my Handbrake doesn't work
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 7
From: Iowa
my Handbrake doesn't work
My C5's handbrake doesn't brake much...its a 99 6 speed. When I first got it I had almost no braking power from the handbrake. The normal brakes work great. I researched the problem and found that the handbrake is designed to be automatically adjusting, if you roll the car backwards then stop with the handbrake its supposed to self-adjust over time. I tried this out many times and the brake did appear to tighten up, now it will stop the car when moving backwards and pulling on it. It doesn't work as well as it should, but it does work. Now going forwards is another story. There is almost no braking power from the handbrake if the car is moving forwards. In fact my driveway has a small slant on it, if I park in with the nose facing down the shallow hill the handbrake will not hold the car in place! if I pull the brake on full and push in the clutch the car will roll down the hill. If the car is nose up the brake alone will hold it in place. That's not cool and not safe. What can I do to fix this?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
here's a link for you...
See both 3 and 4 depending on what is causing your problem
http://www.ronjpics.com/Corvettestuff.htm
See both 3 and 4 depending on what is causing your problem
http://www.ronjpics.com/Corvettestuff.htm
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,154
Likes: 4,168
From: Kannapolis NC
The backing up and pulling on the handbrake only adjusts slack in the cable. You have to take the wheels off and adjust the parking brake shoes behind the rotor. I didn't follow the link posted above but a search will turn up plenty of instructions and pictures. You could also need shoes.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 961
Likes: 0
From: Torrance CA
The backing up and pulling on the handbrake only adjusts slack in the cable. You have to take the wheels off and adjust the parking brake shoes behind the rotor. I didn't follow the link posted above but a search will turn up plenty of instructions and pictures. You could also need shoes.
Dont forget to also put it in 1st or reverse just in case the handbrake lets go!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 7
From: Iowa
doesn't look too difficult. I may give this a try during the long weekend. I checked with the service manual about brake rotor removal and replacement and the parking brakes. there are a few references to one time use only fasteners and torque to yield bolts. the manual says in bold letters that they MUST be replaced or brake failure could occur. Other posts don't mention having to replace fasteners. Is this really required?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
You don't need to replace the bolts. Just use Loctite Blue on the threads, torque properly and you'll be good to go. I done this several times and have never had a problem. GM says to replace the bolts because the bolts come with a thread locker already applied and they don't want people re-using the bolts without some form of locking compound. Adjusting the parking brake this way is the only surefire way to get the e-brake to work properly.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 7
From: Iowa
I'm in the proces of trying to fix my parking brakes. I got everything apart on both sides now. just for confirmation, which way should the star adjuster be rotated to move the brakes out?
I'm concerned about getting these adjusted properly. on teh passengers side it looks like the adjuster will go either way, but on the driver's side I can get it to rotate in one direction, but it won't move in the other. I don't want to get one side out too far and not be able to get it back in! so far I've rotated the passgner's side 20 clicks, and the driver's 10 clicks. I haven't noticed much difference however. they still appear to rotate freely with the brake off. with the brake on they still rotate freely until he brake is fully on. looks like it needs to be on the highest click in order to engage the brake, but when its up there the rotors are locked pretty strongly. Can someone give me more information on how the rotors should feel, and how I know when I have them adjusted properly?
while working on this project I got another surprise from my car, I found a nail in one of my very expensive rear tires. so I'll go fix that and hopefully wait for replies. thanks!
I'm concerned about getting these adjusted properly. on teh passengers side it looks like the adjuster will go either way, but on the driver's side I can get it to rotate in one direction, but it won't move in the other. I don't want to get one side out too far and not be able to get it back in! so far I've rotated the passgner's side 20 clicks, and the driver's 10 clicks. I haven't noticed much difference however. they still appear to rotate freely with the brake off. with the brake on they still rotate freely until he brake is fully on. looks like it needs to be on the highest click in order to engage the brake, but when its up there the rotors are locked pretty strongly. Can someone give me more information on how the rotors should feel, and how I know when I have them adjusted properly?
while working on this project I got another surprise from my car, I found a nail in one of my very expensive rear tires. so I'll go fix that and hopefully wait for replies. thanks!
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Collegeville PA
I just fixed my parking brake yesterday. You may have to replace the shoes if they are very worn. Once I replaced the shoes works like a champ. For me the hard part was getting the reataining springs for the new shoes on.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 7
From: Iowa
thanks for the help! I finally feel like I have the passenger's brake adjusted properly. the drivers side on the other hand is too loose still. for some reason I can't seem to get the adjuster on that side to rotate in the correct direction. it will loosen but not tighten. I can't figure out why yet. how do you guys rotate the adjuster? I have just been using a pair of pliers which can grab on to the little fingers of the adjuster. but I find it rather difficult to turn them.
