Winstar Ebrake

[Chris Benvie]

I personally would like to have a handbrake. There are SOOO many times where i would just love to whip that thing up and get the *** -end to kick out.

I think it would be useful in alot of different aspects of driving.


The last generation windstar 99-03(before the freestar)has a small hand brake down in between the seats..

How hard and is it possible to convert it? I was thinking of mounting it down next the center console.

Thoughts? Flames? Rants?

 

[luigisho]

Go for it. I was looking at doing something this summer or fall in that direction. There are aftermarket units, Mustang units, and don't the ATX SHO's use a handbrake instead of a pedal?

 

[ghostrider]

Nope. ATX's have the foot brake aswell. It would be neat if you go adapt something from the winstar to work. Handbrakes are nifty!

 

[FAST4DR]

I would like to have a handbrake also. I used to slide my old 91 around in the snow all the time. I would pull out the brake release handle and wrap a rag or sock around it so it didn't go back in and then I could press my foot on the pedal to lock the rear wheels and then let off.

I would like to have the handbrake because I swear at some autocrosses, I could get around corners faster if I slid the rear out, rally style.

Anybody figures it out, let me know.

Will

 

[Dr. Tweak]

Right now I have snow tires on the front and summer on the back, all it takes is a well-timed lift of the throttle and I'm in beautiful sideways style!

I'll have some vids up soon wink

 

[Chris Benvie]

I'll prolly do it this summer, maybe before the convention, we'll see

 

[LOUDSHO92]

I would think it is quite possible. You could either take out the cup holder and mount it there or on either side depending on how wide it is. You would just need to make custom brackets for it.

 

[96lt1]

fwiw, summit racing sells an aluminum universal hand brake. i am really debating getting one next time i am up there. dont quote me but i think its under 50 bucks, maybe even cheaper.

Sean

 

[SHO_Driver]

All Windstars have that handbrake including my '96. During winter I can forget about doing 3 point turns, I just pull up handle, gas it and instant U turn. The reaction from bystanders alone is worth it.

 

[SHOguy 92]

Wouldn't you just need some way to extend the cable then run the bracketing under the carpet and a hand ebrake? I maybe simplifying this some, but I was just thinking a little and didn't think much about technicals and all but it seems possible. Or couldn't you just cut the cable short drill a hole up through the floor by the center console, caulk the line in place so no water gets in then have the handle right there? Or is that what ur all thinking?

 

[luigisho]

I'm not so sure it's that eay. Last I looked as I recall the cable at the standard position is pretty much a straight shot down the edge of the floor pan where it couples to another set of cables that run to both sides. The angle of moving the cable to a handbrake may require rerouting the whole setup or fabbing a way to have a longer cable from the handbrake curve to near the original outlet to operate correctly. Probably the former.

 

[Chris Benvie]

It really isn't ALL that easy, but it can be done.

I'll do it and it'll be like

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

 

[Yamaha V6]

Hey, fix your clutch first, handbrake-boy.

 

[SHOguy 92]

Yamaha V6:
Hey, fix your clutch first, handbrake-boy.

rofl Mice, I'm sure it isn't going to be real easy, but hey it'd be kinda cool if someone did it and put up a how to for the rest of us non-hand e-brake suckers out here.

Although I have seen another kinda handbrake, it was on my cousins rusted out Mazda B2200. It was just to the right of the steering wheel. The handle was shaped like the handle on the end of a dip stick and when he pulled out it racheted out. I'm thinking that would be easier to instal, but would look just nasty and probably wouldn't be much room for it too.

<small>[ January 27, 2004, 09:53 AM: Message edited by: SHOguy11 ]</small>

 

[Chris Benvie]

Yamaha V6:
Hey, fix your clutch first, handbrake-boy.

Fred ya got me there.

I posted this before Chicago went wrong..

 

[K-Dawg]

Flipping through a Jeg's catalog, I saw that Lokar has a billet handbrake and cables and stuff.

 

[Austin Moore]

Right on with the hand break!
I deff. think you could put one of thos in possibly on the left side od the seat behind the trunk relese so it would be inline with the cable thumb
any thoughts on that placement?

 

[91taurisho]

Austin,
That's exactly what I was thinking. Just shorten the cable and weld a new ****(Stopper???) on it to hold it on the handle. Then pull it up and let the a$$ end slide out like buttah!!!

 

[Aspect]

Just a thought, but the escorts had a center console ebrake. It might be worth looking at when your decision is being made.

 

[element913]

Although putting the handbrake where the trunk release WOULD be really easy.

I think it would defeat the purpose of having a handbrake, because when the handbrake is in the console it allows your shifting arm to control the rear brakes, whereas if it is on the door side then you are using your steering arm (which makes you use your shifting arm for steering, which loses your ability to shift before or after handbraking in any short amount of time).

HOWEVER, from a CAR AUDIO perspective, if you put the brake over the trunk release then you can put kickpanel enclosures in the kickpanel to get better acoustics.

Another problem with putting the handle by the driver door is that when you get in or out of the car you will have to get around the parking brake somehow...