Albert Branscombe's parking brake systems parts and kits

RF_Burns

RF_Burns

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Sep 7, 2008
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Albert Branscombe, our parking brake guru, passed away last August. I have in my possession the remaining parts inventory for his brake systems

I can put together kits for Albert's new Electric Parking Brake (EPB). My coach was the test bed for this project and I can affirm that it works very well. The calipers, rotors, pads etc (all the wear parts) are from current production vehicle models so replacement parts should be available for years to come.

Here are a couple documents on Albert's EPB:
www.gmcmotorhome.org

Electric Parking Brake Installation (EPB)

My coach was the test coach for Albert Branscombe's Electric Parking Brake. This documents my installation of the EPB. Albert's target was to hold on a 15% grade. We recently tested the EPB's holding power to just over 15% which was the maximum...
www.gmcmotorhome.org www.gmcmotorhome.org

www.gmcmotorhome.org

Electric Parking Brake for the GMC

My coach was the test bed for Albert Branscombe's Electric Parking Brake (EPB) for the GMC. The EPB uses calipers with a built-in motor for the parking brake function. We recently tested it to an incline of 15% (the maximum the dual piston...
www.gmcmotorhome.org www.gmcmotorhome.org

For the stainless steel parking brake system there are some rubber boots, springs etc. If anyone is looking for some replacement parts, please email me. A photo of what you need would be good.

Please note we go south for the winter, so I will not be shipping until we return mid April, but we do have internet access for emailing.

My email is bhislop76 at gmail.com

Thanks,
 
Last edited:
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I have Albert Branscombe's EPB kit, will install once I get caught up on too many other projects.
We all miss Albert.
 
Seeburg220 said:
This is only for rear disc brake bogies, correct? I'm hoping to find a suitable braking system for my drums.
Click to expand...
Its a disk brake for the rear-rear wheels in which the caliper has a regular hydraulic service brake and an electric motor driven parking brake. I don't know why you couldn't pair it with a drum brake. A common mod its a disk brake on the mid axle and a drum on the rear for a parking brake. I'm sure this system holds better than a single drum for parking brake.
 
RF_Burns said:
Albert Branscombe, our parking brake guru, passed away last August. I have in my possession the remaining parts inventory for his brake systems

I can put together kits for Albert's new Electric Parking Brake (EPB). My coach was the test bed for this project and I can affirm that it works very well. The calipers, rotors, pads etc (all the wear parts) are from current production vehicle models so replacement parts should be available for years to come.

Here are a couple documents on Albert's EPB:
www.gmcmotorhome.org

Electric Parking Brake Installation (EPB)

My coach was the test coach for Albert Branscombe's Electric Parking Brake. This documents my installation of the EPB. Albert's target was to hold on a 15% grade. We recently tested the EPB's holding power to just over 15% which was the maximum...
www.gmcmotorhome.org www.gmcmotorhome.org

www.gmcmotorhome.org

Electric Parking Brake for the GMC

My coach was the test bed for Albert Branscombe's Electric Parking Brake (EPB) for the GMC. The EPB uses calipers with a built-in motor for the parking brake function. We recently tested it to an incline of 15% (the maximum the dual piston...
www.gmcmotorhome.org www.gmcmotorhome.org

For the stainless steel parking brake system there are some rubber boots, springs etc. If anyone is looking for some replacement parts, please email me. A photo of what you need would be good.

Please note we go south for the winter, so I will not be shipping until we return mid April, but we do have internet access for emailing.

My email is bhislop76 at gmail.com

Thanks,
Click to expand...
Bruce,
Albert's kit is adaptable to work with Dave Lenzi’s Mid-Axle disk brake system?
 
RJW said:
Thanks for the reply. I am very interested in Albert's rear EPB and I have Dave's super duty disk brakes.
Click to expand...
I added links to a couple PDF's on his EPB to my original post above. Scroll up to the top of this page for the links if you have not read them.
 
IMG_2920.webp
This is the system thatI found installed on my coach when I bought it 4 years ago.Consideing how it looks, it must have been installed at least 10 years ago. This is a patented system and is American.
I have drum brakes too.
IMG_2915.webp
This is what the system looks like and it is still commercially available.
It does not require any pulleys or cable.
It uses the the hydraulic system and there is no parking brake lever.
I was told that the coach had an electric parking brake. All new cars have them.
It took a while to figure it out.
1755705572435.webp
This is the system and the company is Micro who has the patent.
It is an electric check valve that is placed in the brake's hydraulic system. When activated, it just locks all of the brakes. The lettering on the switch simply tells how to use it.
As far as the wiring, the red wire on the part that says "12VDC ONLY" is for the power to the valve and when fastened to the chassis it is the ground connection.
The two wires on the other part is for alarming to a light and sound alarm.
The green wire is to the switch.
My research on electric brake systems like this says that it can be used as an emergency brake when moving.
Some say that many states will not accept this system if the vehicle does not have a standard mechanical parking brake as well but I have found no evidence of this.
 
sailor man said:
View attachment 15969
This is the system thatI found installed on my coach when I bought it 4 years ago.Consideing how it looks, it must have been installed at least 10 years ago. This is a patented system and is American.
I have drum brakes too.
View attachment 15970
This is what the system looks like and it is still commercially available.
It does not require any pulleys or cable.
It uses the the hydraulic system and there is no parking brake lever.
I was told that the coach had an electric parking brake. All new cars have them.
It took a while to figure it out.
View attachment 15971
This is the system and the company is Micro who has the patent.
It is an electric check valve that is placed in the brake's hydraulic system. When activated, it just locks all of the brakes. The lettering on the switch simply tells how to use it.
As far as the wiring, the red wire on the part that says "12VDC ONLY" is for the power to the valve and when fastened to the chassis it is the ground connection.
The two wires on the other part is for alarming to a light and sound alarm.
The green wire is to the switch.
My research on electric brake systems like this says that it can be used as an emergency brake when moving.
Some say that many states will not accept this system if the vehicle does not have a standard mechanical parking brake as well but I have found no evidence of this.
Click to expand...
Newer cars with Electric Parking Brakes (EPB) use an electric motor to mechanically apply the calipers. The application of the EPB is separate from the hydraulic system and so can be applied as an emergency brake.

The System you have uses an electric valve to trap the brake fluid in place and hold the hydraulic calipers from releasing. Trouble is that any slight fluid leak would cause the calipers to release and the parking brake function to fail. It cannot be used as an emergency brake in case of a hydraulic failure because it requires a working hydraulic system to apply the brakes. The Line Lock valve just holds the brake applied, but can't apply the brakes itself.
I believe Mico states in the instructions that it is a temporary parking brake while chocks etc are put in place.
 
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A friend's coach came with a manual linelock. Once when he was at my place, he pressed on the brakes and set the linelock, When it came to release, he could not press on the brake pedal hard enough to allow the linelock to release and had to bleed one of the brakes to relieve the downstream pressure.
 
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Get your shine on at www.cruzingear.co
Applied GMC

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