Parking brake questions
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: Crystal Lake IL
Parking brake questions
Ok...so I guess I lucked out and it turns out my parking brake exploded rather than the bearings being shot.
I'd rather just get the car running for the summer, rather than doing all the things that I know need to be done (Rebuild TA's, rear suspension work, U-joints, drippy rear, etc., etc.)
Anyway, all the parking brake hardware is junk. Can I replace all of it without removing anything but the rotor and the parking brake cable? Can the 2 spring studs be replaced? 1 of them just fell out, but the other is still in there but is in bad shape...I tried to push it out the back like a normal drum brake stud, but there's stuff in the way of removing it from the back...not sure what to do.
Thanks,
Jeff
I'd rather just get the car running for the summer, rather than doing all the things that I know need to be done (Rebuild TA's, rear suspension work, U-joints, drippy rear, etc., etc.)
Anyway, all the parking brake hardware is junk. Can I replace all of it without removing anything but the rotor and the parking brake cable? Can the 2 spring studs be replaced? 1 of them just fell out, but the other is still in there but is in bad shape...I tried to push it out the back like a normal drum brake stud, but there's stuff in the way of removing it from the back...not sure what to do.
Thanks,
Jeff
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
One of the spring studs cannot be removed - it is wedged in between the backing plate and the caliper bracket. The other spring stud can be pulled out easily enough. To replace the one that can't be removed, you have to pull the entire trailing arm apart, GM wasn't so smart when they designed it. You can rebuild the parking brakes with everything in place, it just takes time and patience. Is the spring stud that cannot be removed in bad condition? You might be able to slit the backing plate with a dremel tool so you can install a new "stud" without pulling the trailing arms apart.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: Crystal Lake IL
I was afraid of that...I was hoping maybe I was missing some trick. The stud was pretty bent...but I'll try and make it work. Otherwise I'll try the slit trick. Worst case I'm no worse off than I am now.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 1
From: aurora
One of the spring studs cannot be removed - it is wedged in between the backing plate and the caliper bracket. The other spring stud can be pulled out easily enough. To replace the one that can't be removed, you have to pull the entire trailing arm apart, GM wasn't so smart when they designed it. You can rebuild the parking brakes with everything in place, it just takes time and patience. Is the spring stud that cannot be removed in bad condition? You might be able to slit the backing plate with a dremel tool so you can install a new "stud" without pulling the trailing arms apart.
did just that but put a ss washer on the back side of the backing plate just to make it a little stronger at the cut the washer makes no difference in the setup just makes the retainer spring just a little tighter
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
If you don't want to do it right at this time, just get in there, take out all the broken and old pieces and put it back together without a parking brake. Use reverse or first when you park. Most of these parking brakes don't work anyway... 
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 1
From: Ansonia/NYC CT
5 hours of my life that I will never get back, and i have nothing to show for it.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 709
Likes: 1
From: Lakewood Colorado
It is a royal pain. I replaced both spring retaining pins by loosening the backplate and using dental floss to feed it in place. I am jealous of KevinK that it only took 5 hours.
Here's a link that may help the overall job.
http://rowleycorvette.com/corvette_repair.html
Good luck
Here's a link that may help the overall job.
http://rowleycorvette.com/corvette_repair.html
Good luck
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 1
From: Ansonia/NYC CT
It is a royal pain. I replaced both spring retaining pins by loosening the backplate and using dental floss to feed it in place. I am jealous of KevinK that it only took 5 hours.
Here's a link that may help the overall job.
http://rowleycorvette.com/corvette_repair.html
Good luck
Here's a link that may help the overall job.
http://rowleycorvette.com/corvette_repair.html
Good luck
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 914
Likes: 14
From: Aberdeen, Scotland
Helped by a blonde ... would you believe?
I tried to do the parking brake job; but gave up! What a nightmare. then a friend stopped over to "inspect" my work. She said I can't believe you are going to let that car kick your ***!
Ok so i went back to work 4 hours on one side then about 45 mins on the other! I threw a few wrenches, said plenty of four letter words ... but finished it and it worked. I used the dental floss trip, picks long screwdrivers the works. Without the hot blonde egging me on I would not have done it. I was very pleased when I told the local corvette shop how to do it! They said they don't do the job without pulling the hub! I have it down now and have done several. I offered to do the job for the shop too! i think they thought I was a smart *ss
Stick with it. The results are worth it.
carbster
Ok so i went back to work 4 hours on one side then about 45 mins on the other! I threw a few wrenches, said plenty of four letter words ... but finished it and it worked. I used the dental floss trip, picks long screwdrivers the works. Without the hot blonde egging me on I would not have done it. I was very pleased when I told the local corvette shop how to do it! They said they don't do the job without pulling the hub! I have it down now and have done several. I offered to do the job for the shop too! i think they thought I was a smart *ss Stick with it. The results are worth it.
carbster