Handbrake in old american muscle cars?

Blackhawk47 · 15 Jan 2011 at 23:52

I might be completely blind but I can't seem to see a handbrake of any kind in old mustangs, chargers, challengers etc.

Any one know where it is? And if it is there how do you operate it?

1971-Dodge-Challenger-RT-Muscle-Car-By-Modern-Muscle-Interior-1280x960.jpg

geuben · 15 Jan 2011 at 23:53

Isn't it that lever in the footwell/under the steering wheel or the extra foot pedal?

Sone · 15 Jan 2011 at 23:53

Blackhawk47 said:

small pedal to the left

Dup · 15 Jan 2011 at 23:56

There will be, called the parking or e-brake over there. It's probably hand or foot operated like the the little pedal to the left on the pics.

Blackhawk47 · 16 Jan 2011 at 00:04

Dup said:
There will be, called the parking or e-brake over there. It's probably hand or foot operated like the the little pedal to the left on the pics.

So I assume you would press it down to engage it. But then how do you go about disengaging it?

BigT · 16 Jan 2011 at 00:05

Normally applied with the foot.You can see the extra pedal in a number of the shots. Merc also do that on some of their autos. You release it with a hand control.

stockhausen · 16 Jan 2011 at 00:14

I believe that some American cars used a foot pedal for the parking brake; I have a feeling that it may have been released automatically when you pressed the brake pedal :confused:

Other cars had a hand controlled lever a bit like an umbrella handle in the footwell; you pulled it up to engage and flipped it to one side to release it.

Lashout_UK · 16 Jan 2011 at 00:15

Blackhawk47 said:
So I assume you would press it down to engage it. But then how do you go about disengaging it?

You pull the umbrella handle just above it, like in a Mercedes (or Rover P5B

)

As a footnote - some, from memory, can have their release handles left in the unlocked position - so you can press the handbrake and it will not remain engaged when you release the pedal.

Django x2 · 16 Jan 2011 at 00:54

I can see the hand brake in pretty much every picture you posted.

Pic 1 - little silver pedal nearest the door (looks like 4 pedals effectively)
Pic 2 - Same, nearest you
Pic 3 - L shaped lever near the left vent
Pic 4 - same as pic 1 and 2, about 9pm on the steering wheel
Pic 5 - L Shaped handle (which passes just behind the top of the gear stick in that

Sometimes it's the lever that releases, or in some case, you just click the pedal down a further ratchet and it releases

Fr0dders · 16 Jan 2011 at 01:00

answer : they dont have "hand" brakes they have parking brakes

(which as explained above are usually foot operated)

breadturbo · 16 Jan 2011 at 01:21

mines the same (2005 dodge ram), foot operated, press down it locks on, press again to release

thepeganator · 16 Jan 2011 at 01:35

Dads old Merc Vito was like them, foot operated, released by hand with a lever under the dash (I think)

Saytan · 16 Jan 2011 at 01:37

E38 7 series has a foot operated parking brake

whitecrook · 16 Jan 2011 at 01:44

foot operated parking brakes are neat.

Garido · 16 Jan 2011 at 02:34

I have a Lexus ES300 which has the parking brake that's foot operated. It's great, saves space near the cup holder. Honda Legends apparently had them too.

EvilDreams · 16 Jan 2011 at 03:04

My 1984 Z28 has a "Euro-style" handbrake.

It would have been nice to have a slightly more hidden one as I rarely use the thing anyway.

Dogbreath · 16 Jan 2011 at 09:37

whitecrook said:
foot operated parking brakes are neat.

Try doing a handbrake turn with one

MrFunex · 16 Jan 2011 at 15:51

Most big mercs have them. I tried thinking about what I'd have to do to pull a handbrake turn, but gave up - way too complicated!

Joe T · 16 Jan 2011 at 15:56

60's Mustangs have a hand-operated one on the left of the steering wheel under the dash.

~>Dg<~ · 16 Jan 2011 at 17:52

cant remember but i tihnk it was my dads old merc you pulled a lever up and to side or turned it long time ago

Handbrake in old american muscle cars?

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