« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Hand Brake?  (Read 4223 times)

Offline BONKERS

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 4
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 8.55. 1/4
  • Your Engine: 396” SBC ALCOHOL INJECTED
  • Your Track: Lebanon Valley
  • Your Vehicle: Fiat Topolino Altered
  • General Location: East Coast
Hand Brake?
« on: April 11, 2022, 06:13:46 AM »
I currently run a foot actuated brake (brakes on rear only) on my altered.. been considering putting in a hand actuated brake handle to help with a bit more leverage on the brake. My question is push or pull to activate the brakes? My brain says PULL  to activate.. seems to be more natural to just open my  grip to release brake when staging.. I have no experience with hand brakes so looking for some input! Thanks!! -Tom
Logged
Tom Fox
GO’N BONKERS
A/A Alcohol Injected Topolino Altered
XOFMOT RACING
Brookfield Ct

Offline JEFF/21C

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 122
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: N/A
  • Your Engine: 306 SBC INJECTED ALKY
  • Your Track: NONE
  • Your Vehicle: 23 T ALTERED
  • General Location: eastern canada
Re: Hand Brake?
« Reply #1 on: April 11, 2022, 08:24:10 AM »
do what's natural pull. In one race  my throttle cable broke a yellow came out i got a pair of vise grips so I pull on the gas  when the race resumed I started last and was passing cars when the red came out i pulled on the plier instead of releaseing  almost ran over the car in front of me.
Logged

Offline BK

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 310
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 8.45 / 5.30
  • Your Track: Empire Dagway
  • Your Vehicle: Late 70's FED
Re: Hand Brake?
« Reply #2 on: April 15, 2022, 02:24:09 PM »
If you're OK the pedal, you might be able to go to a smaller bore master cylinder.
It will give more pressure but add some travel.
Logged

Offline JEFF/21C

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 122
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: N/A
  • Your Engine: 306 SBC INJECTED ALKY
  • Your Track: NONE
  • Your Vehicle: 23 T ALTERED
  • General Location: eastern canada
Re: Hand Brake?
« Reply #3 on: April 15, 2022, 04:14:50 PM »
BK is right smaller bore = more pressure same as increasing pedal ratio you have to go with what works for you Altered's have limited foot space. I have a line-loc  so after braking when stageing I apply the line-loc and put my foot on a rest.
Logged

Offline THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 360
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 8.28@168 door; 9.00@147 6-cyl alt; 8.53@160 RED
  • Your Engine: 300 Ford six NA w/ crossflow and prod. heads
  • Your Track: Milan, Thompson
  • Your Vehicle: (3) Advanced Chassis altered , The Last Logghe altered, '30 RPU
  • General Location: North Coast
Re: Hand Brake?
« Reply #4 on: April 15, 2022, 05:21:34 PM »
I have an altered with a hand brake.
I also have another altered with a foot brake.
I prefer the hand brake. It is easier to stage the car precisely. Mine is Pull to brake.
Logged

Offline Rat

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 65
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 8.585 @ 154.55
  • Your Engine: Stack Injected All Iron 392 Chrysler Hemi
  • Your Track: Willowbank Raceway, Queensland, Australia
  • Your Vehicle: Colthup Bros FED
  • General Location: Australia - East Coast
Re: Hand Brake?
« Reply #5 on: April 16, 2022, 08:43:29 AM »
My old FED had a push hand brake, current FED foot brake. I prefer the hand brake, like TFF I found staging easier. The hand brake was also better when loading/unloading. I have thought about adding a handle and leaving the pedal.
Logged

Offline Curly1

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 261
    • View Profile
    • AireTex Compressors
  • Your Best Time: 7.95 @ 167 1/4 mile
  • Your Track: Texas Motorplex
  • Your Vehicle: 125" Altered
Re: Hand Brake?
« Reply #6 on: April 23, 2022, 07:10:03 PM »
My old Altered I added a hand brake with another master cylinder and it worked very good. You have a lot of leverage with the long handle. I do think the brake was dragging some under hard acceleration due to weight of the handle so I modified it some. 
Logged

Offline slingshot383

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 143
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 1/4 mi. 7.95 @ 168
  • Your Engine: Chrysler, alcohol, 528 cu.in.
  • Your Track: Gateway Motorsports Park (the Swamp)
  • Your Vehicle: Undercover Chassis 23T altered
Re: Hand Brake?
« Reply #7 on: November 22, 2022, 03:03:09 PM »
Defiantly pull for brake, on a fast car, your weight could push the brake a lot harder than you want and get you into trouble.  Also a good place for fuel shutoff or parachute release.
Logged
Undercover 23T Altered, big block Mopar
Member of the Torque and Recoil Club
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »