E-Brake Complications

[chimpvalet]

Happy New Year! Updating the brakes on a Lotus with inboard rears, finding little space for the E-brake caliper, already settled on main caliper choice, had an idea a bit out of left field - why not drive the brake pedal via a linear actuator? This would engage all 4 corners and would be one of the simplest solutions to package. Anyone care to advise why it would be a bad idea?
Regards,
Steve

[Brian P]

Do your FMEA. Slightest leak of brake fluid - even internal leakage inside the master cylinder - and your car is rolling away.

[chimpvalet]

Thanks for the feedback. It's always good to consider what would be the worst outcome, and a runaway car would constitute a substantial liability. That said, this is my own toy and so would be subject to routine, frequent examination of things fluid and mechanical. Also, there will be isolated systems front/rear with separate M/C's. I wonder what is the frequency of hydraulic failures in such systems when built and maintained at top level of care?
Regards

[Splitter]

Can you mount a rotor on the driveshaft somewhere? Or is this a mid-engine car?

nqxw2f.jpg

[chimpvalet]

Yup, a mid-engine is what we're dealing with. Can't say the use of stand-alone e-brake calipers is ruled out, we've got two versions from Wilwood in hand, it's just a pretty cluttered area that is becoming tighter by way of the upgrade work. So no solid axle to put the grab on. For a further giggle, it occurred that the pedal servo'd e-brake would have a couple of additional handy aspects - it could facilitate one man brake bleeding, it would also ease the chore of wheel changes by locking up all 4 ahead of jacking.
Regards

[Brian P]

Can you do mechanical parking brake to the front wheels? It's been done before; IIRC some old school Saabs were like that.

[chimpvalet]

Haven't got to the fronts yet, taking a long time to fashion a correct transaxle hanger/caliper mount/transverse arm pick-up model for our fabricator. Soon, will return to fabricator with model and confirm brake component positions at the rear. Some shift linkage to tweak as well, then on to considering the very limited options for e-brake placement. Took on a rather tiresome task, this upgrade out aft in particular, hence the appeal of an easy e-brake solution. Shudder to think of working secure and correctly articulating cable or linkage into the front corners but won't rule it out.
Thanks