E-Brake not catching.

Xenostalgia · #1 03-24-2005, 12:48 PM

So yesterday I was on a hill and pulled ebrake up about to '11 oclock' if you are looking at it from drivers side and i was still rolling forward. So I had to pull the brake up to '12 oclock' for it to engage. Is there a way to make it more so I can pull it up to like 10-11 oclock and it works? Is there a wire I can tighten?

wrightz28 · #2 03-24-2005, 01:34 PM

On most hand brakes there is some room for adjustment on the bracket where it splits to the rear wheels.

Xenostalgia · #3 03-24-2005, 01:42 PM

Lol. A bit more in english and i might help.

wrightz28 · #4 03-24-2005, 01:44 PM

What!?!

Xenostalgia · #5 03-24-2005, 01:48 PM

Rofl thats what I feel. I thought there was some cable attached to the actual hand brake itself that you can tighten without having to go under the car etc. Are you familiar with that?

wrightz28 · #6 03-24-2005, 01:57 PM

"Rofl thats what I feel" WHAT !?!?!

No, there are normally two adjustment points, and GMs usually only use the one as descirbed prior. Some do have an adjustment towards the front of the car but also underneath. Haven't been under mine nor adjusted, damn things probably all rusty anyways.

Xenostalgia · #7 03-24-2005, 02:06 PM

Meh alright. Wonder if you have or anyone has any pics to point it out.

Savage Messiah · #8 03-24-2005, 02:20 PM

From waht I understand if you (holding the button) yank it all the way up and back down 3-4 times it automatically will tighten it, or somethign like that

Xenostalgia · #9 03-24-2005, 03:10 PM

Yank? Eh I'm not The Hulk but I'd be really uncomfortable doing that cause I'd probably break it. (I think)

blindeyed · #10 03-24-2005, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenostalgia

Yank? Eh I'm not The Hulk but I'd be really uncomfortable doing that cause I'd probably break it. (I think)

I don't think he was referring to using all your might when doing so. Try doing it gently, as if you were normally lifting it.

Xenostalgia · #11 03-24-2005, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blindxeyed

I don't think he was referring to using all your might when doing so. Try doing it gently, as if you were normally lifting it.

Ahhh.. I was thinking like feet on the dash, leaning back and holding with both hands and really giving it all my go... HEhe...

Blindx... Awesome sig-pic! :rock:

blindeyed · #12 03-24-2005, 03:54 PM

Thanks, I thought so as well. Good luck with fixing your e-bake man. I know mines a little loose and sometimes just jerks right up as if the cable fell off. Hopefully this weekend I'll get a chance to fix it.

89IROC&RS · #13 03-24-2005, 04:10 PM

sounds like your parking brake shoes are shot. Put new ones on. The arm is adjustable, but youre supposed to do that when you install new shoes. Its not supposed to be a fix for worn out brakes. If you can pull the handle all the way up then youve got a problem. either completely worn out shoes, or a streched brake cable. I couldnt get my ebrake past (from the drivers perspective) 45 degrees. Id pop off the wheels and check your brakes for wear. After that i guess its kinda a guessing game to see if you just need to adjust it, or if you need a new ebrake cable.

Xenostalgia · #14 03-24-2005, 04:12 PM

*Question of the century* How do I check if the cable is stretched, do I buy a new cable if it is?
Parking shoes are diff then drum brake pads or same thing? How do I check if they are gone?

89IROC&RS · #15 03-24-2005, 04:22 PM

sorry, i was thinking in terms of disk brakes that have seperate ebrake shoes. If you have drum brakes, its just your brake shoes in general. As far as i know of there isnt a real easy way to measure the brake cable, other than buying a new one and laying them side by side.

Like i said, its very unlikely that its a bad cable. I would check your rear brakes first, if they are well within spec, then go to adjust the arm down. I would worry about the cable as the last resort.

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