Lincoln Versailles Parking Brake

tx65coupe

Active Member

Nov 29, 1999

1,551

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Apr 22, 2010

#1

• Apr 22, 2010

• #1

My 65 has a Versailles rear end. Last year I completely rebuilt the rear end and the brakes etc. I am having an issue with the parking brake not working for the last few months. It appears that the passenger side rear sort of works, but the driver side rear does not engage at all. Does anyone have on input?

 

Bullitt

Packin' Heat

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Jan 13, 2000

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Apr 24, 2010

#2

• Apr 24, 2010

• #2

I didn't see your post.

More than likely it's because either the ball bearings in the lever-arm actuator segment are frozen up, or there's too much pad gap, so even if the lever arm moves, it doesn't do any good in terms of holding power.

Suggest you start with disconnecting the cable, see if you can move the arm by hand, if not it's likely froze up and maybe time for a new caliper. If you can, and it moves a lot (like more than about 20 degrees) you're going to have to play with "clocking" the piston to adjust the gab and arm play.

I'll try to scan the adjustment instructions later today and post.

 

Bullitt

Packin' Heat

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Jan 13, 2000

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Apr 24, 2010

#3

• Apr 24, 2010

• #3

I just remembered that Autozone has a fairly good schematic of the brake calipers and how they come apart. Just search for the vehicle (I can't remember, but you may have to look up 1980 Monarch instead of Versailles).

 

tx65coupe

Active Member

Nov 29, 1999

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Apr 25, 2010

#4

• Apr 25, 2010

• #4

Thanks for the tip. I"ll take a look at A'zone and see what they show.

The arm does move.

 

restomoded66

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Mar 29, 2010

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Apr 25, 2010

#5

• Apr 25, 2010

• #5

Hi! I got a Versailles rear end as well, the piston on the Versailles caliper are adjustable. You have to push them in all the way with a C clamp and screw them out until you get a good fit on your rotor. There are 2 holes in the caliper piston for this purpose, I adjusted mine with needle nose pliers.

 

tx65coupe

Active Member

Nov 29, 1999

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Apr 27, 2010

#6

• Apr 27, 2010

• #6

Thanks for the info guys. I've got the parking brake working now.

 

PM 65

Active Member

Nov 2, 2005

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Austria (Europe)

Apr 27, 2010

#7

• Apr 27, 2010

• #7

Please could you post the solution to your problem, i`m very interested in that! Also you mentioned that you completely rebuild the rear end and the brakes. Did you buy the needed parts one for one or is there a rebuild kit anywhere aviable?

thanks for you reply
Mario

 

tx65coupe

Active Member

Nov 29, 1999

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Apr 28, 2010

#8

• Apr 28, 2010

• #8

I did rebuild the entire rear end and brakes last year. As far as I know there is not a complete kit that has everything. I did piece everything together and got all my parts from Rock Auto. I'll see if I can find the list of parts I got.

I think that the Versailles caliper hoses are still on some type of major backorder or might be discontinued. I had a hydraulic shop rebuilt mine.

As far as the solution to my problem goes, it was just the pad gap that needed adjustment.

Some additional information can be found in this thread.

Lincoln Versailles Parking Brake Adjustment - MustangForums.com

 

C

C6AE

Member

Mar 22, 2004

145

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Ma.

Apr 28, 2010

#9

• Apr 28, 2010

• #9

I struggled with the parking brake for years... finally swapped an 8" back in (Wifes car, no way she'd need a 9"). The Versailles currently resides in my project Coupe... definitely have to try this!!

big THANKS for the info!!

 

PM 65

Active Member

Nov 2, 2005

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Austria (Europe)

May 2, 2010

#10

• May 2, 2010

• #10

Thank you for the detailed answer! I read your post on the other forum with your question:

I also have a question about the use of the parking brake and the self adjustment of the caliper. For this to work properly, do I need to put my foot on the regular brake when releasing the parking brake? I read somewhere that that is the only way it works right.

Click to expand...

Is there an answer to this question or an possibilty to check if the self adjustment is proberly working?
I will check on it later, first i will adjust the pad gap. Have the car on jacks this weekend and i could rotate the emergency brake lever almost 40 degrees. Way too much as i read on the post on mustangforums.
Unfortunately i was short on time to do the adjustment immediately, so it will have to wait for the next two weekends.

 

C

chuck165

New Member

Jul 21, 2003

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NC

Apr 20, 2017

#11

• Apr 20, 2017

• #11

I don't understand why the piston has to be pushed back in or bottomed out just to be adjusted back out again. Just move the parking brake lever again and again to move the piston out to take up all the gap? What am I missing here? I've got to make adjustments this weekend. Back brakes are not working much at all. Of course I don't have a E-brake setup on this car so that is why the rear brakes are not working, not getting adjusted by using the E-brake.

 

horse sence

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

12,248

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Wile Coyote's stunt double

Apr 21, 2017

#12

• Apr 21, 2017

• #12

These other guys are trying to adjust the park brake and they are doing it the correct way.i have 85 Lincoln town car disks and calipers on my 35 Ford pick up and they adjust the very same way

 

T

tbrintnell

New Member

Oct 1, 2018

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crediton, ontario

Oct 1, 2018

#13

• Oct 1, 2018

• #13

tx65coupe said:

Thanks for the info guys. I've got the parking brake working now.

Click to expand...

HELP...….I am having a real problem getting the ebrake to work. Am building a 37 chevy pickup with a 9 inch rearend with the Lincoln Versaille set up....the brakes work but I can not get the ebrake to work. Any tips????