Rear Wheels Locked After Rotor Replacement
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 319
Likes: 1
From: Cincinnati OH
Rear Wheels Locked After Rotor Replacement
Just recently installed front and rear pads and rotors. Front went on fine but the rear have been a bear and now both rear wheels are locked. Does anybody have any ideas on how to adjust the tension on the parking brake or have any ideas on what I can do?
Thanks inadvance,
Mike
Thanks inadvance,
Mike
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 319
Likes: 1
From: Cincinnati OH
After reading some posts on here I think I need to disconnect the parking brake cable and turn the starwheel adjuster which is currently seized. Car is on jackstands right now and I'll be working on it later, so if anyone has any input on this it would be much apprieated.
Thanks in advance,
Mike
Thanks in advance,
Mike
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,482
Likes: 2
From: Pearland, TX
I don't think you have to disconnect the cable to turn that wheel. Just let the brake down.
Acutally you don't even need to do that. If you can get the rotors on, just drive the car around and the brake shoe will wear down on its own and then self-adjust back to the correct spot.
Acutally you don't even need to do that. If you can get the rotors on, just drive the car around and the brake shoe will wear down on its own and then self-adjust back to the correct spot.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 319
Likes: 1
From: Cincinnati OH
I was able to get the rotors and wheels and everything back on but the brakes are still locked up on both sides. The car will drive, I just didn't want to do damage to anything. So your saying it should re-adjust? How long should that take?
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,549
Likes: 30
From: Shenandoah Valley Virginia
The rear parking brake will not self adjust.
The proper method of adjustment is as follows, with the car properly supported on jackstands and tranny out of gear:
1) Release parking brake lever all the way down.
2) Remove wheel, caliper, caliper bracket and rotor.
3) the star adjustment wheel is located between the ends of the parking brake shoe. Make sure it is free moving - if not remove, clean and lube with some high temp silicone lube.
4) Center the parking brake shoe and try to install rotor. If rotor will not go on easily, adjust star wheel to allow shoe to slightly relax reducing diameter.
5) Reinstall rotor and check for ease of rotation. The shoe should barely make contact with the inside rotor brake surface. If not remove rotor and adjust star wheel for proper shoe contact. You will hear it rub slightly when rotating rotor if properly adkusted.
6) Once proper contact is reached, activate parking brake lever, it should pull up 1/2 - 2/3 of the way up and stop, firmly applying brake. If it goes too far, the shoe is not properly centered and needs to be readjusted.
7) Reinstall caliper bracket, caliper, wheel and repeat entire process on the other side.
Now you will have a properly working emergency brake.
The proper method of adjustment is as follows, with the car properly supported on jackstands and tranny out of gear:
1) Release parking brake lever all the way down.
2) Remove wheel, caliper, caliper bracket and rotor.
3) the star adjustment wheel is located between the ends of the parking brake shoe. Make sure it is free moving - if not remove, clean and lube with some high temp silicone lube.
4) Center the parking brake shoe and try to install rotor. If rotor will not go on easily, adjust star wheel to allow shoe to slightly relax reducing diameter.
5) Reinstall rotor and check for ease of rotation. The shoe should barely make contact with the inside rotor brake surface. If not remove rotor and adjust star wheel for proper shoe contact. You will hear it rub slightly when rotating rotor if properly adkusted.
6) Once proper contact is reached, activate parking brake lever, it should pull up 1/2 - 2/3 of the way up and stop, firmly applying brake. If it goes too far, the shoe is not properly centered and needs to be readjusted.
7) Reinstall caliper bracket, caliper, wheel and repeat entire process on the other side.
Now you will have a properly working emergency brake.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 537
Likes: 3
From: Santa Maria California
The rear parking brake will not self adjust.
The proper method of adjustment is as follows, with the car properly supported on jackstands and tranny out of gear:
1) Release parking brake lever all the way down.
2) Remove wheel, caliper, caliper bracket and rotor.
3) the star adjustment wheel is located between the ends of the parking brake shoe. Make sure it is free moving - if not remove, clean and lube with some high temp silicone lube.
4) Center the parking brake shoe and try to install rotor. If rotor will not go on easily, adjust star wheel to allow shoe to slightly relax reducing diameter.
5) Reinstall rotor and check for ease of rotation. The shoe should barely make contact with the inside rotor brake surface. If not remove rotor and adjust star wheel for proper shoe contact. You will hear it rub slightly when rotating rotor if properly adkusted.
6) Once proper contact is reached, activate parking brake lever, it should pull up 1/2 - 2/3 of the way up and stop, firmly applying brake. If it goes too far, the shoe is not properly centered and needs to be readjusted.
7) Reinstall caliper bracket, caliper, wheel and repeat entire process on the other side.
Now you will have a properly working emergency brake.
The proper method of adjustment is as follows, with the car properly supported on jackstands and tranny out of gear:
1) Release parking brake lever all the way down.
2) Remove wheel, caliper, caliper bracket and rotor.
3) the star adjustment wheel is located between the ends of the parking brake shoe. Make sure it is free moving - if not remove, clean and lube with some high temp silicone lube.
4) Center the parking brake shoe and try to install rotor. If rotor will not go on easily, adjust star wheel to allow shoe to slightly relax reducing diameter.
5) Reinstall rotor and check for ease of rotation. The shoe should barely make contact with the inside rotor brake surface. If not remove rotor and adjust star wheel for proper shoe contact. You will hear it rub slightly when rotating rotor if properly adkusted.
