Handbrake stuck in rotor?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Glen Ellyn IL
Handbrake stuck in rotor?
Just came from the track and was going to put my street rotors and pads back on. The right rear rotor will not come off, it is not frozen with rust. If i pull hard i can see the handbrake assembly is stuck inside the rotor. I do have the HB off, i put the caliper and wheel back on and backed up and down the drive without ever using the hb to make sure i couldn't feel it engaged. Nope, i can spin the wheel by hand, but when i strip everything off, the rotor just won't come off because the hb mecanism is lodged inside it. Anyone had this problem or know what to do?
Thanks,
Thanks,
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,013
Likes: 9,773
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Can you remove the cable where it goes into the parking brake assembly at the rear wheel? Maybe the cable didn't release completely the last time you used it and the hand brake is now inside a grooved rotor and you need to release the cable so the mechanism will retract completely. In my experience parking brakes are prone to cable problems due to the dirty environment they are in and sometimes stick on.
Bill
Bill
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
brakes
For some reason the rear rotors won't let go of the emergency brake. Mine had only 14,000 miles on it when I put the big brakes on. Both rears hung up with no grooves worn. Just hit the rotor with a dead blow or brass hammer.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 893
Likes: 38
From: ATX
When I was fixing my e-brake, I took off the spring holding the shoe in prior to removing the rotor; the shoe promptly moved just enough to get wedged in the drum, and from then on it was a huge pita to keep everything lined up enough to remove it. Could be the prob...
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
Get a brake adjuster spoon for drum brakes and back off the emergency brake shoe adjusters, that's what your problem is. They will slide right off after wards.
Last edited by ajg1915; Aug 2, 2006 at 04:35 PM.
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Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 406
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
Be careful with this one - I had the same problem and in trying to get the rotor off, ruined the lining of the emergency brake shoe - had to buy new ones. Then, trying to get that drum brake retaining spring back on is a HUGE pita. The spring has to be put back just right and it took me and two other guys to do it using bent coat hangers. UGH.
