monstrocity

Appraiser was over today taking pics of the car for my insurance company (it helps me get cheap insurance).

I go to back it out of the garage and the parking brake is stuck. All I did different was try to disengage it with ignition off, and it's possible I pulled up too hard. It feels like no matter how hard I pull up there's not enough "play" for it to catch and come back down.

Appraiser has had a few C4s and recommended I back it out anyway with parking brake on. Then go driving and it would free itself up. Tried this around the block and changed my mind... it was still sticking. Not to mention the garage smells pretty bad right now.

Did I wreck anything? How can I get it to disengage again? Any truth to this go drive it theory?

Fast Eddiz

[QUOTE=monstrocity;1559871998]Appraiser was over today taking pics of the car for my insurance company (it helps me get cheap insurance).

I go to back it out of the garage and the parking brake is stuck. All I did different was try to disengage it with ignition off, and it's possible I pulled up too hard. It feels like no matter how hard I pull up there's not enough "play" for it to catch and come back down.

Appraiser has had a few C4s and recommended I back it out anyway with parking brake on. Then go driving and it would free itself up. Tried this around the block and changed my mind... it was still sticking. Not to mention the garage smells pretty bad right now.

Did I wreck anything? How can I get it to disengage again? Any truth to this go drive it theory?[/QUO

Use a screwdriver to trip the catch that holds the brake handle in the up position. This is located at the base of the handle. It may require removing the cover.

Wildride

First, remove the driver's side seat cushion. There is a wire bale attached to the bottom front center of the cushion that must be unlatched to remove the cushion. You may have to use a screwdriver to force the release.

You should then be able to get to the Parking Brake Lever Assembly and remove its cover. I think there are three Phillips head screws holding it on. A "stubby" screw driver is handy for accessing those screws.

You should then be able to see the Pawl that locks the lever. Use a flat head screw driver to force the pawl off of the ratchet and free the handle.

monstrocity

Thanks guys. Not sure if I was totally clear...

The brake is NOT stuck in the UP position. I can still move it up and down. But I can't make it catch to disengage the parking brake.

Same fix you're talking about?? Remove cover?

Greg0u812

Not to try and make this to simple.........BUT.............
Have you tried pulling the lever up all the way up and pushing the button at the end of the handle????? This is how the E-brake on the vette is designed to work (handle will swing back down with brake set.....to get it out of the way).

I found this out before I ever used the e-brake (luckily). I would have been stumped just like you seem to be right now.

and.......NOOOOOOOOOO.............DO NOT go driving around with the emergency brake set!!!!!! Not only will it not release.......it could tear up things!!!!!!!!

Don't tear into things before you try the simple fixes 1st!!!!!!!

Good luck with it and let us know

jmrl98

I have to have my foot on the brake and push the button on my 85 for some reason.....

Tommy T-Bone

Pull the handle up. Push the disengage button. This should release the brake mechanism. Corvettes have a trick parking brake unlike any other I know.

JrRifleCoach

monstrocity

Thanks everyone. I got it unstuck. I had to pull back super hard and finally it caught and it was able to catch.

So the new questions...

1. How bad did I screw up the car by driving about 1/4 mile with the brake on?

2. Do I really need to use the brake if I leave it in gear when parked?

Normseven

I only use the parkiing brake if on a grade.

GREGGPENN

1. 1/4 mile is not enough to do harm. (though the rear rotors might have gotten slighty warped -- which is fixable).
2. Auto -- no, stick -- yes. (esp when on grade).

nferr

I rarely use mine (automatic) because the damn light on the dash sometimes stays on even after the brake is released. If I fiddle around with the handle long enough when it's down I can get the light to go off but it's a pain in the butt. I'm sure there's a switch down there that needs to be adjusted but since the brake works when I need it too it's not worth the hassle right now.

Goldcylon

Auto on a grade. Manual Always!!!!

crossusc

Hey everyone,
I just used this thread to fix my parking brake. Of course, it was my girlfriend who got it stuck in the first place - leaving me to save the day. C4 Vettes don't go so fast with the parking brake stuck!

So, here's what I had to do to fix my 89 C4 Vette's parking brake - hopefully this will help out someone in the future....

1) Remove the seat cushion. There is a wire in front at the bottom that you need to disengage.

2) Remove the entire seat (yes, you read correctly). Easier that I thought - just undo 4 bolts and it comes right out.

HINT: While you have the seat out, vaccuum the rug and wipe everything clean with a wipe or something like that.

3) Remove the cover of the parking brake - 2 phillips head screws on mine.
You should now see the guts of the parking brake.

Note: Mine was pulled all of the way up, almost like it went too far. I could move the parking brake handle up and down with no resistance. Also, the I could not press down on the button at the top of the handle.

4) There is a locking mechanism, where something that I can't really describe fits into the teeth of a gear ring. I took a flat head screwdriver and popped the unknown piece out of the gear tooth - this disengaged the parking brake and allowed me to now press the button on the handle and release like normal.

I hope this helps!

Oh yeah - I'm taking a poll on whether or not to let her behind the wheel again. Let me know your thoughts!

All2kool

My Parking Brake disengages with just a push of the button - I do not have to raise the lever to release the brake. Is this normal?

Greg Gore

You didn't do it any good but if you were able to move the car and the trip was short you probably didn't hurt it. Sounds like the parking brake actuating lever free travel needs to be adjusted. This is a setscrew adjuster located in each of the rear brake calipers. The big return spring on each brake caliper has to be removed first to see what the free travel is.

Midnight 85

Back when I was 16, (I'm 58 now) I set the emergency brake one night after driving home in snow & slush, the car then sat overnight in below freezing temps. Took me 1/2 a day and a small propane torch to thaw it all out so the car would move. Haven't used the emergency brake since.

All2kool

When I was 16 (30 years ago), I used to drive the family's '66 Chev 1/2 Ton Custom PU to work. One day, me and Dad went somewhere. The truck seemed a little sluggish (to him). He asks: "Have you been hot rodding this truck?". I said no (not really true). A moment or two later I said: "Maybe if you release the Parking Brake it will feel right". He did and all was well.

mdlfcrss

Towards the end of last summer I was out walking my dog when I passed a guy parking his 'Vette on the downside of a hill, making very sure to cut the tires just right into the curb. Being curious, I asked him if his e-brake was broken. His reply was that "it was too hard to climb over the handle" once he had pulled it up!

matrix040

You might want to take the rear tires off, and check on the inside of the rotor where the parking brake shoes are.
sometimes there is alot of buildup of dirt and grime.that will cause them to stick. you may have to take the rotors off and clean the rotors and shoes. good luck.