How Well Do You Trust Your E-Brake?

DocG · Nov 20, 2006

I used to leave mine in neutral...but I see the err of my ways.

So if you're parked facing uphill should you leave it in 1st and downhill leave it in reverse? Does it matter?

If mine ever rolled and caused problems, I'd go over, open the driver door, and walk away and claim someone must have stole it and run off after the accident.

bierbelly · Nov 20, 2006

ATTENTION!! Those with 4 wheel disk brakes. Your parking brake works off of a small drum brake within the hubs of your rear wheels. Since it's a small space, there's not enough room for a self adjusting mechanism...SO THE SHOES NEED TO BE ADJUSTED EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE! Tightening up on the brake cable doesn't do it.

Kids.

Kilgore Trout · Nov 20, 2006

bierbelly said:
ATTENTION!! Those with 4 wheel disk brakes. Your parking brake works off of a small drum brake within the hubs of your rear wheels. Since it's a small space, there's not enough room for a self adjusting mechanism...SO THE SHOES NEED TO BE ADJUSTED EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE! Tightening up on the brake cable doesn't do it.

self ownage is the worst kind

Tell us more about this "small drum brake" smart guy...

We're just dumb kids... :SNSign:

bierbelly · Nov 20, 2006

Kilgore Trout said:
self ownage is the worst kind

Tell us more about this "small drum break" smart guy...

Were just dumb kids...

Usually on drum brake systems (even the self-adjusting ones) there's a small oval-shaped hole in the back (inboard) side (may be covered with a rubber plug). Inside that, there's what's called a "star-wheel" (you can use your imagination on that one) which can be rotated up or down with a brake adjusting tool (a broad bladed screwdriver works too) to push the shoes further apart (or closer together if you want to remove the drum all together). Once you figure out which way to turn the star-wheel, adjust the shoes so they just drag on the inside surface of the drum (the wheel should turn, but not too freely, you should hear or feel some scraping). After a few adjustments, the shoes will wear out, and need to be replaced. ENJOY learing how to replace shoes in a drum brake system!

DocG · Nov 20, 2006

bierbelly said:
. ENJOY learing how to replace shoes in a drum brake system!

What's so hard about that?

Kilgore Trout · Nov 20, 2006

1) I have done many drum brakes like most people here

2) Ain't no f'n drum brake assmebly on 99-04 Mustangs, period...

3) If you consider knowledge of the "star wheel" to be some fabulous thing that few know, you may have this board confused with an SRT-4 one...

stangGT97 · Nov 20, 2006

san~man said:
The Cobalt ended up where it deserved to be....

you know, I was wondering if I was the only one thinking that... good to know I'm not alone

bierbelly · Nov 20, 2006

Kilgore Trout said:
1) I have done many drum brakes like most people here

2) Ain't no f'n drum brake assmebly on 99-04 Mustangs, period...

3) If you consider knowledge of the "star wheel" to be some fabulous thing that few know, you may have this board confused with an SRT-4 one...

OK, so your post was a sarcastic one...I thought you were just stupid. So how does the 99-04 Mustang mechanically actuate the disk brakes for the parking brake? My Vette has the small drum brake assembly incorporated into the rear disks.

topless98gt · Nov 20, 2006

bierbelly said:
My Vette has the small drum brake assembly incorporated into the rear disks.

A Vette will never be a Mustang. Period.

bierbelly · Nov 20, 2006

topless98gt said:
A Vette will never be a Mustang. Period.

True dat.

Kilgore Trout · Nov 20, 2006

bierbelly said:
OK, so your post was a sarcastic one...I thought you were just stupid.

Well, now you know that I am both sarcastic AND stupid try to remember it for future reference

bierbelly said:
So how does the 99-04 Mustang mechanically actuate the disk brakes for the parking brake?

Take one apart and find out for yourself if you do not even know then what the f'k are you doing in here trying to give advice and posting nonono about supposed "kids"?

bierbelly said:
My Vette has the small drum brake assembly incorporated into the rear disks.

Ah, I see now... A vette owner comes here trying to school Mustang drivers on how their brakes work and gets that's awesome

01BlkGT · Nov 20, 2006

Always use the parking brake in conjunction leaving it in gear.

topless98gt · Nov 20, 2006

bierbelly said:
topless98gt said:

A Vette will never be a Mustang. Period.

Click to expand...

True dat.

If you didn't catch on, I was saying that a Vette will never be as good as a Mustang Oh, and around here, unlike the Cobalt forums, we are not all kids. Killy, take for example, is pretty f---in old (I still love ya Killy!)...but not old enough to have to rely on Depends(tm) yet.

Now you Vette guys, most of you are like what...in your 60s? Well, I guess ignore everything I said above since most of us aren't that f---in old yet. Perspective: kids;

I have no clue what I just said...maybe I'm stupid just like Killy?

P.S. The U.S. Flag contains only 2 colors. WTF?!

topless98gt · Nov 20, 2006

01BlkGT said:
Always use the parking brake in conjunction leaving it in gear.

If I do so, will you bail me out if I get charged with manslaughter for having killed someone by trying to remotely start my car?

DocG · Nov 20, 2006

topless98gt said:
If I do so, will you bail me out if I get charged with manslaughter for having killed someone by trying to remotely start my car?

Lazy bum...oh...and stupid too

bierbelly · Nov 20, 2006

Kilgore Trout said:
Well, now you know that I am both sarcastic AND stupid try to remember it for future reference

Take one apart and find out for yourself if you do not even know then what the f'k are you doing in here trying to give advice and posting nonono about supposed "kids"?

Ah, I see now... A vette owner comes here trying to school Mustang drivers on how their brakes work and gets that's awesome

I haven't seen an answer. I'm pretty sure my '98GT had the same sort of e-brake as the Vette, though.

YardSpecial · Nov 20, 2006

I use all three, tire turned to the curb, in 1st gear and E brake.

My car rolls down hill in first gear, guess its time for a clutch

Susky · Nov 20, 2006

It's not a matter of if your e-brake is gonna slip. It's a matter of when. Plan accordingly.

Mustang5L5 · Nov 20, 2006

bierbelly said:
I haven't seen an answer. I'm pretty sure my '98GT had the same sort of e-brake as the Vette, though.

Nope. Having taken apart countless numbers of rear Mustang brakes, i can tell you there is no drum brake at all in the rear brakes.

Here's a nice picture of what is under the rear rotor when you pull it off.

Just the ABS ring

Mustangs use rear calipers with incorporated parking brakes. When ypou pull the e-brake, the cables pull a racheting mechanism that pushes the piston out mechanically slightly and locks it. As a result, when you do a rear pad change to such a design, you must SCREW the piston in clockwise to collapse the piston.

This is a very common design. The only FOrds that use a drum inside a disk rear e-brake are explorers and Ford trucks.

I don't know how the vette rear brakes are. I've always assumed they were like the Mustangs brakes except with PBR alum calipers in the rear and a 12" rotor. If they have a drum inside the rotor, that's new to me. Then again, i've never done brakes on a vette so i don't know. But Mustangs brakes i know very well

I don't understand why someone couldn't explain it to you easily like that??

bierbelly · Nov 20, 2006

Interesting. So that's why you've got to screw the pistons back in, huh? Sounds like they work as well as the Vette's little drum brakes.

Me, I always put mine in gear (manual).

How Well Do You Trust Your E-Brake?

5th graders > me. They're not bant

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