Emergency brake problem
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Johnson City, TN, USA
Emergency brake problem
I have taken my C5 in a couple of times to get the emergency brake adjusted. It will not hold the car while in neutral even on the smallest inclines. Today I get a call from my sevice advisor and I was told that the emergency brake for the C5 was not designed to hold the car while in neutral :confused: . The emergency brake is designed to assist in holding the car while in gear. I typically start my car and let it run for a minute or so before venturing off for the day, but when I try to exit the car it starts to immediately roll away :eek: I felt that this was a pecular excuse given to me by the my dealer so I am asking if anyone else has had emergency brake problems. They are however, replacing my brake pads and covering them under warranty so I can't complain too bad. Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,422
Likes: 905
From: CONCORD NC
Re: Emergency brake problem (JamesP)
It needs adjusting. I don't know why GM is so boneheaded about this,but it is a common problem. You have to remove the rear rotors, adjust the drum-brake adjuster (just like any drum brake) and put it back together. Although the manual suggests using special calipers to measure the clearance, I found that simply adjusting both sides several turns and putting things back together, I got a good brake after a few trials.
Dave
Dave
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: Troy NC
Re: Emergency brake problem (JamesP)
I had GM fix mine three times under warranty. Finally, they replaced both drums on the emergency brake, after accusing me of driving around town with the brake ON! When I picked the car up from the last repair, they had written across my invoice..."This brake is NOT meant to stop this car!!!" Very unprofessional and uncalled for. I don't park on ANY incline at all...just like to have the brake on when the car is left unattended. It is also a '99. The pads were replaced about two months ago and I even noticed today that the brake handle is starting to come up farther than it should.
Guess we are just stuck with a lousy design...like 90% of the other items on my C5! Sorry you are having this same problem. :rolleyes:
Guess we are just stuck with a lousy design...like 90% of the other items on my C5! Sorry you are having this same problem. :rolleyes:
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 28,753
Likes: 9
From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
Re: Emergency brake problem (JamesP)
I posted on your thread in the other section... they are :bs you ... once you get it adjusted it will be better than new!! :)
vetterdstr :cheers:
vetterdstr :cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,269
Likes: 1
From: Richmond Ca
Re: Emergency brake problem (JamesP)
James, something you should know.
Assuming that everything is working correctly, your Parking brake is self-adjusting. The adjustment occurs during application. Sometimes it takes several repeated applications to get it adjusted enough to engage.
Also, the person that told you that the brake was made to hold the car while you are in gear and not when the car is in neutral, is a moron! There have been issues with the Parking brake since day one. Like the Column lock before, this is an issue the Chevrolet continues to try to ignore. I wonder how many suits have be settled about this with a shut-up-about-it clause. Check the NHTSA web site, you will see many many compaints about Corvette parking brakes.
Assuming that everything is working correctly, your Parking brake is self-adjusting. The adjustment occurs during application. Sometimes it takes several repeated applications to get it adjusted enough to engage.
Also, the person that told you that the brake was made to hold the car while you are in gear and not when the car is in neutral, is a moron! There have been issues with the Parking brake since day one. Like the Column lock before, this is an issue the Chevrolet continues to try to ignore. I wonder how many suits have be settled about this with a shut-up-about-it clause. Check the NHTSA web site, you will see many many compaints about Corvette parking brakes.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 55,394
Likes: 1
Re: Emergency brake problem (wwashing)
My Parking Brake has lost its touch as well. Aboout a year ago, I brought it to Lou Bachrodt Chevrolet in S Fla and the rep gets in the car and proceeds to step on the brake pedeal first then engaing the emerg brake - "This is how you should do it" he says. I tel him, "Look, I said the brake was not like that the first year of the car. I now ahve to put musle into this thing before it holds the car". But rather than argue with him, I went to another dealer anyway for other issues because i wasn't happy with Lou Bachrodt anyway. The other dealer (Marrone Del Ray) has treated me well. I'll probably re-approach them with the Brake problem. I'm sure they'll take care of it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 993
Likes: 5
From: Cincinnati Ohio
Re: Emergency brake problem (JamesP)
JamesP,
The parking brake on my 1999 C5 coupe would not hold the car on level ground when the transmission was shifted into gear (A4).
The dealer "fixed" the parking brake and it still would not hold the car on level ground, let alone an incline. I returned the car (still under warranty) and the second time the mechanic removed the rear wheels and tires, and did something with the rear parking brake mechanism.
The parking brake now holds the car on an incline. I suspect many dealers do not know how to repair the problem correctly, or just don't care.
Good luck.
1999 White C5 Coupe
The parking brake on my 1999 C5 coupe would not hold the car on level ground when the transmission was shifted into gear (A4).
The dealer "fixed" the parking brake and it still would not hold the car on level ground, let alone an incline. I returned the car (still under warranty) and the second time the mechanic removed the rear wheels and tires, and did something with the rear parking brake mechanism.
The parking brake now holds the car on an incline. I suspect many dealers do not know how to repair the problem correctly, or just don't care.
Good luck.
1999 White C5 Coupe
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 5,005
Likes: 38
From: jackson nj
Re: Emergency brake problem (JamesP)
The dealer you are going to is really a Honda dealer, isn't it ??? You have gotten the " normal " response from a GM dealer who is very concerned that you never buy another GM car or truck. This is the " appearant " concern of GM as they need to stop this :bs response their dealers give, then they (GM) actually wonder why they are loosing market share :rolleyes: I have had the same problem with my 98 from almost day one, and I was told a story along the same lines. Thank's to a " good " repair facility, I was told the correct repair, but of course it is not warranty covered, so I did it myself. Yes, you do have to take off the calipers and rotors in the rear, but then just adjust the " star " wheel on the emergency brake band and you are good to go. My driveway is on a very severe angle, almost 40 degrees, and with the adjustment it holds fine in neutral. It is truely a shame that GM " lets " their dealers, who represent them, in giving such stupid answers to their customers.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 10,976
Likes: 21
From: FL
St. Jude Donor '13
Some rear brake rotors develop a "ridge or lip" on the rotor surface (this is why some cant get the rotor off)...The trick is to cut off the ridge on a brake lathe (as you would a brake drum) so you can properly adjust the parking brake shoes...If you dont remove the ridge on the rotor,you cant possibly adjust the shoes to the inside diameter of the rotor (you would have to force the rotor back on,not knowing if adjusted correctly)...With the ridge removed,you can get about 2 more turns on the star wheel giving you a firm parking brake...
