Wilwood Electric Parking Brake

[BrewCityCobra]

So I'm thinking of taking the plunge and purchasing the Wilwood electric parking brake. I am just not a fan of the FFR solution and I keep thinking I'm going to come to regret not addressing the issue before I button up the carpet/cockpit for the last time.

That said, I see there are a few variants out there - is anybody familiar with what the specific E parking brake kit I need to purchase for use with the FFR Wilwood rear brake kit on an IRS?

Thanks!

[JJK]

I considered this as well for the same reason, but opted not to due to Texas DMV. The code here is written such that it implies electric parking brakes are not allowed. I could be wrong, or that part of the code may not really be enforced, but it was enough for me to reconsider. I would recommend checking local code first, then if others in your state had issues with registration.

[Rsnake]

I installed one on my coupe and love it. It holds better than any parking brake I have ever had and it eliminates the parking brake handle which really cleans up the top of the tunnel on the coupe.
Call Gordon at Levy racing as he sent me mine and will know what you need.

[Hoooper]

140-15978-BK for black calipers

140-15978-RD for red calipers

[JohnK]

I considered this as well for the same reason, but opted not to due to Texas DMV. The code here is written such that it implies electric parking brakes are not allowed. I could be wrong, or that part of the code may not really be enforced, but it was enough for me to reconsider. I would recommend checking local code first, then if others in your state had issues with registration.

I can't imagine that this is true, as practically every modern car made today has an electric parking brake.

[BrewCityCobra]

I can't imagine that this is true, as practically every modern car made today has an electric parking brake.

This is my understanding as well. I am really surprised to hear they would outlaw something like that - it seems to be the way of the future. I will certainly take a look though (although Wisconsin doesn't have very stringent review standards).

[BrewCityCobra]

I installed one on my coupe and love it. It holds better than any parking brake I have ever had and it eliminates the parking brake handle which really cleans up the top of the tunnel on the coupe.
Call Gordon at Levy racing as he sent me mine and will know what you need.

Good to know, always happy to keep my business within the FFR family so to speak.

[toadster]

they're pricey but simplifies your transmission tunnel a good bit, VERY STRONG, I couldn't budge the wheels at all when it was turned on

https://cobradreams.com/2020/09/19/wilwood-electric-parking-brake-installation/
you'll want to wire diet the lines, as it's a universal setup - made to fit huge cars for sure!

correct width .81 rotors parts

Wilwood 140-15978-BK (https://www.wilwood.com/brakekits/BrakeKitsProdRear?itemno=140-15978-BK) Electronic Rear Park Brake System, Black (https://www.wilwood.com/brakekits/BrakeKitsProdRear?itemno=140-15978-BK)

Wilwood 140-15978-RD Electronic Rear Park Brake System, Red (https://amzn.to/3ESgNzj)

[FF33rod]

Have you considered E-Stopp? a less pricy solution if you already have the Wilwood mechanical parking brake bits. I'm considering changing over to using it on my hot rod

Steve

[JeffP]

I considered this as well for the same reason, but opted not to due to Texas DMV. The code here is written such that it implies electric parking brakes are not allowed. I could be wrong, or that part of the code may not really be enforced, but it was enough for me to reconsider. I would recommend checking local code first, then if others in your state had issues with registration.
Almost all modern cars come with electronic parking brakes. My ram 1500, my Alfa Stelvio, and our Tesla all electric. I can’t imagine them not allowing them

[Alan_C]

Interesting as my 2018 Accord Touring has an electric parking brake. I imagine Honda they sell Honda Accords in Texas, so there must be a work around.

[BrewCityCobra]

Have you considered E-Stopp? a less pricy solution if you already have the Wilwood mechanical parking brake bits. I'm considering changing over to using it on my hot rod

Steve

I have and it is also a consideration. At the moment I'm leaning toward the wilwoods just because of the ease of installation (despite the crazy cost hit). That said, I was going to take a closer look at e-stopp this weekend to see what it would take to install to make a decision on that front.

[Alan_C]

Interesting as my 2018 Accord Touring has an electric parking brake. I imagine Honda sells Accords in Texas, so there must be a work around.

[Alan_C]

I have the WW 140-7140D rear brake kit on another build. I purchased the appropriate WW Electronic Parking Brake retrofit kit. Unfortunately, with the retrofit kits, you are responsible to make your own spacers and brackets. I have access to a mill and made up my own designs for the brackets and spacers. I removed all the drum parking brake components and fitted the EPB calipers to the existing brakes. All turned out well, but I spent a lot of time making up the required brackets and spacers not to mention burning up a couple of bandsaw blades cutting the aluminum.
If you want more info, PM me and I will locate my design folder and I can give you as many pointers as I can. I will not share my design info for liability reasons. In fact, when I called Wilwood asking for technical help, they gave me the cold shoulder. It was very difficult to work with Wilwood and eventually one of the customer reps just told me to sell the old brake kit and buy the kit with the EPB already integrated in.

