ok, now that that's settled, I found a new problem. The parking break does not work. I pull the lever, and there is a bunch of tension really fast, but it does not engage the rear brakes. I got under the car, and the cables move when the brake lever does, but the assembly that the brake cables go into to activate the brakes only moves about 3 degrees (less that 1/4"). I made sure both brake cable ends were in their proper positions, and when I pulled the lever again, the passenger side brake activated, but the driver side only braked partially. I could still turn the rotor (I had the wheels off and the rear of the car in the air). Then when i disengaged the parking brake, the passenger side disengaged, but the driver's side (which only engaged slightly in the 1st place) did not move from its half-locked position. Does this mean I have to replace the whole drivers side rear brake assembly, or is there just something I can beat on and lube to get it moving smoothly again. Thanks for your continuing help.
Chris
parking break fix
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Scott McLellan
- Posts: 299
- Joined: Sat Nov 23, 2002 7:53 am
Well, I don't think this is your problem since it seems you have looked it over, but my brother's car had a small ding in the right rear cable that made the brake stay on or make the rear brakes work independently when the lever was pulled. His was a honda but right under the center consol the cable pulls on a sort of teetertotter thing that should equally pull both cables that are hooked to each end of that. The tension was all messed up. A new cable from the parts store was like 35. Just an idea.... Good luck
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94VG30DE
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2005 7:29 pm
- Car: read the username. if you don't know what that is, you don't belong here.
Re: parking break fix
UPDATE: Bought a rebuilt rear caliper assembly for the caliper that wasn't working, hooked it up, retensioned the cable, and everything worked great.
NOTE: If and when the piston gets entended from the caliper body, do NOT attempt to press it back in with a press or clamp of any kind. The piston is threaded, and needs to be turned (screwed back in) to go back into the caliper body. There should be 4 little indentations on the face of the piston, and you can borrow a brake caliper service kit from Advance Auto Parts that will engage these indentations and allow you to turn the piston back in.
NOTE: If and when the piston gets entended from the caliper body, do NOT attempt to press it back in with a press or clamp of any kind. The piston is threaded, and needs to be turned (screwed back in) to go back into the caliper body. There should be 4 little indentations on the face of the piston, and you can borrow a brake caliper service kit from Advance Auto Parts that will engage these indentations and allow you to turn the piston back in.