Need a Parking Brake System? Orscheln Is The Partner You Can Trust

It’s a fact that every vehicle in the United States needs to have a parking brake system. Whether for personal use—like a boat trailer—or for industry purposes, park brake systems hold great importance when it comes to vehicle safety and operation. This means it’s critical for all users to have not only a fully functional system, but a durable one as well. 

Orscheln Products serves both on- and off-highway vehicles to customers around the world. From individual levers and cables to full systems, our team can equip customers with both pre-established and custom-designed options wherever they need them

We produce both individual parts and full systems from our headquarters in Moberly, Missouri—with the ability to serve OEM and aftermarket customers in Europe, India, and China, as well as around the globe. What distinctly sets us apart, however, is our 75 years of experience in providing solutions to customers in a wide range of markets. 

This month, our blog looks at parking brake systems and the full breadth of services that Orscheln offers for the product. Read on to learn more about how OEMs in on-highway and off-highway markets can benefit from working with us!

What is a Parking Brake System?

A parking brake system is a lever and cable system that can mechanically or remotely activate the parking brake feature on a trailer or vehicle. You may have heard the system referred to by another common name, although inaccurate: the emergency break. 

In modern vehicles, the parking brake system is not intended to be used in emergency situations for a way to stop a vehicle currently in motion. The primary use of a parking brake system today is to ensure that a parked vehicle remains stationary: allowing the brakes to prevent the vehicle from moving or rolling down a steep incline. 

The parking brake is connected to the rear brakes, with the entire system consisting of the lever, cables, and other necessary hardware. A reliable parking brake system will not only keep the vehicle stationary but will also reduce stress on the transmission system and increase the vehicle’s longevity.

The lever part of the system will engage and disengage the parking brake. The main difference between each parking brake lever is how it mounts in place in the cab. These levers can be either hand levers or and foot pedals, and users can have multiple different mounting locations. The cables, meanwhile, will connect to the main brakes of the vehicle located in the rear or on the driveshaft.

Parking brake systems are mostly similar regardless of the application it’s used for. However, there will be variations based on the lengths and fittings required for specific vehicles. The lever’s location and length may also vary depending on the vehicle used. 

 

Parking Brake Systems at Orscheln

Whether you need a full parking brake system or a specific part, Orscheln can offer the solutions you need. We offer both standard and custom options that our skilled team can tailor to fit OEM and aftermarket customers’ exact specifications. 

For individual levers, Orscheln offers both Over-Center style levers and Foot Pedal levers. Both options allow for a variety of different customizations, including mounting configurations, handle length, locking, and light switch options. The handle lock option is suggested as an extra level of confidence to reduce accidental disengagement. 

With parking brakes, our team utilizes a premium design to ensure the quality and durability of your park brake system. This includes a fully jacketed conduit and plastic coated strand— improving efficiency. At the same time, these coatings and liners help protect from the dirt and water intrusion that causes both corrosion and abrasion. There is also plating that can offer up to 1,000 hours of corrosion protection.

We also offer cable hardware to connect your cable to any common parking brake systems, including equalizers for brake systems. Overall, some of the most common applications of an Orscheln parking brake system include:

  • Trucks
  • Buses
  • Driveline Brake
  • Motorhomes
  • Delivery Vehicles
  • School Buses
  • Aircraft parking brakes
  • Trailers
  • Military Vehicles
  • Excavators
  • Wheel loaders
  • Farm machinery
  • Bulldozers
  • Cranes
  • Commercial mowers
  • Farm machinery

Ordering a Parking Brake System at Orscheln

If you make the decision to purchase a full parking brake system at Orscheln, there are a few key things you’ll need to know. Specifically, you’ll need to know the exact requirements of:

  • The lever and its location within in the cab
  • The mounting of the lever
  • The size of cables
  • The length and configurations of those cables
  • The brake’s part numbers and what it takes to hook them
  • The force required to set parking brake

The process for buying a full parking brake system or part starts by learning this key information prior to contacting our team. To construct a parking brake system, we start by gathering the layout and dimensional information. This helps us select the correct levers, cables, and hardware. 

Orscheln offers internal design capable of helping OEM and aftermarket customers lay the entire system out. Customers should complete the spec sheet and layout, then contact one of our factory parking brake system specialists or a F.A.S.T. distributor.

Our factory in Moberly, Missouri specializes particularly in high-volume applications. For individual systems, like for a boat or utility trailer, we recommend that customers utilize one of our global park brake cable assemblers to build the system one-at-a-time.

Customers should also know which type of brakes they have. It’s important to know that Orscheln offers 3 option types: electric, hydraulic, and driveline. Our team will need to know the manufacturer number and brake type in order to design and manufacture a solution. Each of our parking brake systems are mechanical.

Other specific information that the customer will need to know includes the mounting of the lever, its location within the cap, and the length of the cables. Orscheln offers two cable options: a 1/8th inch pull cable with a force of 1,200 pounds, and a 3/16ths inch cable for 3,000 pounds of force. The two cables have a 5- or 7-inch bend radius, respectively. 

 

Why Work With Orscheln?

When you work with the team at Orscheln, you can guarantee a high level of quality and reliability when it comes to your parking brake systems. 

For the system itself, our robust design offers the unique benefits of the highest-grade cables available, and the ability to customize levers to exact customer specifications. 

Our engineers also fit each of these systems precisely to the application, while the weather-resistant coatings and liners ensure that systems won’t deteriorate in quality. Just as important, our staff guarantees complete customer assistance throughout the entire process—providing 75 years of company expertise to ensure the customer’s desired outcome.

To ensure the quality of both parts and systems, each of our products undergoes rigorous testing and validation to meet all local, federal, and international regulations. And with several F.A.S.T. distributors specializing in parking brake systems specifically, we can find quality solutions at a quicker rate and ship it wherever the customer is located. 

Instead of relying on rocks or logs to keep your vehicle or trailer in place, you can ensure your application’s complete safety with Orscheln!

Frequently Asked Questions 

Where can I mount the levers of my parking brake system?

Customers can mount the levers of any parking brake system in a convenient location on either the inside or outside of their vehicle’s cabin.

 

What is the difference between a parking brake and an emergency brake?

Though the terms “parking brake” and “emergency brake” sound like the same thing, you should not use the parking brake for emergency stopping. In modern vehicles, parking brake systems are used for static parking of the vehicle.  

 

Can you repair a parking brake cable?

No, you should not repair your parking brake cables as they are not serviceable. To ensure your cables work properly, customers should check them for any damage or excessive wear. If needed, you can replace these cables using common tools such as wrenches and a flat-bladed screwdriver.

Will I need any maintenance on my parking brake system?

OEM and aftermarket customers should anticipate service for their brake lever. Customers will need to check the brake lever for proper adjustment.

Our product warranty covers both product quality and workmanship, and begins 1 year from the shipping date.

Need a High-Quality Parking Brake System? Contact Orscheln Products Today!

If you’re an OEM or aftermarket customer looking for individual parking brake cables or levers—or an entire parking brake system—Orscheln Products is the partner you can trust.

What sets Orscheln apart from others in our industry is an unwavering, company-wide commitment to providing each of our service markets with the care they deserve. Our entire team emphasizes collaboration and combines it with an innovative approach and unrivaled expertise. These are just a few of the reasons that customers have turned to us for decades for their design and manufacturing needs. 

From the first point of contact through project completion, you can count on our experts to provide exceptional service and durable products. At Orscheln Products, your project is our priority!

Contact us today, or take advantage of our virtual engineer-to-engineer service. If you’re looking for a specific part with a quick turnaround, find a distributor near you and submit your request.