99 emergency brake question
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 348
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento CA
The e-brake is just "good enough" to keep the car from rolling (most of the time). It won't prevent the car from moving if you have it in gear.
I usually have to pull and release my e-brake 2-3 time before it will hold.
I haven't heard about a fix for this
I usually have to pull and release my e-brake 2-3 time before it will hold.
I haven't heard about a fix for this
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Wrong! Dealer said its a PARKING BRAKE and they are all like that BS
Then did a brake job. If you pull the rear rotors and adjust the starwheels on each side so that the rotor JUST DRAGS A LITTLE when sliding it over the parking brake shoe you will have parking brakes that will STOP THE CAR DEAD. The self adjusting mechanism is crap.
Pull your rear rotors, replace pads if necessary, paint the calipers red like a Z06 and you are good to go.
BIGHANK
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
The fix is to take off the rear rotor and properly adjust the p-brake. My p-brake holds my car rock solid now. In fact, I stalled my car this morning because I left it on and tried to idle out of my garage in reverse as usual.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 753
Likes: 2
From: Denville NJ
The poor action of the parking brake is really annoying! I have seen many posts on this and tackled the issue when I bought my 04C5 a couple of years ago. I did the complete disassembly, cleaning and adjusting. Overall it turned out pretty good and much better than it was, but not that real skidding type of "ricer" e-brake. Maybe I expect too much.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Can you show me the GM documentation stating that the parking brake for a c5 Corvette is self adjusting? There is some self adjustment on the cable tension, but not the brakes themselves.
With a typical drum brake system, there's a pawl that kicks over the starwheel. There's nothing in the C5's p-brake that's going to do this.
With a typical drum brake system, there's a pawl that kicks over the starwheel. There's nothing in the C5's p-brake that's going to do this.
Last edited by wcsinx; Jun 9, 2009 at 10:05 AM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I drove my 98 for about 3 years with the parking brake inoperative.
Then did a brake job. If you pull the rear rotors and adjust the starwheels on each side so that the rotor JUST DRAGS A LITTLE when sliding it over the parking brake shoe you will have parking brakes that will STOP THE CAR DEAD. The self adjusting mechanism is crap.
Pull your rear rotors, replace pads if necessary, paint the calipers red like a Z06 and you are good to go.
BIGHANK
Then did a brake job. If you pull the rear rotors and adjust the starwheels on each side so that the rotor JUST DRAGS A LITTLE when sliding it over the parking brake shoe you will have parking brakes that will STOP THE CAR DEAD. The self adjusting mechanism is crap.
Pull your rear rotors, replace pads if necessary, paint the calipers red like a Z06 and you are good to go.
BIGHANK
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
