I have the same issue with my 550. The parking brake is garbage. I load and unload cars all day on my trailer. Any time I apply the brakes on the vehicle that I am loading or unloading all the inertia of that vehicle causes my truck to rock back and forth. This can't be good for the motor mounts or the parking pawl in the transmission. Not to mention the driveshaft and u-joints.
My solution will be a Mico product called a lever lock. While it will not help in a loss of brakes situation it will hold a vehicle still with great certainty.
http://www.mico.com/products/images/37_docfile.pdf

For $309 I can nail down at least one axle on my truck. Its in my mod future. Probably next.

 

Thats basically how 'park' works on the autos. The problem there is when the weight of the rig pushes against that pin, its very difficult to release. I used to always set my e-brake when parking on a hill so it wouldn't slam out of park when I went to move again.

 

The slamming out of park doesn't bother me at all. I'd rather put up with some noise rather then put up with the truck in the river.

 

The driveline emergency brake system mounts on the back of the 4X4 transmissions. I don't know if they mount on the back of the transfer case. But if you have a 2 wheel drive truck and want to buy a 4X4 transmission for it, you could swap in that emergency brake.

That said, I don't like them. In fact, I find them dangerous. I own a 97 Super Duty that has it, and I also owned a 92 GMC 3500HD that also had it. When applied, it still puts all the stress on the driveline. Also, if you change a rear tire, it will not hold once one of the wheels get off the ground. I saw a kid under a motorhome moving jackstands around to get it jacked up, and as the wheel got off the ground, it rolled and the motorhome fell. The kid just barely got out from under it in time. Would have crushed him. The owner couldn't understand why it rolled. The emergency brake was set. I showed him the emergency brake system and why it won't hold when you jack one wheel off the ground. Yes, you should use wheel chocks when changing tires regardless of what type of emergency brake setup you have.

Perhaps I missed it, but has everyone that is having problems checked to make sure their cables aren't froze up?

 

Cables aren't frozen up on mine. This is more of an issue for me when I'm towing a trailer. The e-brake will hold the truck by itself but w/ a load it won't - even loaded w/o a trailer mine won't hold on a moderate grade.

 

Yeah my cables are fine too, no problems with them anywhere. what I don't understand is why dont they use the same method they used to for the ebrake? my 84 150 has drums in the rear and all the ebrake is is a cable that activates the rear brake and not the front. It holds solid as a rock but my four wheel discs on an 03 superduty wont hold a thing. Why change to something that's not half as good as what you started with?

 

The wife's VW's e-brake uses both rear calipers - set the e-brake on it and you can almost spin the front tires. (Front wheel dr) Really simple system - the e-brake cable pushes the caliper piston out just like when you step on the brakes. Too bad Ford didn't do that - a ton easier to maintain too...no separate e-brake pads or adjustments.

 

Mico products still has my vote.

 

yeah, my entire ebrake system is brand spankin new and still isn't worth the steel its made from. My old Dodge half ton ebrake held soooo much better (wish I could say the same for the trans).

 

Did anyone figure out a solution for an ebrake that works well?

 

IDK maybe this guy might have something that will help us out.
ZF Manual / Standard Transmission Identification Parts and Diagrams

 

If any one is following this thread still, I installed this in my truck. I use my truck for winching a lot and hated seeing the load going to my parking pawl. Of course my e-brake is **** like everyone else's. I don't use this for parking, I use it when I'm running my winch or launching our boats.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-LINE-LOCK-BRAKE-LOCK-Tow-Truck-Off-Road-Racing-Line-pressure-holds-brakes-/230689506694?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35b62a8586&vxp=mtr

 

Does it just lock the front wheels like most drag applications?

 

Do you have this line lock installed on your EX ? If so where did you mount it? I am guessing you are using it for rear only. I am VERY interested to hear more. I am always scared that one of these days when I am launching or retrieving my boat on a steep launch ramp that it is going to come out of park and my truck goes swimming. NOT COOL !! I don't want to that dumb a$$. So please tell us more.

Correct me if I am wrong but our trucks only have ABS on the front. I ask because it says not to use on ABS systems but it is installed after the ABS pump I don't see the issue?

 

I have it installed in my Ex. I installed in the line between the master cylinder going to abs. My truck has 4 wheel abs, and that was the only place to install it in one line to control both wheels on that axle. Plus in the off chance it does leak or fail it's in a decent spot repair, and I'm not having to lay in snow or mud. I installed it to lock my front tires since there's considerably more weight on them for better traction. You can install on the rear if you'd prefer, it's mostly preference really, but I also figured I can use my half a$$ excuse for a parking brake in addition to supplement the front if I wanted extra piece of mind.

I have mine set up with a 3 position toggle switch, up for on all the time, middle for on engine running (disengages if ignition shut off), and down for off. I also have an LED that's lit when it's engaged. These draw power to work, they will wear down your batteries if you park your truck over night with it engaged. I suppose you could get crazy and wire it so it auto disengages if the clutch is pressed or you shift out of park, but that is getting too complicated for me. I keep it simple in case trail side repairs ever need to be made, but in the year and a half I've been using this I've never had an issue.

I do use mine for hours at a time when I'm doing offroad recoveries with the winch and have never had it leak down on me. I've never had an issue with it interfering with my abs, when it's off fluid passes through like it's just another brake line fitting.

Any other questions feel free to ask.