I saw some threads on it a while ago but I can't find the exact information. My parking brake doesn't work. When I pull the lever up it doesn't go down by itself. I have to push it down a little and then it drops. Then I can lift it up to the point where it clicked before and it will drop normally. If I pull up one click more it stays up and I have to push it down again. Light works.
Is this the proper way the handle should operate? I recall someone said it should drop either way by itself and an explanation but I can't find the thread.
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03:45 PM
PFF
System Bot
mcguiver3 Member
Posts: 774 From: Beacon Falls, CT, USA Registered: Jan 2012
That's how it works. The thing is if the PB is set and you forget to disengage it because the lever is down and you don't realize it???????? It happened to me and it costs a lot of $$$$$ when the brakes are toasted. Also happened at the emissions station. I set the brake out of habit and the tester took the car through the test and roasted the rear brakes to the point of smoke billowing from the wheel wells. They did ultimately pay to have the brake done after that.
Just to be clear, the way it's supposed to work is that it should fall back down on its own no matter what position you place it in.
That's exactly why I posted this thread. I'm trying to set them up with no luck ( my rear pads are rattling as I drive around - figured it was the parking brake that adjusts them) but I read somewhere sometime ago that this was a problem. Before that I thought the lever works perfectly. If you say it should fall down on its own no matter what then what is the problem here? Is it fixable or only a new lever is gonna cut it?
To be as clear as it can be: I pull up the lever say 3 clicks - it stays up. I have to drop it with a very very slight push. If I lift it up again to that point (no new clicks) - it drops right off. One more click and it stays. And so on.
[This message has been edited by cebix (edited 06-01-2013).]
If you only have to push lightly on it for it to fall back down, then I'd say it's fine... probably just a little corrosion in the handle's pivot pin. As for the way it clicks, that's working properly too. Pulling on the e-brake handle is indeed what's supposed to adjust the rear pads, so if yours are still rattling after you release the e-brake, then perhaps one of your caliper sliders is sticking, preventing the adjustment from working properly.
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08:37 PM
Boostdreamer Member
Posts: 7175 From: Kingsport, Tennessee USA Registered: Jun 2007
I've read conflicting information about the parking brake NOT adjusting the pads. Maybe I read that in the Ogre's Cave. Might have been in my brake thread. I'll see if I can find a link.
I had a similar problem, couldn't get the park brake to disengage/release all the way. I replaced the PB cables one by one, leaving the one that runs into the car for last. Sure enough, that one had a hole rusted in the sheath and the cable was rubbing against the frame, which was making it not release. Took me a while to figure that one out.
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09:16 AM
PatrickTRoof Member
Posts: 605 From: Baltimore, MD, USA Registered: May 2013
And now for the stupid question...what if my parking brake works just fine, but the handle does not drop on its own at all? Is there a spring that's broken? What should I look for?
The only spring in handle mechanism is the one which pushes up on the orange button at the end of the handle. If the button doesn't automatically spring back after you push on it, then that spring is broken and may be interfering with the proper functioning of the handle. If that's not the case, then the handle should drop down loosely with gravity unless you have some corrosion in the pivot pin of the handle (see arrow).
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07:52 AM
PatrickTRoof Member
Posts: 605 From: Baltimore, MD, USA Registered: May 2013
I've read conflicting information about the parking brake NOT adjusting the pads. Maybe I read that in the Ogre's Cave. Might have been in my brake thread. I'll see if I can find a link.
I have been going through a punch list on my GT and one of those things to check was all the idiot lights. I pulled the parking brake handle to see if the light would come on. It did but it wouldn't go back out when I put the lever back down. After messing with it a little while, I learned that there has to be a little pressure on the cables to get the light to go out. So I tightened it back up.
The light went out and it may be my imagination but it sure does feel like the brakes are stronger now.
If any of you are having trouble remembering you set the brake, there is a switch on the parking brake hooked up to a thin purple wire. The wire is so thin and on the ground, a prime place to rust off the switch, just like mine had. When I took my carpets out I found it and I re- hooked it back up, and now the brake light (in the dash) comes on and the chime dings while the parking brake is on and the key is in the run position. It is really annoying to have the chime going too, I am going to try and disable the chime, but just having the brake light turn on is enough to let you know the parking brake is on.
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10:50 AM
PatrickTRoof Member
Posts: 605 From: Baltimore, MD, USA Registered: May 2013
The only spring in handle mechanism is the one which pushes up on the orange button at the end of the handle. If the button doesn't automatically spring back after you push on it, then that spring is broken and may be interfering with the proper functioning of the handle. If that's not the case, then the handle should drop down loosely with gravity unless you have some corrosion in the pivot pin of the handle (see arrow).
Problem solved. On a side note, PB Blaster in the eye really burns (the spray button was cracked!).
