Does your bus use a pinion brake for parking?

[ewo1]

Well, wanna long story?

I know where a bunch of old buses are parked, a bus "junkyard" sorta. It took a while to find the guy's number. I looked at the online property map to see what he owned. I called him up, he said he didn't have any hydraulic brake stuff, but I could go look, and to call him back if I found what I wanted.

I went. I found the two axles with numbers listed above, as well as a laundry list of wants: a nice driver seat, a diesel fired coolant heater (Wabesto ?), underbody storage boxes, neat lockable access door, a few other things.

I called him today and told him I indeed DID find two axles with the parking brake that might be what I want. He said "Those aren't my buses". My brain did cartwheels...I said "who's are they?" They belong to another guy. *brain cartwheeling...is he full of crap?*

He explained that he only owns a few of the buses, and exlained which ones. Some are being scrapped, and I can take boxes off of those. We agreed $50 a piece.

But there is no parking brake for sale. The other owner rebuilds buses that go out of country. That owner is out of county, no contact info was given.

At least I learned that IC 4300 trucks have brakes that are potentially what I need.

Ugh.

Too funny... but at least you got some boxes!

 

[nikitis]

And you know which truck could have them.

 

[Mr P]

No boxes yet...maybe this weekend. Don't count my boxes before they latch! lol

 

[ewo1]

So, for whatever this is worth, have you given any consideration to putting the parking brake up front with the tranny?

Only for reference, and maybe some ideas, Bluebirds have history with the manual parking brake.
Here is a section of a manual covering parking brakes but it it was written for Allison transmissions.

Again, just for reference and maybe some ideas..

 

[Mr P]

My HUGE semi transmission has nowhere to mount a brake. I assume ALL semis are air braked.

I'm on the hunt for salvaged 4300s now...

 

[s2mikon]

I have never seen a roadranger with a parking brake.

 

[Mr P]

Update for my future forgetful self...

I got some boxes a few weeks ago, met the man to pay for them this week, he's a nice old guy. I paid to get some more body parts, and then we talked about the parking brake. He repeated that someone else owns them, and he's not going to be as easy to deal with as himself.

I went to get the body parts, and some men were working, one was the owner I needed to speak with. He was a nice guy too, and took the time to explain and show me the differences between my 1996 Spicer 17k axle, and 10 year newer "Eaton" axles (that still say Spicer on them). In short, they are different "pumpkins", the older/Spicer being a very smooth/round housing vs the newer/Eaton which has "ribs" on both sides.

He claimed the housings had the same spring spacing, so the entire rear end could be swapped. But, all his ratios are lower than mine, his best is 5.29. I have (I think) 4.44, and would like something in the 3.7 -4.10 range.

Solution: He priced the parking brake yoke, drum, backing plate, and cable for $100. I want to get it and try to adapt it to my axle's pinion bearing retainer. Stay tuned....

 

[Mr P]

FWIW, the fellow who had bus parts claimed the yoke from a 2005 19k lb axle would fit my 1996 17k lb axle.

I found out otherwise.

Still pondering a way forward on this.

 

[ewo1]

FWIW, the fellow who had bus parts claimed the yoke from a 2005 19k lb axle would fit my 1996 17k lb axle.

I found out otherwise.

Still pondering a way forward on this.

There's always the flintstone method...