c5 Parking / emergency brake bracket reenforcement / FIX!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: Murfreesboro TN
Sorry for the delay, Work has kept me busy. I had the brackets modified by a friend.
I haven't had time to take pictures or install them yet. I will try to do so this weekend.
I will say this... the modified bracket won't bend again.
I haven't had time to take pictures or install them yet. I will try to do so this weekend.
I will say this... the modified bracket won't bend again.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: Murfreesboro TN
Quick update =)
I have some "progress" pictures.
My buddy reinforced it perfectly on one side, but the other side he used too big of a support which I had to remove and will have a smaller support welded in so that the cable doesn't contact the reinforcement.
Here are a few pictures, he primered the brackets, I will sand blast them and paint them a flat silver when the welding is done and post pictures of the "finished" bracket before and after installation.
My buddy reinforced it perfectly on one side, but the other side he used too big of a support which I had to remove and will have a smaller support welded in so that the cable doesn't contact the reinforcement.
Here are a few pictures, he primered the brackets, I will sand blast them and paint them a flat silver when the welding is done and post pictures of the "finished" bracket before and after installation.
Last edited by TN Vette; Aug 18, 2010 at 12:09 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,736
Likes: 7
From: Redding CA
Could you PLEASE post a picture of the two bolts that hold that thing to the back of the hub/caliper bracket? edit: shoot, just measure them and post how long they are...
Thank you so much if so,
Donnie
Thank you so much if so,
Donnie
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: Murfreesboro TN
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,736
Likes: 7
From: Redding CA
Thank you so much! If he could even just measure the length of one or two of the bolts that would be awesome.
The write up that I found says to torque those bolts to 125 ft lbs!>? that seems like a lot to me..
The write up that I found says to torque those bolts to 125 ft lbs!>? that seems like a lot to me..
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,017
Likes: 508
From: Hilton NY
Are you sure that the brackets are supposed to be bent to 90 degrees when new? I looked at mine and the angle is less than 90 degrees but the line of sight is straight from where the outer cable mounts to the bracket and the end of the inner cable. If the bracket was bent to 90 degrees then the cable would be aimed out and away from where the inner cable end attaches, this could cause binding and extra wear. Has anyone looked at theirs and seen brackets with a 90 degree bend?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: Murfreesboro TN
Are you sure that the brackets are supposed to be bent to 90 degrees when new? I looked at mine and the angle is less than 90 degrees but the line of sight is straight from where the outer cable mounts to the bracket and the end of the inner cable. If the bracket was bent to 90 degrees then the cable would be aimed out and away from where the inner cable end attaches, this could cause binding and extra wear. Has anyone looked at theirs and seen brackets with a 90 degree bend?
I bent the ones on my car close to 90* and there was no binding from what I could see/tell.
I bought an extra set that are currently being modified.
Once my car gets back from the body shop, I will continue on this project. (I hit a dog on the interstate last Friday)
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...ate-today.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,017
Likes: 508
From: Hilton NY
I think that the reason the brackets keep bending in your car to 45 degrees is that they are supposed to be at 45 degrees not 90 degrees. They are correcting themselves back into alignment. How did you determine that 90 degrees was the correct bend angle if you didn't examine a new bracket? If the shoes are adjusted correctly and the handle assembly is cleaned and lubricated with no broken internal parts then the brakes should function as designed, the brackets don't bend. The emergency brakes on my car never worked until I removed the handle assembly, cleaned all the old grease and dirt out with solvent then lubricated it with Mobil 1 grease. That was four years ago and the brakes always hold the car with the first pull of the handle. No backing up the car three times, no pulling the handle three times, no screwing around, just one pull. If the shoes are adjusted and you never worked on the handle assemby that could be why the brakes don't hold, the dried up old grease and dirt is causing the internal parts to bind in the handle. Once the shoes are adjusted, a correctly operating handle assembly takes up the slack.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 348
Likes: 6
From: Las vegas Nevada
Bracket
I have to agree with Fast one. The entire production run from 97 to 04 would have identified this error and GM would have corrected this.
If GM ignored this and lots of C5 rolled into the neighbors flower bed, they would have issued a service bulletin or recall.
If GM ignored this and lots of C5 rolled into the neighbors flower bed, they would have issued a service bulletin or recall.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: Murfreesboro TN
I think that the reason the brackets keep bending in your car to 45 degrees is that they are supposed to be at 45 degrees not 90 degrees. They are correcting themselves back into alignment. How did you determine that 90 degrees was the correct bend angle if you didn't examine a new bracket? If the shoes are adjusted correctly and the handle assembly is cleaned and lubricated with no broken internal parts then the brakes should function as designed, the brackets don't bend. The emergency brakes on my car never worked until I removed the handle assembly, cleaned all the old grease and dirt out with solvent then lubricated it with Mobil 1 grease. That was four years ago and the brakes always hold the car with the first pull of the handle. No backing up the car three times, no pulling the handle three times, no screwing around, just one pull. If the shoes are adjusted and you never worked on the handle assemby that could be why the brakes don't hold, the dried up old grease and dirt is causing the internal parts to bind in the handle. Once the shoes are adjusted, a correctly operating handle assembly takes up the slack.
This isn't a FIX all repair, just to correct what is wrong on my perticular car.
Why would GM bend the bracket to 45* to bind the cable when it is engaged. That doesn't make sense. If you look at the bracket and the cable routing, you can see that the bracket is bent. Mine brake holds perfectly with the bracket at close to 90*. Like I stated earlier in the thread, this is an attempt to correct an issue we are all having. I will post my findings successful or not.
If that logic were correct, none of us would have the rocking seat, dim/ non functional HVAC control lighting, Column lock issue, "weak" parking brake, non functional reverse lights, pegged oil pressure gauge, Service ABS/Traction Control/ Active handling system, Non functional gas gauge, I'll stop there...
Surely GM would not leave us holding the bag on these repairs / shortcomings...
Last edited by TN Vette; Aug 26, 2010 at 09:34 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: Murfreesboro TN
Picture update...
Here are the finished brackets welded, sandblasted, primed and painted.
I'll put them on the car as soon as she returns from the bodyshop in the next week/two
and as promised post the results whether positive or not.
I'll put them on the car as soon as she returns from the bodyshop in the next week/two
and as promised post the results whether positive or not.
Last edited by TN Vette; Aug 30, 2010 at 08:33 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: Murfreesboro TN
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Chicago IL
If you are a better than average mechanic you can do this.. Jack up the back of the car using a 2X 6 at the cross member, remove the wheel, set your socket on the bracket bolt in such a way as to put the breaker bar on a rubberized saddle of a floor jack so that when lifted it will apply correct pressure to the handle of the breaker bar using the weigh of the car as a down force..this is the use of hydrolics to break the red loctite which requires much more force than the mere 125 ft lbs torque spec. This is not for an amateur. Its very easy to braek those loctited bolts this way. you will not need the total weight of the car to break these bolts, but be aware of any movement as to not take the car off the rear jackstands
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: Murfreesboro TN
Update:
Dropped the car off at the bodyshop this morning and should have it back this Friday. 
Then I can install the modified parking brake brackets and report the results.
Then I can install the modified parking brake brackets and report the results.
