Itinerant Air-Cooled

My e-brake works all fine and dandy, but the ratchet that holds the pulled lever out is shot. I see on CIP.com that they have beetle e-brake rebuild kits. Do such things exist for a 77 bus?

Pull one off a parts Bus. Contact Busted Bus or Interstate VW. I'm sure a used original would be higher quality and cheaper.

thanks Sluggo!

There are not a lot of parts busses around here... I'll keep my eye open though! For now, the piece of firewood will have to do!

77_Bus_Girl wrote:thanks Sluggo!

There are not a lot of parts busses around here... I'll keep my eye open though! For now, the piece of firewood will have to do!

Chris at Busted Bus will surely be able to help you. I used to use an "Emergency Brick" on my Jetta.

Cool, thanks, sent them both emails. Usually it's the shipping that makes things costly.

Hi Bus-Girl, Before I got my e-brake cables replaced I too used a trusty block (firewood) in my bus. It was always a tricky sitch for me to time it right to jump in or out before rolling. Someone posted on one of these wonderfull forums on how to attach a small line to block and bus to throw-out or retrieve . Made things easier. I used a strong eye hook in the wood and tied it off on the seat frame. Happy looking for your part, Barb

Good idea Barb! I can attach am eye hook and a dog leash. That way I have a way to grab the e-brick and also have a spare leash, just in case the pups forget to bring theirs!

I'm going to do that tonight.

The ratchet in the handle bracket usually just needs the spring reattached/replaced, so the locking pawl engages the teeth on the handle. Look under there wuith a flashlight. Pull the handle. The locking pawl should be spring-loaded down into the teeth. If not, find the (a) spring and make it happen. Properly adjusted brakes/ebrake cables lets you enjoy an excellent parking/emergency brake.
Colin

Thanks Colin - I'll check that out this weekend.

77_Bus_Girl wrote:Thanks Colin - I'll check that out this weekend.

Weekend's over. What'd you find?
Colin

Amskeptic wrote:

77_Bus_Girl wrote:Thanks Colin - I'll check that out this weekend.

Weekend's over. What'd you find?
Colin

Well, Mr. Smarty-pants, just so happens the weekend ISN'T over for your neighbours to the north, but, I'll answer your question anyway...

I did take a peek, and the ratchet is still spring-loaded. It tries to catch (and can catch if I only pull it out a little bit) but with the pressure of a fully pulled e-brake, it slips and releases.

So for now I I'll keep by e-brick, until I can find a parts bus up here.

77_Bus_Girl wrote: with the pressure of a fully pulled e-brake, it slips and releases.

So for now I I'll keep by e-brick, until I can find a parts bus up here.

I-I-I'd be stuttering nervously too if my ebrake wanted to release when the going gets tough. Get your little triangular file out and dress the teeth on the handle. See if the spring-loaded pawl needs a tweak too, needle-nose visegrips might let you bend the very edge of thge pawl down to get into the teeth better. I'd check mounting bracket screws for looseness and misalignment as well. These things are pretty simple and rugged.
Colin

oh. yeah - I thought maybe it was just worn - the teeth hade no bite... I'll give that a shot!

Thanks Colin. You rock.