Thats what I was going to add. Park/E-brakes are notorious for not working properly no matter the build year.
parking brake not working
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 6
From: Oilerville Edmonton
St. Jude Donor '08
parking brake not working
This morning when I parked my car, the parking brake handle easily pulled all the way back. It has been working without a problem since I got the car (a year ago). I did not hear any noises-ie something breaking.
I did a search and am going to try adjusting it while in reverse (post by DPG http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...mergency+brake ) and if that doesn't work I will try https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=158&TopicID=1
I thought this was a part that would slowly stop working, not work one day and not the next. any thoughts about it being a different problem or should I do the steps above?
thanks
I did a search and am going to try adjusting it while in reverse (post by DPG http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...mergency+brake ) and if that doesn't work I will try https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=158&TopicID=1
I thought this was a part that would slowly stop working, not work one day and not the next. any thoughts about it being a different problem or should I do the steps above?
thanks
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,298
Likes: 21
From: east taunton ma
Did the handle ratchit when you pulled it up? When my parking brake wasn't working the problem was the ratchit assy was frozen, all (i had to do was clean up the dried caked on grease and spray some wd-40 on the pawl gear. It losened it up and has been working fine! Maybe you should look at that first.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 6
From: Oilerville Edmonton
St. Jude Donor '08
slvr bulit - yes it did rachet but there was almost zero tension. thanks for the help!! I may take a look at this anyway since it seems like it is going to be a problem eventually!
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 517
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Texas
About a year ago, the spring that keeps tension on the ratchet mechanism broke in my parking brake handle. I tried to rig up a fix, but it wouldn't hold, and I had to replace the entire handle. The price for a new one is something like $240. I bought a used handle from a guy in the C5 parts section. I don't remember what I paid, but it was much less than that.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 586
Likes: 11
I'm having the same issue with mt brake ....no tension when pulling it on..... but I fround something interesting...If I pull towards me when pulling up the brake grabs, has tension and holds ??? I need to open the area and see whats going on..... So try pulling up and over towards yourself and post if yours grabs.....
I don't know why it works that way.... can some one post a pic of the assembly ?? Maybe that will tell me what I'm doing when I pull up and over on the brake lever ??
see ya
I don't know why it works that way.... can some one post a pic of the assembly ?? Maybe that will tell me what I'm doing when I pull up and over on the brake lever ??
see ya
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,118
Likes: 2
From: Redding CA
mine is doing the same thing. i adjust my ebrake and i figured out it was my handle itself it like doesnt catch on the gear and so then ends up not pulling the wire that connects to e brake. i am going to take it apart clean it and wd 40 it
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
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From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
check out this forum members website....for two parking brake how to's #3 
http://www.ronjpics.com/Corvettestuff.htm
http://www.ronjpics.com/Corvettestuff.htm
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,617
Likes: 2
From: San Diego California
check out this forum members website....for two parking brake how to's #3
http://www.ronjpics.com/Corvettestuff.htm
http://www.ronjpics.com/Corvettestuff.htm
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Canonsburg PA
check out this forum members website....for two parking brake how to's #3
http://www.ronjpics.com/Corvettestuff.htm
http://www.ronjpics.com/Corvettestuff.htm
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I had that happen to my '99. Luckily the car was under warranty and the dealer replaced it at no cost.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Cary NC
Yeah I am having trouble with this silly thing as well. I have another buddy that is having trouble. Every now and then my brake just does not apply, so you get out and the car starts rolling before the gear catches it. Nice huh.
Well new development tonight. I yanked up my brake like usual and POP. Just heard a loud pop and now the thing just moves freely up and down. Still ratchets, just no tension on it at all. And of course it does not brake the car at all.
I guess I am off to the stealership on this one. Dammit.
Well new development tonight. I yanked up my brake like usual and POP. Just heard a loud pop and now the thing just moves freely up and down. Still ratchets, just no tension on it at all. And of course it does not brake the car at all.
I guess I am off to the stealership on this one. Dammit.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
I had a completely non-functional emergency brake system on my 2003 C5. The first step was to get the handbrake mechanism to catch reliably, which it was not doing so. It would frequently pop out from its locking). The fix for this was to remove the center console and thoroughly clean the spring loaded mechanism under the lever with brake cleaner and then liberally spray the entire mechanism with WD-40. While in there, the parking brake switch needed replacement as it was intermittent due to corrosion of the contacts.
The final step is to remove the rear discs and tighen up the parking brake shoes using the adjuster on the cylinder right to the point where the disc needs to be hammered on lightly with block of wood (being careful not to damage the lining of the shoes). I also decided to change my rear brake pads to a new set of ceramic ones while the calipers were off for this servicing. After all of these steps, my rear/parking brakes are working as good as a new car.
The final step is to remove the rear discs and tighen up the parking brake shoes using the adjuster on the cylinder right to the point where the disc needs to be hammered on lightly with block of wood (being careful not to damage the lining of the shoes). I also decided to change my rear brake pads to a new set of ceramic ones while the calipers were off for this servicing. After all of these steps, my rear/parking brakes are working as good as a new car.
Last edited by Music; Oct 28, 2021 at 02:56 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 8,342
Likes: 489
From: WI
Join the club. I think my parking brake starts to think about grabbing the wheels at the very very most pull. I heard this system was self adjusting by yanking on it a few times, that did nothing.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
Although the common concensus over the years has been that the ebrake is somehow self adjusting, there was nothing self-adjusting. If the brake is anywhere near the end of the lever travel, you have a long overdue screwdriver adjustment of the cylinders that require rear disc removal. Once this is done, the ebrake travel will be very little prior to the shoes grabbing to the point that the car has no trouble holding itself on an incline. Once adjusted, the ebrake should be able to bring the car to a full stop from highway speed in a reasonable amount of time with only modest effort.
Last edited by Music; Oct 28, 2021 at 05:46 PM.
