?#$% E-Brake Still Don't Work!!!! Need Help!

[XtremeVette]

I have not been able to figure it out yet. Iam losing patience and becoming frustrated.

So far...here's whats been done:
Replaced Drivers Side Caliper
Replaced Brake Pads
Replaced E-brake cable to left (drivers side) (cable had a kink in it...so figured better replace it)

I have tried pulling up on ratchet 3 or 4 times to readjust it.

all said and done iam right back at square one.
pulling it up to full on position will NOT hold the car...it still rolls

any help greatly appreciated

jeff

 

[Magmotor]

Would you explain too me the 'exact' procedure you used to 'set' the ratchet??

 

[XtremeVette]

sure...no problem

Applied and released the parking break 3 times....followed by making sure the parking brake moves 7-9 clicks

thats all I did

 

[BigRed]

Dude you are aware theres actually TWO sets of brakes on the rear of this car right? Fixing the one you "see" ain't gonna do squat for your E-Brake.

Pull everything apart rotors off and you'll see what Im talking about. Theres adjustment in that piece. Also your probably going to have to replace THOSE parts or pieces (Haven't seen your car don't know.)

You REALLY shouldn't be messing with the E-brake cable. If you feel you have to adjust it look elsewhere for the problem. To many people think the cable has streched or whatever simply not true.

VERY common on rear drum brakes your thinking is.

 

[Magmotor]

To set the brake in my '89: With the lever in the down position, pull up and back past the last set position, inother words, pull back hard but of course don't be Hulk Hero. With the lever back and in the up position, push the button in and return lever all the way back to the down position, (floor) The brake should then be set. Give it a whirl and see what happens...

 

[Corvette-Pilot]

Pull everything apart rotors off and you'll see what Im talking about. Theres adjustment in that piece. Also your probably going to have to replace THOSE parts or pieces (Haven't seen your car don't know.)
VERY common on rear drum brakes your thinking is.

I don't think a 1990 uses the seperate E-brake shoes.
I know on mine the cable pulls a lever that actually applies the rear brake calipers.
I too have the problem of the brake not working well enough and have also tried the lever trick, did nothing.
Still not sure what to do??

 

[XtremeVette]

your right corvette pilot...

Absolutely....Iam glad Iam not alone on this one. Corvette Pilot my brakes are indeed the same as yours and not like the 87-89 cars...

so Iam this weekend tearing apart back there and closely inspecting everything. My dad recommended upon pre-inspection to get my sticker to lower the idle....that might help also....if I do come up with something I will surely post. I too am quite not sure what to do or where to go from here....

I guess its just all the damn torque these cars produce lol

I just wish the inspection place would have me put the car in neutral on a hill or something.....with that the ebrake will hold....its just when they say ok put it in drive and take your foot off the brake....its at that point the car slowly moves forward....their is just not enough ft/lbs pressure being applied to hold her. I have checked and all the cables are working properly and the pads are clamping down on the rotors....I dunno.....

Maybe a pad change might help?
Maybe a double check on the calipers....I found somewhere that on the later model corvettes, their is an adjustment screw to make the pads come in further or away further to the rotor.....but you have to be careful as you don't wanna have the brake on constantly and dragging on the rotors.....

I am really leaning toward my problem as a not enough pressure being applied issue....

so we'll see

I'll keep in touch guys

 

[Corvette-Pilot]

Sounds like yours is a bit worse than mine. I just bought the car last Oct and the previous owner had GM do all 4 brakes not too long ago.

My state used to be it has to hold at idle, which mine can do, but now they want it to hold until 1200RPM ! I think next inspection I try a different station that wont even look at it !

I took the car back to the dealer that did the brake job to check it out. They claim it passes GM specs. Something about holding the car on a grade ?? I think this is BS but until I can prove it.

I have heard something about some sort of adj screw too. Maybe you can set it enough to pass inspection and then loosen it again when you get home.

What ever happened to the good old days of the turn buckle cable adjuster.