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So my e-brake doesnt work for crap right now so I am trying to get the brakes off so I can get in there and adjust that **** on the drum behind the rotors, however the bolts that hold the caliper bracket on are ridiculously tight, I used my impact gun and still couldnt break them loose...any ideas guys?..cars at 25,770 miles on it. its a 1999 M6 too.
I used a propane torch to heat the knuckle where they thread into...Then ran them off with the impact...Don't heat it for too long, maybe 20 seconds...
Be sure to spray some penetrating grease on the bolt before trying to turn it. Use WD-40 or something.
In case you've never tried turning that gear/wheel thing for the E-brake, I was surprised how hard it was to turn. I think I ended up with a flat head screwdriver cranking on that thing.
However, once I was done, the e-brake now holds quite well. Something that it didn't do for the first 2 years that I owned it.
The large caliper bracket bolts are torqued to 125 ft #. I used a long 1/2" breaker bar and a pipe over that to get enough torque to remove the bolts. Then get a BIGGER hammer to break loose the rotors. While you have the calipers off its a good time to clean them and paint them with caliper paint. Did mine for about $12 using duplicolor brush on paint. Use several coats and they will look great. When reinstalling the bolts use RED Locktite as the original bolts have this on them. BIGHANK
it took a TON of whacks with a 3lb sledge hammer to get those bolts to break on mine. the effort was worth it though, because my ebrake works like a champ now.
Will only work if the starwheels are ALMOST in adjustment
Originally Posted by ALLEGRO
Worked for me
If the starwheels are like a lot of them on the C5s pulling on the brake lever in reverse does NOTHING.
BTW GM doesn't call it an EMERGENCY BRAKE as it usually won't stop the car in an EMERGENCY. They call it a PARKING BRAKE. But if you live in SF or other place with some good hills WATCH IT. You should leave a stick in gear and with the A4 you are in PARK. BIGHANK
Might wanna get them off and check it out anyway. My sons GTO, which has the same style parking brake system, had one of those inside 1 piece shoes misaligned from the factory, and the metal part of it wore on the rotor enough that the rotor to be replaced.