Did the Brake Job, and of Course, Ran into some problems. Please Help!!

[crunchie12268]

Okay so I did the rear brakes today in my driveway. So everything is going somewhat smooth, then I get to the driver side rear drum. I get it down and start to put it back together and notice the parking brake is stuck. The bracket won't seat against the shoe so I completely removed the bracket and placed the wire up underneath a bolt by the star adjuster. I took it for a drive and I don't hear anything and the pedal is a lot firmer. Did I do this right? I don't know if you can just take off the bracket but it was way too cold to try and get up underneath the car and try and find the problem. Will this work for now? Does anybody know what I can do to get the cable loosened up?

I also don't know how far I should've adjusted my star adjuster. The rotors were at 9.045 and had max at 9.060, we only took a small amount off. The car rolls when I push on the clutch as if there isn't anything binding it up. The wheels turn freely and I don't hear anything. Does everything sound good.

p.s. For those of you who have warm garages or shops..... don't take them for granted. It took me 2 hours and three coats in this 2* weather to finish this job.

 

[Funanin]

If I am thinking about the right thing you are talking about then there could be an adjuster bolt under the e-brake handle which you will have to remove ur console to get to. Most cars have it to adjust the e-brake cable, I havent checked my stang yet but i did it on a few other cars of mine that needed it. Take a look and see what u find. I would but mine is in storage.

 

[crunchie12268]

well underneath the car there is a bracket where the one cable goes to and then it splits into two cables. The cable on the drivers side is all cocked sideways and crap. I think it is something between there and the actual bracket.

 

[Funanin]

yea i do remember that from being under my car, mine is cocked sideways too. I guess they just do that. I mean the adjusting nut was under the e-brake handle itself. (or behind it)

 

[crunchie12268]

but my passenger side is fine, should I try just hitting it with something? One shoe would still hold the car right? If I put on the ebrake.

 

[jrichker]

There is a half moon shaped pulley on the aft section of the E-Brake cable where it makes a bend. It is possible that the pulley is damaged or that the E-Brake cable has slipped off.

 

[crunchie12268]

There is a half moon shaped pulley on the aft section of the E-Brake cable where it makes a bend. It is possible that the pulley is damaged or that the E-Brake cable has slipped off.

Yeah I have that on there and all that is correct... but were the single cable from the ebrake goes to the split where there is two cables. It is cocked sideways and not perpendicular.

 

[Michael Yount]

"should I try just hitting it with something?"

had to laugh; it's rarely a good idea, although it often seems so. The old 'percussion adjustment' usually just makes things worse.

 

[crunchie12268]

"should I try just hitting it with something?"

had to laugh; it's rarely a good idea, although it often seems so. The old 'percussion adjustment' usually just makes things worse.

 

[jrichker]

If you could post a picture of both rear brakes with the drum off, I'm sure that someone could spot your problem in a few seconds.

It sounds like one side is adjusted up tighter than the other, or is assembled differently. That would cause the parking brake cables to be different lenghts & tilt the "T" bar where they connect.