Parking brake problem
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 626
Likes: 15
From: Austin, TX
Parking brake problem
Hi there, Lastly I'm having problems to release my parking brake. I mean with parking break system engaged or set when I try to release it it's like I have to pull up really strong, actually I need several shoots before achieving it.
Should I push the brake pedal down strong while releasing?
Should I push the brake pedal down strong while releasing?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,700
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
The brake pedal warning is just to keep the car from from scooting downhill when the ebrake is released. If you have to pull the handle up hard to release the brake, you are just pulling up too hard to set it.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 668
Likes: 38
From: Austin TX
On my 92: If the parking brake bar gets bent too far toward the center of the car, the little mechanism doesn't want to engage. I just take the handle in a low position, and push (bend it) toward the driver door. Then my brake mechanism resumes working properly. The bar is made of pretty cheap metal and seems to bend inward during usage over time.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,771
Likes: 177
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
The harder you "set" the brake, the harder it is going to be to release it.
You can feel the ratcheting of the cogs.
Just pushing the button (at least on a later car) will not work, because you have to get past the next cog on the gear in order to release it.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,700
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 7
From: 1994 LT1 Coupe 6-speed with FX3 & 2000 LS1 Vert 6-Speed with F45 Hunterdon County, NJ
may need to be lubricated
Hi there, Lastly I'm having problems to release my parking brake. I mean with parking break system engaged or set when I try to release it it's like I have to pull up really strong, actually I need several shoots before achieving it.
Should I push the brake pedal down strong while releasing?
Should I push the brake pedal down strong while releasing?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
The parking brake handle gets full of grim; take drivers seat out, remove cover and take assembly out.
Take to a work bench and really give it a good cleaning. You will be amazed at how well it will work afterwards.
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 216
Likes: 4
From: Shrub Oak NY
My '84 would only work right if held to the left also. I have a manual transmission so I figured it saw a lot of use. The leather was really shot, too. I bought a much better used one on e bay which works correctly. I do pull it up before pushing the button to release - just seems less likely to damage anything that way.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
Whatever force is locked in when the lever is applied, has to be overcome when its released.
So keeping it in good adjustment so it does not require a ton of force to hold the car helps prevent the driver from wanting to jerk it up and leave it locked in a huge bind. You CAN bottom out the lever without having set the brakes when its out of adjustment.
So keeping it in good adjustment so it does not require a ton of force to hold the car helps prevent the driver from wanting to jerk it up and leave it locked in a huge bind. You CAN bottom out the lever without having set the brakes when its out of adjustment.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 81
Likes: 15
From: New Braunfels, TX
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (stock)
C4 of Year Winner (stock) 2019
Hi there, Lastly I'm having problems to release my parking brake. I mean with parking break system engaged or set when I try to release it it's like I have to pull up really strong, actually I need several shoots before achieving it.
Should I push the brake pedal down strong while releasing?
Should I push the brake pedal down strong while releasing?
Thank you,