E-Brake

So, when I pull the E-Brake all the way up, it pretty much has no effect.

How do I adjust that?

Are you sure all of the cables are there? One cable goes from the handle to an equalizer, which is a cable between both e-brake shoes. They are disc brake shoes on the inside of the hub on the rear(obviously). Never had to adjust mine but I hear it is a real PITA. On my 82 there is a "hole" in the rear rotors. You are supposed to spin that until you see a star wheel in there. Then you adjust the wheel until the shoes make contact with the rotor and it won't move. Then you are supposed to back it off 6-8 notches, and then check the adjustment with the handle in the car.
Sounds fun, right Adam. Good luck

Actually the e-brakes are a drum setup inside the rear rotors. The right rear on "The Toy" is locked and as long as the right rear calipher is also locked at the moment the whole darn shootin' match is going to get overhauled on both sides as soon as I free up a few $$$.

Both Chilton's and Haynes repair manuals cover adjusting the e-brakes quite well, Chapter 9 I believe.


Jim O.

|UPDATED|7/26/2002 10:58:09 PM|/UPDATED|

Yea I knew that Jim, mis typed the setup.

The E brake adjustment is a multi-step procedure that is outlined in the Service Manual (at least on the 72 and 73 manuals I have). The procedure is a bit lenghty but it involves adjusting the brake shoes at the rear wheel and then tightening the cables a specific amount. It is fairly simple but dirty job. Your best be is the GM version of the Service Manual for your car.

If you don't have one, email me off line and I will scan the one for my 72. It should be the same for your car.
Gary

I know this is a late post and you probally have everything figured out by now, but I just upgaded my E'brake last weekend. I had purchased the stainless steel upgrade from Mid America a year ago, but didn't want to to take everything apart, just for this upgrade. I had NO parking brakes but have just lived with it, until I had "another" brake failure. So since I was swapping out my rear calipers, I figured I might as well upgrade the Parking brake too. The problem as I found out after getting everything apart was that one of the ears on the lever (inside the hub itself) was wore to the point that it had slipped off the pad. As this is one of the parts that is replaced, it fixed that issue. On the other side, I found that the top spring was broken, and this part was in the kit too, so that fixed that issue. Putting everything together was pretty simple, just time comsuming, as you are trying to keep everything centered, while trying to work on the front and back pads seperately. After a few "breaks" from being fustrated, I was able to get everything back together. Now I have a parking brake and regular brakes, for the first time since I received my vette in 2001. I have gotten this brake system down to a art now.