Matco Parking Brake Valve

18 Nov 2004 Matco Parking Brake Valve

I bought a used Matco Parking brake from e-bay, IIRC, and originally thought that I would not install it. This was because the various connectors that it seemed to require to hook it up was excessive. I found out that the guy that sold me the valve had hooked up some 90 degree fittings that I could remove, and that made it very easy to install.

Here is a photo of the Van’s recommended brace that forms the transition from the brake hoses connected to the rudder pedals to the aluminium tubing that goes to the gear legs.

I could almost get the brake valve to fit on this little bracket, but the upper supporting hole was too high. Therefore, I fabricated a new bracket.

Here is a picture of the valve as it comes from the factory.

Here is the valve with the flared AN fittings.

Here is the bracket I fabricated while the primer and paint are drying.

Here is what it looks like installed. Notice that I used straight fittings on the top, even though the brake lines need to go left and right. The problem is that 90 degree fittings hit each other, so you could only put on one. I saw another guy put on 45 degree fittings, and that looked cool, but I don’t have any. The brake lines will go up and then over. Shouldn’t be too tricky.