Parking brake problem
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 347
Likes: 6
From: Midwest
Parking brake problem
Tracked down an annoying chattering/grinding sound when backing up slowly after a cross town drive, to the driver's side "parking brake' assy in the rear axle hub.
Even though the parking brake cable itself has been disconnected, the little "brake shoes", for reasons ONLY known to the great Corvette Gremlin, manage to work themselves out just far enough to make contact with the little "brake drum" inside the hub....thereby making this awful chattering/grinding sound.
I need to know, presuming it is even POSSIBLE, to simply remove the brake shoes altogether so they cannot (obviously) contact the brake drum?
The Vette IS an automatic and the parking "tang" in the transmission SHOULD be sufficient in holding the car on a "normal" incline/decline.
Alternative ideas, suggestions, always welcomed.
Even though the parking brake cable itself has been disconnected, the little "brake shoes", for reasons ONLY known to the great Corvette Gremlin, manage to work themselves out just far enough to make contact with the little "brake drum" inside the hub....thereby making this awful chattering/grinding sound.
I need to know, presuming it is even POSSIBLE, to simply remove the brake shoes altogether so they cannot (obviously) contact the brake drum?
The Vette IS an automatic and the parking "tang" in the transmission SHOULD be sufficient in holding the car on a "normal" incline/decline.
Alternative ideas, suggestions, always welcomed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,189
Likes: 830
From: Chapel Hill NC
2025 c3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Stingray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
If you choose not to repair the parking brakes, then yes all its components can be removed.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 254
From: Catlett VA
The PO of my 68 convert removed all of the internal parking brake components and did not disclose that fact when he sold the car. The driver of the car carrier that brought the car from TX to VA for me nearly lost the car when he moved it while loading it. He pulled the parking brake handle, got out of the car and started to walk away. Fortunately he spotted the car as it began to roll away, chased it down, got in and hit the foot brake. Considering that the pkg brake is marginal at best, removing the parts on your auto trans car won't be such a bad idea.