[Alan_C]

Here are some pictures of the brackets and spacers as well as final result.
https://i.imgur.com/CT9OI0tl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/WpSsKmgl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/2QgIjLIl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/JpMte9kl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/tfET1RTl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/cd4USCel.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/VxAXg3Hl.jpg

[BrewCityCobra]

Here are some pictures of the brackets and spacers as well as final result.
https://i.imgur.com/CT9OI0tl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/WpSsKmgl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/2QgIjLIl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/JpMte9kl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/tfET1RTl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/cd4USCel.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/VxAXg3Hl.jpg

Oh wow, so does this imply that the electric emergency brakes won't fit one-for-one to the brackets I already have? (e.g., the IRS rear brake kit for the MKIV roadster). I understood they would fit if I swapped sides.

That is a great setup by the way.

[Gordon Levy]

It will bolt into the IRS just fine.

[lance corsi]

Has anyone considered a foot applied parking brake? I used a Buick take-off unit, push on, push off. It helped clean up my console. I know it’s not as sexy as the electric parking brake, but it’s dirt simple and fulfills the requirements.

[DIBaledo]

I am still in the early stages of my Roadster build so I can't tell you how well they work, but the installation was very, very simple. It was an easy install using the existing brackets. The only difference is that you need to reverse the sides to make the electrical connection accessible (right brake goes on the left side; left brake on the right) I purchased mine through Gordon Levy. He knows his stuff and can hook you up with exactly what you need. I made the decision because of all the issues surrounding the FFR parking brake install, and I wanted a clean modern look. I'm not trying to make a faithful replica, but rather something that I can safely enjoy. Not that a mechanical parking brake is unsafe, but I have both - electric and mechanical - in our daily drivers and I have driven off after forgetting to undo the e brake. With the electrical versions, my cars won't move at all; with the mechanical version, it still moves, albeit with the clear reminder that I've just done something stupid.

[runamuk]

140-15978-BK for black calipers

140-15978-RD for red calipers

You will also need to measure the thickness of your rotors. I made that mistake when I ordered my kit and had to send the original order back for a different one. The Wilwood rotors on my car are .810 thick and Wilwood sells a couple of different calipers for different thickness rotors.
140-15979-BK and 140-15979-RD are for rotors up to 1.10 thick

[Tooth]

I called willwood, told them what I had. They didn't have black in stock, but directed me to summit who did and gave me part numbers. Install was same as the kit ones, minus swapping sides as already mentioned. Haven't wired them yet, but doesn't look too complicated. Everyone mentions price, but I think they are just over a grand. Considering I'm dumping easily over $75K here, I didn't see the price as a big deal.

[Hoooper]

You will also need to measure the thickness of your rotors. I made that mistake when I ordered my kit and had to send the original order back for a different one. The Wilwood rotors on my car are .810 thick and Wilwood sells a couple of different calipers for different thickness rotors.
140-15979-BK and 140-15979-RD are for rotors up to 1.10 thick

What brakes do you have? The Wilwoods that come for the 2015+ IRS are the 1.1" thick rotors. EDIT: the rotors are 0.81" in the numbers I shared and whats on the 2015+ setup

[Hoooper]

Oh wow, so does this imply that the electric emergency brakes won't fit one-for-one to the brackets I already have? (e.g., the IRS rear brake kit for the MKIV roadster). I understood they would fit if I swapped sides.

That is a great setup by the way.

Since you already have the Wilwood brake kit with the Wilwood MC4 manual e-brake these just bolt in place of that MC4 manual e-brake caliper.

[toadster]

Since you already have the Wilwood brake kit with the Wilwood MC4 manual e-brake these just bolt in place of that MC4 manual e-brake caliper.

correct - in my case with the Koni Double adjustable shocks, I did have to swap Left/Right sides to clear the springs

[BrewCityCobra]

I called willwood, told them what I had. They didn't have black in stock, but directed me to summit who did and gave me part numbers. Install was same as the kit ones, minus swapping sides as already mentioned. Haven't wired them yet, but doesn't look too complicated. Everyone mentions price, but I think they are just over a grand. Considering I'm dumping easily over $75K here, I didn't see the price as a big deal.


Reminds me of a saying... It doesn't matter if you are 1 inch or 1 mile below the surface of the water - you still can't breath. I find that a very on-point with these builds.

[runamuk]

What brakes do you have? The Wilwoods that come for the 2015+ IRS are the 1.1" thick rotors.

I have a MK IV roadster that was delivered October 2021 with IRS and Wilwood 12.88 brakes, my rotors are .81 thick.

[Hoooper]

I have a MK IV roadster that was delivered October 2021 with IRS and Wilwood 12.88 brakes, my rotors are .81 thick.

Yeah, I just realized the part numbers you posted are different from the numbers I posted. I just used the numbers you posted for the thickness but 0.81" is right for the kits and the part # I used.

[toadster]

correct width .81 rotors parts

Wilwood 140-15978-BK (https://www.wilwood.com/brakekits/BrakeKitsProdRear?itemno=140-15978-BK) Electronic Rear Park Brake System, Black (https://www.wilwood.com/brakekits/BrakeKitsProdRear?itemno=140-15978-BK)

Wilwood 140-15978-RD Electronic Rear Park Brake System, Red (https://amzn.to/3ESgNzj)