This Cottage Craft Works resource library explains how Taperlock hydraulic brakes operate, where they are normally installed, which axles and wheel hubs they fit, and how to install and service the complete brake system. The linked resources cover backer-plate installation, troubleshooting, brake-shoe and spring service, bleeding, master-cylinder adjustment, parts identification, and routine maintenance.

How Hydraulic Brakes Work on Horse-Drawn Vehicles

Hydraulic brakes on horse-drawn vehicles resemble those on vintage automobiles. A brake pedal operates a master cylinder, and hydraulic tubing carries pressure to the individual wheel cylinders mounted in the brake backer plates on the axle. When the pedal is depressed, each wheel cylinder pushes the brake shoes outward against the brake drum mounted to the wheel hub and spokes.

The Horse Remains the Primary Brake

On a horse-drawn vehicle, the horse or team provides the primary stopping and holding force. Vehicle brakes assist the horse by reducing the load on downhill slopes and helping prevent the vehicle from rolling forward at road crossings. They do not replace proper horse control, harnessing, or driving technique. An agitated horse may continue pulling a carriage even when the vehicle brakes are locked.

Four-wheel brake systems are uncommon unless the vehicle routinely travels on hilly roads. The vehicle, route, load, and operating conditions should determine whether two-wheel or four-wheel braking is appropriate.

Standard Brake Placement

For wheels fitted with steel tires, the standard arrangement is to mount the brakes on the front axle. For rubber-tire wheels, the standard arrangement is to mount the brakes on the rear wheels. Longer hydraulic tubing is available for rear-wheel installations.

Axle Sizes

Taperlock brake assemblies are available for 1-inch and 1-1/8-inch square axles.

Why Taperlock Backer Plates Are Easier to Install

Earlier brake backer housings used a close-fitting square opening and often had to be driven onto the axle. Installation could be difficult on older axles with rough or rusted surfaces, and later removal could be even harder.

The Taperlock design uses a larger square opening that slides over rough or rusted axle areas more easily. Wedge blocks and a series of clamp screws on the back side secure the backer plate to the square axle. You must still clean and prepare the axle clamping area, and tighten the screws evenly according to the installation instructions.

Compatible Wheels and Hubs

The brake kits fit many Amish-made wood, fiberglass, and steel carriage or buggy wheels produced in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana that use a bolt-in hub with a roller bearing. Do not attempt this brake installation on old-fashioned Sarven-style hubs, wooden hubs, or hubs and spokes assembled with forged rivets.

Standard Drum Bolt Pattern

The brake drums bolt to the same bolt pattern used by the roller-bearing hub flanges. The standard pattern commonly used by Amish carriage builders in Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania has eight bolts, a 2-7/8-inch center hole, 7/16-inch-diameter bolt holes, and 1-9/16-inch center-to-center spacing between adjacent bolt holes. Compare the wheel to the detailed drum bolt-hole-spacing photograph before ordering or beginning installation.

Mounting Bolts for Aluminum and Steel Wheels

The existing roller-bearing hub bolts will usually also secure the brake drums. Some installations require new, longer bolts. Steel wheels use machined hubs with threaded holes, so the installer must purchase suitable bolts locally to fasten the brake drums to those hubs. The bolt pattern is the same on aluminum and steel wheels.

Plain Brake Drums for Older Pennsylvania Wheels

If the wheel holes do not match the standard drum pattern, plain brake drums are available for older Pennsylvania-style wheels. These drums have no predrilled mounting holes. Use the number 3063 drum installation ring to align the drum and drill matching bolt holes between the spokes. Install the number 3063 ring on the front side of the wheel to anchor the mounting bolts and nuts.

Resource Library

Key Takeaways

·         The horse or team remains the primary brake; hydraulic wheel brakes only assist with vehicle control.

·         Steel-tire wheels are normally braked on the front axle, while rubber-tire wheels are normally braked on the rear axle.

·         Taperlock assemblies are available for 1-inch and 1-1/8-inch square axles.

·         Compatibility depends on the wheel hub construction and bolt pattern, not only the wheel diameter.

·         Taperlock installation requires correct axle preparation, backer-plate position, and even clamp-screw tightening.

·         The hydraulic system must be fully bled and tested before the vehicle returns to service.