Corvette Mechanics Please Advise
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: MA
Corvette Mechanics Please Advise
Gentlemen,
I replaced my entire e-brake and wheel assembly on my 80' C3 with excellent parts from Van Steel but find that it cannot hold the car from creeping when the motor is revved. This is one check that the MA state auto inspection requires.
Note that my old stock e-brake setup did the same thing. What do you do for a safe , working e-brake setup ?
Thank you ,
Robert
I replaced my entire e-brake and wheel assembly on my 80' C3 with excellent parts from Van Steel but find that it cannot hold the car from creeping when the motor is revved. This is one check that the MA state auto inspection requires.
Note that my old stock e-brake setup did the same thing. What do you do for a safe , working e-brake setup ?
Thank you ,
Robert
Pro
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 516
Likes: 72
From: Modesto California
Gentlemen,
I replaced my entire e-brake and wheel assembly on my 80' C3 with excellent parts from Van Steel but find that it cannot hold the car from creeping when the motor is revved. This is one check that the MA state auto inspection requires.
Note that my old stock e-brake setup did the same thing. What do you do for a safe , working e-brake setup ?
Thank you ,
Robert
I replaced my entire e-brake and wheel assembly on my 80' C3 with excellent parts from Van Steel but find that it cannot hold the car from creeping when the motor is revved. This is one check that the MA state auto inspection requires.
Note that my old stock e-brake setup did the same thing. What do you do for a safe , working e-brake setup ?
Thank you ,
Robert
What are the EXACT rules in your state? The C3's don't have "emergency" brakes but rather "parking brakes" that are merely intended to prevent the C3's with manual transmissions from rolling when parked on a hill. It sounds like a very unfair test as there isn't an emergency brake in the world that can prevent a vehicle from moving under full power.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
After you adjusted the shoes and the cables, did you brandish the shoes?
Parking Brake Cable and Shoe Adjustment and Burnishing Procedure
http://repairs.willcoxcorvette.com/1...ent-procedure/
Mandatory Parking Brake Burnishing Procedure.
1) With the car on a roll test rolls and rear wheels driven at 50 mph. Apply parking brake until a light drag is felt (10-12 notches on handle).
2) Operate for 55-60 seconds
3) Return brake handle to released position.
Now I realize you don't have a roll tester but the same thing can be accomplished driving down the road. If you burn the shoes in you may solve your issue.
Willcox
Parking Brake Cable and Shoe Adjustment and Burnishing Procedure
http://repairs.willcoxcorvette.com/1...ent-procedure/
Mandatory Parking Brake Burnishing Procedure.
1) With the car on a roll test rolls and rear wheels driven at 50 mph. Apply parking brake until a light drag is felt (10-12 notches on handle).
2) Operate for 55-60 seconds
3) Return brake handle to released position.
Now I realize you don't have a roll tester but the same thing can be accomplished driving down the road. If you burn the shoes in you may solve your issue.
Willcox
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Sep 26, 2017 at 03:10 PM.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 516
Likes: 72
From: Modesto California
After you adjusted the shoes and the cables, did you brandish the shoes?
Parking Brake Cable and Shoe Adjustment and Burnishing Procedure
http://repairs.willcoxcorvette.com/1...ent-procedure/
Mandatory Parking Brake Burnishing Procedure.
1) With the car on a roll test rolls and rear wheels driven at 50 mph. Apply parking brake until a light drag is felt (10-12 notches on handle).
2) Operate for 55-60 seconds
3) Return brake handle to released position.
Now I realize you don't have a roll tester but the same thing can be accomplished driving down the road. If you burn the shoes in you may solve your issue.
Willcox
Parking Brake Cable and Shoe Adjustment and Burnishing Procedure
http://repairs.willcoxcorvette.com/1...ent-procedure/
Mandatory Parking Brake Burnishing Procedure.
1) With the car on a roll test rolls and rear wheels driven at 50 mph. Apply parking brake until a light drag is felt (10-12 notches on handle).
2) Operate for 55-60 seconds
3) Return brake handle to released position.