6) Once proper contact is reached, activate parking brake lever, it should pull up 1/2 - 2/3 of the way up and stop, firmly applying brake. If it goes too far, the shoe is not properly centered and needs to be readjusted.
7) Reinstall caliper bracket, caliper, wheel and repeat entire process on the other side.
Now you will have a properly working emergency brake.
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Brett Foote
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
The rear parking brake will not self adjust.
The proper method of adjustment is as follows, with the car properly supported on jackstands and tranny out of gear:
1) Release parking brake lever all the way down.
2) Remove wheel, caliper, caliper bracket and rotor.
3) the star adjustment wheel is located between the ends of the parking brake shoe. Make sure it is free moving - if not remove, clean and lube with some high temp silicone lube.
4) Center the parking brake shoe and try to install rotor. If rotor will not go on easily, adjust star wheel to allow shoe to slightly relax reducing diameter.
5) Reinstall rotor and check for ease of rotation. The shoe should barely make contact with the inside rotor brake surface. If not remove rotor and adjust star wheel for proper shoe contact. You will hear it rub slightly when rotating rotor if properly adkusted.
6) Once proper contact is reached, activate parking brake lever, it should pull up 1/2 - 2/3 of the way up and stop, firmly applying brake. If it goes too far, the shoe is not properly centered and needs to be readjusted.
7) Reinstall caliper bracket, caliper, wheel and repeat entire process on the other side.
Now you will have a properly working emergency brake.
The proper method of adjustment is as follows, with the car properly supported on jackstands and tranny out of gear:
1) Release parking brake lever all the way down.
2) Remove wheel, caliper, caliper bracket and rotor.
3) the star adjustment wheel is located between the ends of the parking brake shoe. Make sure it is free moving - if not remove, clean and lube with some high temp silicone lube.
4) Center the parking brake shoe and try to install rotor. If rotor will not go on easily, adjust star wheel to allow shoe to slightly relax reducing diameter.
5) Reinstall rotor and check for ease of rotation. The shoe should barely make contact with the inside rotor brake surface. If not remove rotor and adjust star wheel for proper shoe contact. You will hear it rub slightly when rotating rotor if properly adkusted.
6) Once proper contact is reached, activate parking brake lever, it should pull up 1/2 - 2/3 of the way up and stop, firmly applying brake. If it goes too far, the shoe is not properly centered and needs to be readjusted.
7) Reinstall caliper bracket, caliper, wheel and repeat entire process on the other side.
Now you will have a properly working emergency brake.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Peter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,549
Likes: 30
From: Shenandoah Valley Virginia
Originally Posted by guitar420911
I was able to get the rotors and wheels and everything back on but the brakes are still locked up on both sides. The car will drive, I just didn't want to do damage to anything. So your saying it should re-adjust? How long should that take?
The "re-adjustment" happens as the pads wear down. It's not adjusting at all.
Peter
DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR THIS WAY !!! constant pressure of the shoe on the drum will cause overheating of the shoe material. It will not "wear into proper adjustment", the shoe will overheat and crystalize the friction material causing it to disintegrate. When that happens, you have a real mess that takes 3 times as long to fix and a LOT MORE MONEY !!!
I was able to get the rotors and wheels and everything back on but the brakes are still locked up on both sides. The car will drive, I just didn't want to do damage to anything. So your saying it should re-adjust? How long should that take?
The "re-adjustment" happens as the pads wear down. It's not adjusting at all.
Peter
DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR THIS WAY !!! constant pressure of the shoe on the drum will cause overheating of the shoe material. It will not "wear into proper adjustment", the shoe will overheat and crystalize the friction material causing it to disintegrate. When that happens, you have a real mess that takes 3 times as long to fix and a LOT MORE MONEY !!!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
Originally Posted by guitar420911
I was able to get the rotors and wheels and everything back on but the brakes are still locked up on both sides. The car will drive, I just didn't want to do damage to anything. So your saying it should re-adjust? How long should that take?
The "re-adjustment" happens as the pads wear down. It's not adjusting at all.
Peter
DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR THIS WAY !!! constant pressure of the shoe on the drum will cause overheating of the shoe material. It will not "wear into proper adjustment", the shoe will overheat and crystalize the friction material causing it to disintegrate. When that happens, you have a real mess that takes 3 times as long to fix and a LOT MORE MONEY !!!
I was able to get the rotors and wheels and everything back on but the brakes are still locked up on both sides. The car will drive, I just didn't want to do damage to anything. So your saying it should re-adjust? How long should that take?
The "re-adjustment" happens as the pads wear down. It's not adjusting at all.
Peter
DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR THIS WAY !!! constant pressure of the shoe on the drum will cause overheating of the shoe material. It will not "wear into proper adjustment", the shoe will overheat and crystalize the friction material causing it to disintegrate. When that happens, you have a real mess that takes 3 times as long to fix and a LOT MORE MONEY !!!
Not to mention the negative impact all that heat could have on the other wheel components...
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 231
Likes: 1
From: MPHS TN
what rear rotors did u put on, stock, z51, zo6, aftermarket. take calipers off and see if wheels turn in neutral, if so then rotors too big hitting calipers. if not check clearance at the brackets. if all of that is ok then ur problem is with park brake adjustment, just turn starwheel until rotor can go on and then tighten until u feel a little resistance
