Sinking Creek 4WD Association

Does anybody know what are the specific details on what is required in VA for parking brakes to obtain inspection stickers? I have a while(next summer) before the Dodge is due again, but since im doing rear discs on my rear D70, i need to figure out what is required to pass, and i might as well set it up while i have everything apart.

So far, ive figured out these options:
-Caddy El Dorado calipers( $$$$ and people say they suck)
-hydraulic line lock
-electronic line lock (can kill your battery if left on for a long period of time
-do doubler/SYE sooner for driveline e-brake (again, $$$/probably wont happen till next winter)

any other ideas? any such thing as a mechanical line lock?

Stallings, i read on the PBB that you are using the Biondo electric line lock from Summit, as well as RamV. Have you had any problems with inspections the your Dodge?

Thanks for any help.

yes, there are mechanical line locks, but with either type they can slowly leak down and leave you without a parking brake at all.

BlueDodgeRam wrote:
Stallings, i read on the PBB that you are using the Biondo electric line lock from Summit, as well as RamV. Have you had any problems with inspections the your Dodge?

Thanks for any help.

I haven't had to have my Dodge inspected for about 3 years now. The beauty of antique tags.

I do believe that a mechanical emergency brake is required. The eldorado calipers are fine, the only thing that sucks is that the parking brake doesn't stay adjusted all the time. The normal brakes are fine with them, you just have to be constatnly adjusting the parking brake.

So, you can get the eldorado calipers and just adjust the parking brake before inspections. Cause I don't know about you, but I very rarely used a parking brake when I had one.

I do use the linelock when I am on a steep hill, such as this weekend at Uwharrie, but I use it mainly so I can do front digs.

Line locks of any sort will not count as a parking brake, regardless if they are manual or electric. Also pretty much any stock style e-brake (like the eldorado calipers) is going to suck on the trail, I have yet to have a vehicle that the stock parking brake will hold on a decent hill.

With that being said, do the SYE and put a driveline brake on it. They may gripe about it at the inspection station, but it is a mechanical parking brake so they have to pass it. Its also the ultimate in hold power, there is no other mechanical parking brake setup that can compare to the holding power (also, the deeper your gearing the more holding power you have). Our 2-ton Chevy has a driveline brake on the SM465, and it will hold the truck fully loaded (31,000lbs GVW) on most hills.

cool, thanks for the tips guys. I guess the SYE would be the most effective/legal way. just glad i have several months before i really have to worry about it inspection-wise.

Actually, I think any way is not legal, the regs need to be looked over again, but I thought they stated you cannot alter the original emergency brake. Not that all shops will hold you to that. (Not that I care either, my ebrake lines are dangling free right now, hmm, need to get working on that myself)

B. Inspect for and reject if:

1. Vehicle or combination of vehicles is not equipped with a parking, holding, or emergency brake in good working order of the type installed as original standard factory equipment for the vehicle on which it is installed.

2. The parking brake actuating mechanism does not fully release when the control is operated to the off position or if the parking brake lamp light remains on.

NOTE: The light does not apply to vehicles that are not equipped with a parking (emergency) brake indicator light.

3. Any mechanical parts are missing, broken, badly worn, or are inoperative.

4. Cables are stretched, worn, or frayed or not operating freely.

5. Parking brake will not hold the vehicle stationary with the engine running at slightly accelerated speed with shift lever in drive position for automatic transmission or shift lever in low gear with clutch engaged for standard shift transmission.

6. Holding brake will not disengage when engine is started and vehicle is placed in drive. Holding brake will not hold vehicle stationary with foot on holding brake and vehicle in drive.

7. On vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions, the vehicle will start in any gear other than (P) park and (N) neutral. If the gearshift indicator does not identify the park (P) and neutral (N) positions, then the vehicle shall be rejected.

Does anyone have a link to a site where they list all of the inspection requirements? I'm trying to get the pickup ready to pass, and such a list would be very helpful.

http://leg1.state.va.us/000/reg/TOC19030.HTM#C0070

Scroll down to chapter 70.

1. Vehicle or combination of vehicles is not equipped with a parking, holding, or emergency brake in good working order of the type installed as original standard factory equipment for the vehicle on which it is installed.

Depends on how picky they wanna be, but I read this as saying you'd be okay with drum-in-rotor parking brakes such as the eldorado since they're basically the same type as factory on your truck.

It's an e-brake people, chill. Go with whatever works the best and let it ride. I've never seen or had an e-brake checked at an inspection. And, I'd say it's safe to say I probably have the lead on number of vehicles I've had inspected in this group. (Record so far was 22 in one week , Damn that was a strong month. ) At any rate, the more important issue is to have a fully functioning brake for safety sake. Though the law says what it says, if you can show them you have a brake that would hold it through a hurricane, they ain't gonna care if it's OEM or not.

TwoFace (before she got the face lift) failed for e-brake in Culpeper.

I failed here in Cburg, mine worked but just wasnt strong enough for them.

My advice would be take it to a good ole boy shop where you know someone I have all of my vehicles inspected at Long Shop and I've never seen them check a parking brake, and I have had some pretty questionable parking brakes before

FWIW - I found out they are also supposed to check gas caps when they inspect vehicles have you ever seen a shop do that?

I think it's all about the attitude of the guy behind the inspection book.