emergency brake adjustment
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Joined: Apr 2000
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From: San Ramon, Ca
emergency brake adjustment
It's probably been discussed a million times before but...........I need to tighten my emergency brake on my 2000 coupe. Is it done under the car or at the handle. Removing the center council easy or ???
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Re: emergency brake adjustment (highlander)
Are you referring to the brake itself not holding the car???? If so you adjust at the wheels....other than that I can not advise.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: MO. Logic + CFOT = Anarchy!
Re: emergency brake adjustment (pewter99)
There have been many posts here. Here is what I have saved off.
This post seems to resurface every few months. My parking brake was so bad that it basically was non-existent.
I chased the car twice and said enough is enough. So, take notes, because here is what I did to fix it.
1. Lift the car up from the rear axle crossmember, place 2 jackstands on either side, so that the entire rear is off the ground.
2. Remove the rear wheels, then make sure the parking brake is down.
3. Remove the caliper by removing the bolts attaching it to the hub. It should slide off, you can then sit it on the axle behind it.
4. The rotor should come off with a little twisting. A few taps with a rubber mallet may help.
5. On the side closest to the rear of the vehicle (ie. right on driver - left on passenger), you should see a star-shaped nut that turns.
That nut lowers, raises the upper pad that contacts the inside of the rotor.
It sometimes helps to spray brake parts cleaner over this assembly to make it easier to work on.
6. To adjust this the easy way, take a flat-head screwdriver and wedge it behind the nut and push out, this is the quickest way.
To turn it the other way you'll need pliers.
7. Adjust it a bit and then try to put the rotor back on.
If it doesn't go, don't force it, just turn the nut back a turn or two and try again. Do this until you can put the rotor on.
8. Reassemble the side, minus the wheel, then do the other side.
Once done on both sides, put the wheels back on, lower the car, and torque the wheel bolts correctly.
I chased the car twice and said enough is enough. So, take notes, because here is what I did to fix it.
1. Lift the car up from the rear axle crossmember, place 2 jackstands on either side, so that the entire rear is off the ground.
2. Remove the rear wheels, then make sure the parking brake is down.
3. Remove the caliper by removing the bolts attaching it to the hub. It should slide off, you can then sit it on the axle behind it.
4. The rotor should come off with a little twisting. A few taps with a rubber mallet may help.
5. On the side closest to the rear of the vehicle (ie. right on driver - left on passenger), you should see a star-shaped nut that turns.
That nut lowers, raises the upper pad that contacts the inside of the rotor.
It sometimes helps to spray brake parts cleaner over this assembly to make it easier to work on.
6. To adjust this the easy way, take a flat-head screwdriver and wedge it behind the nut and push out, this is the quickest way.
To turn it the other way you'll need pliers.
7. Adjust it a bit and then try to put the rotor back on.
If it doesn't go, don't force it, just turn the nut back a turn or two and try again. Do this until you can put the rotor on.
8. Reassemble the side, minus the wheel, then do the other side.
Once done on both sides, put the wheels back on, lower the car, and torque the wheel bolts correctly.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: San Ramon, Ca
Re: emergency brake adjustment (highlander)
Thanks, I would have thought there was a cable adjustment. I pull the handle all the way up and the emergency brake only holds on the flat. On a hill, forget it.
Still adjust at the wheels? Are the caliper bolts the two large ones 14 or 16 mm on the back or are they the two allen heads with the rubber boots.
Thanks
Still adjust at the wheels? Are the caliper bolts the two large ones 14 or 16 mm on the back or are they the two allen heads with the rubber boots.
Thanks
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 479
Likes: 1
From: Portland OR
Re: emergency brake adjustment (highlander)
Cameron - You need to remove the brake caliper mounting bracket to get the rotor off so you can get to the star wheel adjuster. The bolts that hold the mounting bracket on take a 21 mm socket and a long breaker bar. They are hard to break loose. The service manual says to discard the old bolts and replace with new ones. They have a pre-painted stripe of locking adhesive on the threads. I cheated and reused the old bolts with Loctite. The torque spec is 125 lb-ft. Check this thread: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=349088. Good luck!
Alan :seeya
Alan :seeya
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 479
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From: Portland OR
Re: emergency brake adjustment (MRWHOOPPEE)
Isn't there a hole in the rotor to get at the star adjuster ?
My C4 did.
Haven't had to do my C5 yet :)
My C4 did.
Haven't had to do my C5 yet :)
:mad
