Posted by Fred Coldwell on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 at 3:15PM :
In Reply to: Adding a parking brake to the back of a tranny posted by Howard in Newcastle on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 at 11:16AM :
The WW II 3/4 ton Dodges with the parking brake at the rear of the tranny had a one speeed transfer case with no "neutral" position, so the rear axle drive shaft always had a hard connection to the tranny's rear output yoke, which is why a parking brake in that position would work. An engaged tranny parking brake would no longer hold a vehicle with a 2 speed transfer case behind the tranny IF that transfer case was put in "neutral": the rear drive shaft would then ne disconnected from and spin independent of the engaged parking brake. That's why the parking brake on the PW, M-37,etc. with a 2 speed transfer case is on the rear of the tranfer case: it is always hard connected to the rear drive shaft and rear wheels. Your friend should want his parking brake on the rear of the rearmost gear box in his drive line so it wont'd be rendered useless if any forward gear box is accidentially knocked into "neutral". The parking brake should be hard connected to the rear wheels.