1985 rear brake adjustment (Page 1/1)
Lou6t4gto JUL 21, 11:30 PM
EXACTLY How are the rear brakes adjusted. I remember it has something to do with the Emergency brake, but do not remember the particulars. (Low pedal) Thanks
theogre JUL 22, 01:35 AM
You adjust the cables maybe... If the rears don't self adjust the pistons then you need new/rebuild calipers.
Manually adjust as in my cave or anything else may work but only for a short time.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

Lou6t4gto JUL 22, 01:59 AM
I already READ whats in your cave, it does Not SAY "what to do" with the parking brake to adjust them. just pull the lever a few times? pull the lever and press the brake pedal then release the park brake ??? please be SPECIFIC. THANKS
theogre JUL 22, 03:03 AM
Because you Cannot adjust the rear brakes other then adjusting the cables no mater what anyone says including GM and my cave.
You might need to bleed but if not......

F'ing w/ cables won't help low pedal.

Most Times Is Far Too Late for fooling w/ the P'bake handle, pushing pedal or not while trying, to try make the rear calipers to self adjust even if the cables are New and are adjusted right. Most still have OE cables with problem of their own like wheel cable jackets are broken etc and you never get P'brake working right like that.

See my Cave, Rear Brake Adjustment notes
If that or any other method works... You need new caliper(s). Or new pistons if you find them and rebuild the rest.

You can make your problem Worse by playing the P'brake or just using the pedal normally w/ too much rear pad clearance.

Even If you keep manually adjusting the rear pad clearance every few days or weeks, expect bigger problem. Dying rear pistons are huge problems because the iffy pistons now can fail w/o warning and inner spring will drag the pads. That can warp the rotor if your lucky. If you're Not lucky, that can easily cause Brake Failure, a Wheel Fire or Both. And this issue is Not just a Fiero problem... 88 Fiero, Cadillac Seville and others w/ same piston designs can have same problems.
Spadesluck JUL 22, 04:54 PM
I would think adjusting your rear cables is not the fix for a low pedal. That sounds like air in the system or a mechanical failure somewhere.
FX JUL 23, 05:52 PM
...There is no adjustment for your disc brakes. Forget about the E brake cable, that's all it's for. Look elsewhere for low pedal. Air in line, or contaminated brake fluid to name a couple. Most people never change their brake fluid. It should be bled through to new fluid. at least every 20k.
AsaBergman JUL 24, 12:18 AM
As everyone else said it's either air in the lines or damaged caliper. I will point out that any time you take the parking brake lever off these 80s GM rear calipers you can let air into the caliper without realizing. The seals for the parking brake screw rely on the pressure/tension of the installed lever to keep it sealed. Your low pedal is almost certainly air in the lines.
theogre JUL 24, 01:23 AM
Spadesluck and FX

The low pedal is often problems w/ rear pistons cause too much pad clearance. Just read my cave or search here and other GM repair sites etc.

GM itself and other "Experts" like NHTSA made this problem far worse by allowing the Bogus Brake Recall Blaming Owners for not using P'brake and pushing to the Dealers and everyone else.
So you find crap methods to manually adjust the rears right from GM and the Aftermarket.
Cave link above is slightly different but based on a TSB sent to GM Dealer Service Network, AllDate and a few others...

quote
Bulletin Number: 88-5-10
Reference Number: 835007
Publish Date: 6/88
Subject: REAR CALIPER PARK BRAKE SERVICE ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE
Models Affected: 1982-88 FIREBIRD, 1984-87 FIERO AND 1984-88 6000 STE

And likely others w/ same problem like 88 Fiero and Cady Seville but w/ different TSB #.
To find on Alldata TSB list for Fiero etc:
code:
Number	Date	Name
88510	Jun88	Rear Caliper Park Brake Service Adjustment Procedure
Again... This may work but if it does you need new rear calipers or someone w/ a lifetime warranty for rebuild units like AZ. Is why my cave and posts has several warnings to get new parts even when directions seem to work right now.

You find many YT videos and websites that claim you can rebuild the rear Pistons... That's too. Many following them often have problems again in just a few days to weeks and all should have a tow truck in their speed dial list at minimum.

Worse... Many following the BS are only trying a cheap fix just to sell the car.