My hand brake doesn't work any more ???
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: TX
My hand brake doesn't work any more ???
Does anybody know how to fix it or do I need to take my car to the dealer ship ??? I have a 99 C5...sometime it works sometime it doesn't work ??? Thanks... :confused:
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Oviedo fl
Re: My hand brake doesn't work any more ??? (NJVetteGuy)
I had the same problem. What happens is the mechanism lever does not drop into place to engage the gear. It gets gummed up. It is overgreased from the factory. Just take it apart until you can spray some lithium grease on it. It is a simple fix. I used Q-Tips to clean most of it off, then sprayed it with lubicant. Works fine. Hope this helps..
AL
AL
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,596
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta GA
Re: My hand brake doesn't work any more ??? (quenchmasterc5)
A vette tech in this area drills a hole in the base of the rotor so that the parking brake can be adjusted with the rotor installed. Ask your tech about this.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 28,753
Likes: 9
From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
Re: My hand brake doesn't work any more ??? (NXVette)
Your Handbrake needs to be adjusted at the rear of the car. Inside the rear rotors is a little set of brake shoes that make contact with the little brake drum that is inside your rear rotors. First you release your hand brake then jack up the rear of the car into the air. Remove your rear rims, then remove your rear calipers and set them on a bucket or something to hold them up in the air while still connected to the brake line. Then you remove your rear Rotors and you will see the set of brake shoes that I am talking about. Turn the adjustment wheel so the shoes expand to meet the rotor then back them off just a hair. Reinstall all the parts and use Loctite on the caliper bolts so they will stay on.
Your Hand brake will work better than new each time you do this. ;)
vetterdstr :cheers:
Your Hand brake will work better than new each time you do this. ;)
vetterdstr :cheers:
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 479
Likes: 1
From: Portland OR
Re: My hand brake doesn't work any more ??? (gmblack3)
A vette tech in this area drills a hole in the base of the rotor so that the parking brake can be adjusted with the rotor installed. Ask your tech about this.
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 479
Likes: 1
From: Portland OR
Re: My hand brake doesn't work any more ??? (vetterdstr)
If you drilled a hole out of the rotor, would the rotor then be out of ballance?
vetterdstr :cheers:
vetterdstr :cheers:
Racer
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
From: All Corvettes should be RED
Re: My hand brake doesn't work any more ??? (vetterdstr)
use Loctite on the caliper bolts so they will stay on.
vetterdstr :cheers:
vetterdstr :cheers:
Perry
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 28,753
Likes: 9
From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
Re: My hand brake doesn't work any more ??? (CVCVCV)
I have taken the bolts out and not used loctite too. Now I use the Red stuff just to be sure everything stays together. ;)
vetterdstr :cheers:
vetterdstr :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 28,753
Likes: 9
From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
Re: My hand brake doesn't work any more ??? (CVCVCV)
Yes I know of one other member (besides myself) to have these come loose as well as fall off while driving. So just to be on the safe side I now use Loctite. :yesnod:
vetterdstr :cheers:
vetterdstr :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,112
Likes: 2
From: Sindelfingen Germany
Re: My hand brake doesn't work any more ??? (vetterdstr)
Correct me if I´m not right: there are two automatics at the ebrake.
1. The one, a lot of guys reported about, it´s in the mechanism of the rear wheel rotor and should correct the wear of the brake shoes itself. It´s the star wheel or something like that, that doesn´t do work well and has to be set by hand. OK so far....
2. But there is another one, that should correct the elongation of the cable, which may occur after several years. This automatic is located in the area of the hand lever?!?! This is what one of the post above is talking about. He says it´s overgreased. This is the first time I read something about the handlever as a place to look for too. Is this right? At least it sounds good to me.
Frederik
1. The one, a lot of guys reported about, it´s in the mechanism of the rear wheel rotor and should correct the wear of the brake shoes itself. It´s the star wheel or something like that, that doesn´t do work well and has to be set by hand. OK so far....
2. But there is another one, that should correct the elongation of the cable, which may occur after several years. This automatic is located in the area of the hand lever?!?! This is what one of the post above is talking about. He says it´s overgreased. This is the first time I read something about the handlever as a place to look for too. Is this right? At least it sounds good to me.
Frederik
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,803
Likes: 0
From: Panama City Beach FL
Re: My hand brake doesn't work any more ??? (C5 Frederik)
When you do have the ebrake in working order, you can maintain it by periodically backing up and stopping the vette with the ebrake (use very low speeds <5 mph) 3 consecutive times. Each time you should hear a click signifying an adjustment was made. I have done this and so far, my ebrake have been kept in great working order.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 479
Likes: 1
From: Portland OR
Re: My hand brake doesn't work any more ??? (C5 Frederik)
Correct me if I´m not right: there are two automatics at the ebrake.
1. The one, a lot of guys reported about, it´s in the mechanism of the rear wheel rotor and should correct the wear of the brake shoes itself. It´s the star wheel or something like that, that doesn´t do work well and has to be set by hand. OK so far....
2. But there is another one, that should correct the elongation of the cable, which may occur after several years. This automatic is located in the area of the hand lever?!?! This is what one of the post above is talking about. He says it´s overgreased. This is the first time I read something about the handlever as a place to look for too. Is this right? At least it sounds good to me.
Frederik
1. The one, a lot of guys reported about, it´s in the mechanism of the rear wheel rotor and should correct the wear of the brake shoes itself. It´s the star wheel or something like that, that doesn´t do work well and has to be set by hand. OK so far....
2. But there is another one, that should correct the elongation of the cable, which may occur after several years. This automatic is located in the area of the hand lever?!?! This is what one of the post above is talking about. He says it´s overgreased. This is the first time I read something about the handlever as a place to look for too. Is this right? At least it sounds good to me.
Frederik
2. You are right on this. The service manual says that the ratchet mechanism in the ebrake handle will take up cable slack. It says to operate the handle 3 times to make the adjustment.
:seeya
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 28,753
Likes: 9
From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
Re: My hand brake doesn't work any more ??? (alc2001)
I have fooled around so many times with that yanking on the handbrake 3 or more times with no results! :smash:
The ONLY THING THAT HAS WORKED is adjusting the star wheel inside the rear calipers. :yesnod:
vetterdstr :cheers:
The ONLY THING THAT HAS WORKED is adjusting the star wheel inside the rear calipers. :yesnod:
vetterdstr :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,112
Likes: 2
From: Sindelfingen Germany
Re: My hand brake doesn't work any more ??? (alc2001)
Very interesting, so there is
only one automatic in the e-brake system, it is located in the ratchet mechanism and activated by driving back and pulling handle three times. This will take up cable slack.
The star wheel in the rear rotor has to be set by hand. No automatic!
Frederik
only one automatic in the e-brake system, it is located in the ratchet mechanism and activated by driving back and pulling handle three times. This will take up cable slack.
The star wheel in the rear rotor has to be set by hand. No automatic!
Frederik
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,596
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta GA
Re: My hand brake doesn't work any more ??? (alc2001)
A vette tech in this area drills a hole in the base of the rotor so that the parking brake can be adjusted with the rotor installed. Ask your tech about this.
Now there is a great idea! My ebrake works great after removing the rotors and taking up the star wheel. All the while I was cursing GM for not making it accessible so you don't have to tear your car apart to make a simple adjustment. Do you have any more info on this rotor mod??
Now there is a great idea! My ebrake works great after removing the rotors and taking up the star wheel. All the while I was cursing GM for not making it accessible so you don't have to tear your car apart to make a simple adjustment. Do you have any more info on this rotor mod??
[Modified by gmblack3, 9:08 AM 10/16/2002]