Bfail

71, 350 auto.

Had a back left caliper rebuild and the parking brake tightened about a month ago. Car drove fine after 2-3 drives, then backed in out of the garage (never engage the parking brake) and felt like a flat tire. Tried pulling car back in, had to really give it gas just to get back into the garage. Just getting around to diagnosing bc I've been wrapped up in other things and I obviously can't take it back into the shop. Jacked it up and found it is the rear drivers side wheel that is locked.

So far what I've read is it could be the e-brake or a collapsed hose? Are these the 2 primary suspects or are there any issues to look into?

From the limited info, it looks like the only way to adjust the e-brake is through the rotor?? This is a problem because I have almost NO room to work on the drivers side of my vette, since it is parked in the left side of the garage.

Thanks for any help/resources to get my baby back on the road.

stumpshot

If you're sure it's the e-brake and not a stuck caliper you might try jacking the car up and loosening the center adjuster to back the two e-brake cables off. Maybe the people who adjusted the e-brake got it way too tight.
Good luck.

Big2Bird

I would suspect those two items first.

jersey68l36

To eliminate the variable of the locked rotor caused by a collapsed hose, crack open both the caliper bleeders, then checked if the rotor looses up. If no fluid flows out of the bleeders and the rotor is still locked then it is not the emergency brake locking the rotor but a bad hose.

Bfail

Thanks guys, I will look into this a little bit more and report back!

Bfail

Well, after a new brake hose, a couple bleeding devices and a star wheel adjustment I was finally able to get the wheel turning.

Put everything back together, rolled back and forth in the drive way testing my bleed job. Felt the same issue again. Now the brake rotor wont even budge to get to the star adjuster. Don't understand why the e brake is adjusting itself???

dmaxx3500

take it apart again,and loosen the e-brakes ,,don't let them drag,they get hot and lock-up

Bfail

Do I have to take the rotors off or is there an easy bush fix to get the rotor to turn to the star adjuster?

Alan 71

Hi Bf,
You can reach the adjuster through the hole provided for that purpose in the face of the rotor.
Do you happen to have a Chassis Service Manual? It shows a photo and gives some instructions. Brake Section, 5-31 in 71 CSM.
Regards,
Alan

Bfail

I have a Haynes manual. That is how I adjusted it the first time, however, this time the brake is locked so tight, I can't align hole in the rotor to the adjuster.

Alan 71

Hi Bf,
If you can't rotate the wheel at all the caliper will need to be unbolted from it's bracket so the the rotor can be pulled off the hub.
It may take some work to get the rotor off depending just how hard the p-brake is grabbing.
Regards,
Alan

Bfail

applied some heat to it, got it to budge enough to align....thank GOD!

Alan 71

Hi Bf,
So far so good!
Regards,
Alan

corvetero

Hey, please empty your message box, I have been trying to reach you out for the last 3 weeks in order to help you out with this.