C3FIXER

I just got my '77 L82 4 speed delivered may 27th. Shipped from Bremerton WA. to Houston TX. It has 70 K miles and has been garaged and pampered by previous owner. My first ride out of the box and the right rear started smoking. I suspect the brake shoes have locked up. I plan to pull the rear wheel off today and take a look. This car has a hard hitting small block ,at 70 mph the tach is showing 3500 rpm's.not great on gas but a lot of fun.

Rescue Rogers

sounds like you have a 3:70 rear end. Mine revs about that high around 75 mph. Did you happen to touch the rim to see if it was hot. The heat would transfer and you would know it..



If you jack up the rear end and try and spin the wheels in nuetral you should be able to. When you pull the caliper to get the disc off, look at the return springs, sometimes they get put in on the wrong side. It might not be the parking brake, the caliper could have rusted to the slide, once its freed you just need to add grease

0Willcox Corvette

Click on supporting document.
http://repairs.willcoxcorvette.com/1...ke-adjustment/

jersey68l36

Another possibility is a locking caliper, not emergery brake at all. Happened to my '68 a couple of times and caused by internally collapsed brake hoses.

Observe the appearance of the rotor if it appears like the caliper pads were dragging.

bobs77vet

parking brakes are one of the joys of C3 ownership.....you will invent words when replacing them

C3FIXER

Well I pulled the wheel,caliper and disc and found some discoloration at the contact point where the shoes must have been dragging. I decided to take everything off and do a full inspection but all I found was years of dust and crap. The shoes looks fairly new so I lubricated all of the contact points and put everything back except the springs and pins that hold the shoes in position. I have done everything but stand on my head to try and seat the Pins into the spring and cup but no luck. I should have just made an adjustment and left well enough alone. My plan is to put the rest of the stuff back on and hopefully not have any more issues. Being I have a 4 speed who needs a hand brake. I would just as soon rip the whole system out and throw it away.

Peterbuilt

Compress the little springs and tie them with dental floss.
Install them and then cut the dental floss to let the springs expand.









You may have a bad rubber line. The lines clog up on the inside and don't let the pressure off.

C3FIXER

Thanks I will definitely check it out. Previous owner claims to have had all new master cylinder, rotors and calipers recently installed. I did check the flex lines but they are most likely original ones.

C3FIXER

Great stuff I feel much better now, can't wait to get dirty and greasy again tomorrow. Houston Weather will be mid 90's and 80% humidity.

bobs77vet

did you think I was kidding?????


some guys tie the springs with dental floss so they are compressed...if you google it you will find a few ways to do it....

I mostly do it with my sons and curse and swear a whole lot and promise to never do it again