Turning / Cutting brakes?

This seems like a great idea. I had a friend with a VW back in the day who had them and it was so cool. I thought it would maybe work with the Tacoma and saw there are even two nice separate lines going to our fabulous rear drums. THEN, I saw a couple pics of people with dual brake levers in the cab. Then, I couldn't find them anymore. I cant find a write up either. Any one do this? Have a write up? Parts list even? Send me to where I missed it all? And, Mainly does it even work well for this longer based vehicle. Seems awesome to me for tight trails and long rigs.

 

I know nothing about this, but it seems that the Tacoma computer (traction control, etc) would shit itself.

 

Rivian has tank mode. Plus a new dig mode, you can toss the trusty but crusty folding spade.

 

Cutting brakes are not worth the squeeze without rear steer or the ability to front dig. The Tacoma has neither.

 

I sure get that the front dig (rear drive disconnected) would work much better. However, I know how it worked on the 2wd buggy and it was astounding. I have also seen here somewhere a very clean/factory looking set up. I was hoping to find more info from those who actually did it and the perceived/real benefit.

 

I have cutting brakes on a manx type buggy and they work great on that car because the diff is open, no traction contral, super short wheelbase, all the weight is in the rear and I have disc brakes in the back. even with all that it takes a pretty hard pull on that handle to really turn. I feel like in a tacoma the combination of all the forward weight and rear drums would make them not very effective

 

Can anyone point me to "the guy" or "guys" or "girls I guess" who have actually done this? I get that it might not work too well in theory, but someone has done it who can give a first hand perspective.

 

They're rare as hens' teeth because the people doing this are buggy folks or dudes running Atlases, Dana 300's, or NP205's. There's a reason you don't see cutting brakes with Toyota cases that don't have a rear disconnect.

What do you think you can achieve?

 

Been in the Land Cruiser for years now....

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vhFvUrTkrbY

 

To be quote honest, I have no idea what it would achieve... Hence the question. The former experience with a VW was cool and very practical. I get the differences between our vehicles (Bug vs Tacoma) for sure. I have also wheeled my long truck on tight trails that would have been much much easier if I could make a tighter turn instead of repositioning 10 times to get to my line. I was not hopeful for a miracle by any means... I figured it was not a great mod as I have had a hard time finding any information on it. I appreciate the feedback regardless.

 

@Norilsk might have something to say about dual e-brakes.

 

I'd think you go to do this pretty easily by just installing a line lock on each rear brake line?

 

I don’t have write up, but it’s self explanatory on my picture, get another e-brake, weld them together, split the cables - profit?!?

 

Full disclosure, they barely work as e-brakes, only for trail use. Shoe wear is crazy and they never adjust properly since then.

 

We've used them in off-road race cars, but a Tacoma? Just let me kill my ABS in the dirt and I'll be happy.

 

FWIW, having a center diff that unlocks makes a considerable difference in many tight situations off-road.

 

Awesome! This is what I was looking for. Thanks for the full disclosure on the wear and limitations as an ebrake. Can you please elaborate on the effectiveness of the mod in real life trail use.? Is it worth it? Does it work at all as some have suggested it will not?

 

I want to say Marlin has a cutting brake setup, but yeah pretty pointless as our abs would shit a brick, and it won't do much if you're locked/dont have front dig. 2wd I could see it maybe helping, but the drums don't really have any power to them anyways

 

Yeah, that is basically what most of the people have said. I would still like to hear about if from the first hand perspective of Norilsk

 

I've driven a couple buggies with cutting brakes, its kind've cool but a front dig is 10x more useful.