Jul 17

Getting ready to pull the Model T rear axle for inspection.

You can see that the park brake hardware is completely missing from this car.
Whoever did the AC brake conversion removed the park brake shoes for some reason.

When the AC brakes failed, there was no way to stop the car properly.

I'm going to be removing the AC brakes and installing the larger, Rocky Mountain brakes as well as putting the parking brake system back together.

When you have a Ruckstell 2-speed rear axle like this car does, it's very important to at least have good, functioning park brakes. Even better to have good accessory brakes. If the Ruckstell gets worn, there is a possibility of it sticking between high and low gear, giving you a neutral. If you only have the brake in the transmission functioning, bad things will happen.

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Jul 17, 2026

Reply to ShawnG…

Replies (12)

· Jul 17

Shawn, I think you said in a previous post that these had the main brake on the transmission and auxiliary/emergency on the rear wheels? That is what is missing with this car?

You always need to forms of braking with an old car.

· Jul 17

That's correct.

· Jul 17

Does the brake upgrade block going back to the old emergency scheme? How are you gonna fix it?

· Jul 17

That was my question.

· Jul 17

No, the Rocky brakes allow you to retain the original parking brake as well.
The new brakes will work off of the foot pedal and are set up to come on -just- before the brake in the transmission.

· Jul 17

So Shawn, does that mean there will be triple brakes once you install the original parking brake setup?

· Jul 18

Yes, there will be parking brake, Rocky Mountain brakes and the driveshaft brake.
All still acting only on the rear wheels.
Brakes on the front might make the car flip over. 😝

· Jul 18

Front brakes would only change which direction you’re facing as you slide into the ditch.

· Jul 18

The Rocky Mountain Brakes juice with a single reservoir ?

· Jul 18

They're mechanical, contracting band brakes. They work like a band-type oil filter wrench.

· Jul 18

Thanks Shawn. Silly me, that makes complete sense.

· Jul 19

Not silly at all.
There used to be (maybe still are) hydraulic disc brake conversions for the rear wheels but they tend to look pretty awful.
A car the weight of a Model T really should have no trouble with a properly set-up mechanical brake system.