[JackFrost]

Has anyone tried to convert the cable and pull handle to electric activator and a switch on a the dash to activate it. Or use a line lock on the rear brake caliper?

 

[openair]

That's a lot of work to do something that a simple lever already does. Not to mention introduction of possible sources of electrical malfunction and hydraulic leaks. KISS

 

[Rider]

There are so many reasons why this would not be a good thing to do. Keying off your word 'convert', it sounds like you want to eliminate the handle function completely.

1st, it's not just a parking brake, it's an emergency brake. If you have a failure of your normal hydraulic system, you can use the handle. Part of the reason it can work it because it's engaged incrementally, not all at once. If you were going 60 and flipped your dash switch, the rear brake would lock up and might cause loss of control.

2nd, if you were to have an electrical system loss, which the Slingshot is know to suffer from on occasion, you could loose your braking function.

The e-brake was designed to be a safety failover in the event of a normal brake failure, and it needs to be simple and dependable.

If you wanted to add this kind of functionality in addition to the e-brake handle, just for a parking lock, I could see it. But it would need to have something to prevent it from accidentally being turned on at significant speed.

 

[Rider]

An added thought, if you were to park and flip the brake lock switch, your battery wouldn't last very long.

 

[openair]

If it ain't broke . . .

 

[EjFord]

In the early days of the Slingshot --- there was trouble with the break line stretching when set so lots of us use 1th gear as are 'parked' mode with the Slingshot. In 90,000+ miles the only time my E break has been set is when someone other than myself parked it. I've had NO problems.

 

[Ulflyer]

I set mine every time I stop. Never thought about a problem. Do the same with my car also.

 

[kenhansell]

There are so many reasons why this would not be a good thing to do. Keying off your word 'convert', it sounds like you want to eliminate the handle function completely.

1st, it's not just a parking brake, it's an emergency brake. If you have a failure of your normal hydraulic system, you can use the handle. Part of the reason it can work it because it's engaged incrementally, not all at once. If you were going 60 and flipped your dash switch, the rear brake would lock up and might cause loss of control.

2nd, if you were to have an electrical system loss, which the Slingshot is know to suffer from on occasion, you could loose your braking function.

The e-brake was designed to be a safety failover in the event of a normal brake failure, and it needs to be simple and dependable.

If you wanted to add this kind of functionality in addition to the e-brake handle, just for a parking lock, I could see it. But it would need to have something to prevent it from accidentally being turned on at significant speed.

Everything said above is spot on. Also the line lock trick works (I did it in a Wrangler I built and converted to a Chevy drivetrain) but it requires battery power to keep it engaged. Leaving the sling parked for an extended amount of time would result in battery drain and subsequently the lock letting go and the sling rolling.

 

[JackFrost]

I have been reading up on how cars have been using electronic parking brakes for years. More and more. Cars are going to electronic parking brakes. In this modern day emergency brakes are a thing of the past. And battery drain is not an issue using a dual pole screw type actuator because it is powered in both on and off to move the parking brake arm. Power is only on during movement.

 

[kenhansell]

Sounds like you got it all figured out. Let us know how that works for you.