92 lesabre - e-brake kicks back not holding at all

[feniks]

any ideas how to check why the emergency brake leverage does not hold position (return to neutral instantly) ?

to be honest, i got this car since 6 years and it never worked. even prev owner never had it fixed. not sure if it's that hard or expensive, but would like to know what it takes to fix it.

[feniks]

any idea what is causing the parking brake to kick back instantly ? i can hear faint clicking while pushing it down, but it doesn't stay down, it goes back to neutral almost instantly. perhaps brake release is engaged all the time or something ?

would like to know if it's hard to fix (assuming cable is OK). thanks.

[HotZ28]

Several possibilities here, this could be the cables are rusted in the rear drums and not allowing the shoes to expand, or a binding linkage under the dash that needs to be lubricated. Check the cables first! BTW, you have to remove the drums to inspect the cables!

[feniks]

i was thinking about it too, but ... i can feel like cable is tight (need double check anyways). what i mean is that parking brake assembly (meaning a teeth wheel or something) in cabin seems to be not holding (note a very faint clicking), but i may be wrong. i'm not very eager to remove the knee panel as of yet. gathering info first, perhaps there is someone who had similar trouble.

there seem to be a Buick TSB/recall on my year/model warning that parking brake can be not holding and even on new car could have release a tooth or two. Although I doubt dealer would fix it for free after all these years LOL

[HotZ28]

How far does the E-brake peddle move down before it gets tight?

[feniks]

just checked on car. it seems tight from start and max i can push it with a foot is like 4-5 clicks. with a hand i have trouble pushing it past 2-3 clicks. also there is a squeaking sound coming from the rear when i push the lever. also on pedal return the clicking is very faint (sorry i'm repeating).

do you think the cable got stuck/seized somewhere under the car ?

[HotZ28]

Has anyone replaced the shoes recently? It sounds like the adjustment is too tight, or the cables are binding as previously mentioned. Pull the drums for inspection, they should not be tight against the shoes. BTW, the cables usually rust & bind where they go into the cable housing. You can lubricate the cable with PBblaster while moving the E-brake lever with a pair of channel-locks.

[feniks]

ok thanks. will check the drums and try adjusting shoes if time and weather allows (working on car outside only).
I have owned this car for six years since 150k miles and never touched rear drums, also the parking brake never worked and the same thing told me previous (second) owner. however there was one incident - one of rear brake lines got burst about a year ago, so the local shop I brought the car in to replaced both of them. not sure if they checked shoes though.


here are recalls on my car that i found:
http://www.autobuyguide.com/1992/12-...lls/index.html

do you think the dealer would/could replace parking brake lever assembly for free or rather it was limited with some warranty ?

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by feniks

do you think the dealer would/could replace parking brake lever assembly for free or rather it was limited with some warranty ?

That recall was 18-yrs ago, I doubt that they still have the parts in stock and if they did, they would tell you the recall has expired. It would not hurt to ask though! Personally, I think your cable has seized! Read the edited post above!

[feniks]

ok, thanks!

will give lubricating the cable a shot at first opportunity.

hehe, funny, i will try calling local Buick dealer and see if they can take my ride in for recall check ... after 18 years LOL... on the other hand I've seen posts of people owning other cars like Nissan and getting the recall repairs done by ddealer even after 14 years from issue date.

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by feniks

ok, thanks!on the other hand I've seen posts of people owning other cars like Nissan and getting the recall repairs done by ddealer even after 14 years from issue date.

GM went bankrupt not only due to the poor management, UAW, and the inability to respond quickly to the changing consumer demands, but also due to the lack of customer service from their dealer network. People just don't have the time, money, or patience's for a bunch of BS when dealing with inflated service & parts cost!

[Andreas E.]

On my 92, the parking brake would never catch either in the 4 years I've owned it. Turned out, the mechanism that gets the parking brake pedal to lock was all gunked up and could not move fast and far enough to lock into the teeth. Take a light, look up above the pedal and you'll see what I mean. A little bit of WD40 did the trick for me.

[feniks]

thanks Andreas E.

I will take a look when the weather clears out (cold and raining recently). so far i was suspecting a seized cable, but as you say it might be something very simple like that mechanism above brake pedal. will try spraying WD-40 here and there and see what happens.
i do not want to rebuild that e-brake at all, will be getting rid off this car after winter anyways, it's too rusted.

[Rasp]

Well if your car is as rusted as you say and if you do not use your E-brake often you have a very good chance of having a seized brake line.

Happens all the time.

I don't even use mine. I live on the praire therefore no mountains. Therefore no e-brake usage. I wouldn't even attempt to pull the e-brake for fear it would seize on.

[feniks]

LOL, it's something new to me, having no e-brake and everybody admitting it's like that hehe

tomorrow i will take a look in daylight. will spray wd-40 anyways onto the mechanism, but i'm too lazy to check underneath the car. didn't have it for 6 years, i can live 6 more months, before i let this car go to someone else (good engine though, fresh after tune up)