:
Does anyone know how thorough inspection places are at checking e brakes while doing an inspection? Mine does not have them because my vehicle has a disc brake conversion. It is a 79 k5 automatic so it is not really needed anyways. With this new law I need my tag, but reluctant to get inspection, and have to deal with the ebrake issue. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks
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Don't need an emergency brake? What if you rupture a line and loose brake pressure? That's what it's there for. I personally think it's stupid of kit manufacturers to put out disk conversions with calipers with no e-brake function, but if you look on the kit or in the instructions, it will be labeled "for off-road use only." If you go to an inspector and they fail you for the brake, the next guy is going to be looking for it. You'll be pretty screwed. Lock the rear and get a driveline brake, or find some calipers with e-brake functionality and hook them up.
 
catfishblues said:
Don't need an emergency brake? What if you rupture a line and loose brake pressure? That's what it's there for. I personally think it's stupid of kit manufacturers to put out disk conversions with calipers with no e-brake function, but if you look on the kit or in the instructions, it will be labeled "for off-road use only." If you go to an inspector and they fail you for the brake, the next guy is going to be looking for it. You'll be pretty screwed. Lock the rear and get a driveline brake, or find some calipers with e-brake functionality and hook them up.
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I'm kind of with Mark on this one.
I have an auto truck, and really want to do a disc conversion, but the one thing keeping me away (aside from the looney cost of the few brackets available) is the lack of e-brake.
I mean, it IS there as part of the "safety" inspection for a reason...
I once had my brakes get very mushy on the trail, had to use e-brake to stop. Scary shite. While I never actually use it as a parking brake (auto tranny), after that I'll always want it there.

That being said, relevant to the question, I was failed inspection once for the same thing. I actually had a brake, kind of - the cable had broken at one of the wheels, so I removed that end of the "Y"... so there was still a functioning cable on 1 end, and it held held pressure. Dude found it b/c he actually looked under the truck, like a good inspector. I was pissed - but thinking back, if some some reason I'd needed to use it, heaven forbid on the highway - that would have been a pretty dangerous situation grabbing only 1 wheel... I'm glad now he made me fix it.
 
catfishblues said:
I personally think it's stupid of kit manufacturers to put out disk conversions with calipers with no e-brake function, but if you look on the kit or in the instructions, it will be labeled "for off-road use only."
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Who said anything about a kit? :flipoff2:


RatLabGuy said:
I mean, it IS there as part of the "safety" inspection for a reason...
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A likely hold over from the days ('40s-'50s) of single chambered master cylinders & crappy drum brakes...
 
I'd say spend the $ and get a functioning ebrake. I remember a thread from prob a couple years ago, when a guy with a K5 or K10( can't remember) had his thans shifter pawl break, and let his truck roll through the parking lot into another vehicle. If you've ever looked inside of a 700r4 or th400, and saw the little piece of metal that is keeping you 5k lb+ truck from rolling down a hill, you'd start setting the PARKING brake when you're stopped.
 
Someone suggested a while back putting on a big spring to get the correct "feel' of the ebrake, but i agree fix it........
 
This is not my everyday truck. I drive it maybe 3times a year. In 2 yrs I have owned it I have put little over 500 miles on it. I think I might just turn in the tag and be done with it
. I do not have the time and extra money to get it fix within the time they are allowing.
 
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