Now I realize you don't have a roll tester but the same thing can be accomplished driving down the road. If you burn the shoes in you may solve your issue.
Willcox
I believe the term is "burnish" the shoes. But the idea is to "wear them in" so they'll conform to the drum better. I think the lawmakers in MA need to be told the C3 parking brakes AREN'T emergency brakes. They are called "parking brakes" because they're used for PARKING (duh).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,427
Likes: 1,560
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Over tighten then tighten correctly!
Hi RB,
If you follow Mr. Willcox's instructions you will have properly working and safe parking brake.
Your inspection station seems to be very strict so you may have to tighten each parking brake adjuster 4 or 5 clicks more than would seem necessary.
Hope you live close to the inspection station.
If you follow Mr. Willcox's instructions you will have properly working and safe parking brake.
Your inspection station seems to be very strict so you may have to tighten each parking brake adjuster 4 or 5 clicks more than would seem necessary.
Hope you live close to the inspection station.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Hi RB,
If you follow Mr. Willcox's instructions you will have properly working and safe parking brake.
Your inspection station seems to be very strict so you may have to tighten each parking brake adjuster 4 or 5 clicks more than would seem necessary.
Hope you live close to the inspection station.
If you follow Mr. Willcox's instructions you will have properly working and safe parking brake.
Your inspection station seems to be very strict so you may have to tighten each parking brake adjuster 4 or 5 clicks more than would seem necessary.
Hope you live close to the inspection station.
I've never had a parking brake failure following the burnishing and cable adjustments listed above. My 72 is pushing around 450 hp... and the parking brake will hold it when I bring up the revs.. Now it won't hold it if I floor it... but the system wasn't designed to hold 450 hp.
I hate to go against the grain on anything, not trying to rub anyone wrong... but the system will work up to any state standards if the cables and the shoes are adjusted and installed properly.
IMHO..
Willcox
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
My '72 has what? 5" diameter rear drums....I adjusted the brakes per normal, and flunked Md. inspection....so drove the 1/4 mile back home and tightened hell out of the brakes, drove it to the station and passed, drove home and adjusted correctly.....been that way, unused at all for some 22 years now.....
I recommend similar treatment, just drive SLO with the brakes cranked on like that....
I recommend similar treatment, just drive SLO with the brakes cranked on like that....
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
I've never had a parking brake failure following the burnishing and cable adjustments listed above. My 72 is pushing around 450 hp... and the parking brake will hold it when I bring up the revs.. Now it won't hold it if I floor it... but the system wasn't designed to hold 450 hp.
I hate to go against the grain on anything, not trying to rub anyone wrong... but the system will work up to any state standards if the cables and the shoes are adjusted and installed properly.
IMHO..
Willcox
If a person follows the procedure and uses good parts..and a lot of times using the CORRECT design crossover cable like GM installed is BEST due to it is less likely to flex when the cable is pulled....and also using a force gauge to measure how many pounds of force it takes to get to the 14th click DOES make a difference.
Be careful on the shoes you get...because I have burnished some shoes and when I took the assembly all back apart and looked at the shoes...they were not 100% burnished. Only the center of the curve of the shoe wan making contact..and this I feel was due to the arc or curve of the shoe was not the same as what the inside of the rotor was....so I was not getting a full contact of the shoe to make it work.
DUB
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
OH, I forgot, DO NOT USE STAINLESS SHOES!!!!!! They are too soft and flex under stress, and won't hold, have to use the OEM style steel shoes, now the rest of the brake hardware can be stainless and work fine.....the above from 22 years ago, now a daze I suspect most of the parts are China, so to know what to expect.....
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: MA
RE: C3 E-Brake
OH, I forgot, DO NOT USE STAINLESS SHOES!!!!!! They are too soft and flex under stress, and won't hold, have to use the OEM style steel shoes, now the rest of the brake hardware can be stainless and work fine.....the above from 22 years ago, now a daze I suspect most of the parts are China, so to know what to expect.....
I appreciate the advice and goodwill .
Robert