parking brake adjustment
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 260
Likes: 4
From: TX
parking brake adjustment
yesterday i tried the posted remedy for adjusting the parking brake and am wondering ,are the pass. side and drivers side adjusters the same .? i had the rotors off and the pass. side adjuster wheel moved to spead the seats for the brake pads just fine but the drivers side adjuster wheel moved the whole notched assembly that the pads rest on so no adjusting on that side. ?is it frozen together or is it different than the other side? :confused: i really would like to be able to park using the brake in stead of it resting on the gears.thans in advance for your advise. :cheers:
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 442
Likes: 2
From: San Clemente CA
Re: parking brake adjustment (texasfireman)
Hi,
The adjustment bolts on both sides are right hand thread so you need to turn the adjusting wheels the same direction. This means that your screwdriver handle will be on the outside of the brake shoes for the passenger side adjustment but on the inside of the brake shoes for the driver side. If you turn the adjuster the wrong way, it will make the clicking sound but the distance between the star wheel and the ram (bolt head) will not get bigger.
Good luck,
Steve
The adjustment bolts on both sides are right hand thread so you need to turn the adjusting wheels the same direction. This means that your screwdriver handle will be on the outside of the brake shoes for the passenger side adjustment but on the inside of the brake shoes for the driver side. If you turn the adjuster the wrong way, it will make the clicking sound but the distance between the star wheel and the ram (bolt head) will not get bigger.
Good luck,
Steve
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 2,474
Likes: 10
From: Olney MD
Re: parking brake adjustment (texasfireman)
ttt
I'd like to know the answer to this too. Dealership said they need to keep the car for the day to do this as it takes a bit of time. He said this is a weak part of the C5, that it is hard to adjust and needs to be adjusted every 10k, unless you adjust with the back up method every once in a while.
I haven't taken it apart, so I don't know what I'll see, but why didn't they put the adjustement on the drum somewhere where it can be reached without having to take the wheel/rotors/calipers off?
I'd like to know the answer to this too. Dealership said they need to keep the car for the day to do this as it takes a bit of time. He said this is a weak part of the C5, that it is hard to adjust and needs to be adjusted every 10k, unless you adjust with the back up method every once in a while.
I haven't taken it apart, so I don't know what I'll see, but why didn't they put the adjustement on the drum somewhere where it can be reached without having to take the wheel/rotors/calipers off?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 260
Likes: 4
From: TX
Re: parking brake adjustment (SNW Vette)
hey steve, the star wheel and bolt head moved as one piece.i understand about the threads being the same but on diff. sides but no matter what way i turn the star wheel the whole bolt turned temporarily causing the shoes to loose the seat untill it was rotated enough to slide back in.????thats why i think the bolt and star wheel might be frozen together.i tried some solvent to loosen it but the whole thing went back together and nothing was accomplished.i hate that.??? :crazy: :cuss
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 442
Likes: 2
From: San Clemente CA
Re: parking brake adjustment (texasfireman)
Hi,
It sounds like the star wheel is jammed against the bolt head. You need to free it some how. Can you get pliers on the bolt or hold it through the slot with a screwdriver?
Good luck,
Steve
:seeya
It sounds like the star wheel is jammed against the bolt head. You need to free it some how. Can you get pliers on the bolt or hold it through the slot with a screwdriver?
Good luck,
Steve
:seeya
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 260
Likes: 4
From: TX
Re: parking brake adjustment (SNW Vette)
thats got to be it .the star is tight on the bolt so they look like theyre one peice.i'll try putting some vise gripps on the bolt and taking a screw driver and hammer to the star wheel.thanks for the conf. :cheers:
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Re: parking brake adjustment (texasfireman)
Have you finished the brake adjustment yet?
If not, I had the same problem with the drivers side star wheel adjustment. Seems like it was frozen up or turned tight up against the bolt head! WD-40 and one good hit on the screwdriver turning it towards the front of the car loosened it up!
Do not take it to a dealership! The first time it took me 3 hours for both sides not knowing what the hell I was doing! A few phone to calls to a forum member got me out of the jam.
Can now adjust the parking brakes in less than 20 minutes for both sides. :smash: Hit it!
If not, I had the same problem with the drivers side star wheel adjustment. Seems like it was frozen up or turned tight up against the bolt head! WD-40 and one good hit on the screwdriver turning it towards the front of the car loosened it up!
Do not take it to a dealership! The first time it took me 3 hours for both sides not knowing what the hell I was doing! A few phone to calls to a forum member got me out of the jam.
Can now adjust the parking brakes in less than 20 minutes for both sides. :smash: Hit it!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 781
Likes: 4
From: Reno Nevada
Re: parking brake adjustment (texasfireman)
Guys,
Good info.
I replaced my rotors (with drilled/slotted), I did notice the adjusting parts, but didn't adjust anything (Stupid Me)
Do I have to remove the rotors? (I'd think not)
Is it like adjusting drum brakes? That's what we're really doing, right?
So, wheel off, adjust brake shoes, wheel back on?
THANKS, ART
Good info.
I replaced my rotors (with drilled/slotted), I did notice the adjusting parts, but didn't adjust anything (Stupid Me)
Do I have to remove the rotors? (I'd think not)
Is it like adjusting drum brakes? That's what we're really doing, right?
So, wheel off, adjust brake shoes, wheel back on?
THANKS, ART
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 260
Likes: 4
From: TX
Re: parking brake adjustment (vetteman407)
not fixed yet but will try your method in an hour or so.thanks for the help.this is alot different than my old days doing prototype testing on the C5 back 95-97.i cant just drive it in to the engineers shop and run thru the probs w/ them but the forum is the next best thing. :smash: :chevy
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 781
Likes: 4
From: Reno Nevada
Re: parking brake adjustment (texasfireman)
OK, I removed the wheels calipers, then the rotors.
1st side, drivers, I blew out the brake dust, adjusted the "shoes", worked great.
Other side, passenger, I went to blow out the dust, NO DUST!! It looked like that side had NEVER worked!! All clean, and brand new looking.
Turns out the spring behind the "shoe" assembly was not hooked on correctly. Took about an hour to figure it out, not too complicated really. Got it on and adjusted, works GREAT!!!!
I had herd (don't know where, maybe here) about the reverse adjusting procedure, but after being inside, there's NO WAY it's set up to adjust like that.
So, thanks guys, I'm good to go (Park?) now.
ART
1st side, drivers, I blew out the brake dust, adjusted the "shoes", worked great.
Other side, passenger, I went to blow out the dust, NO DUST!! It looked like that side had NEVER worked!! All clean, and brand new looking.
Turns out the spring behind the "shoe" assembly was not hooked on correctly. Took about an hour to figure it out, not too complicated really. Got it on and adjusted, works GREAT!!!!
I had herd (don't know where, maybe here) about the reverse adjusting procedure, but after being inside, there's NO WAY it's set up to adjust like that.
So, thanks guys, I'm good to go (Park?) now.
ART
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Re: parking brake adjustment (Arthur6)
OK, I removed the wheels calipers, then the rotors.
1st side, drivers, I blew out the brake dust, adjusted the "shoes", worked great.
Other side, passenger, I went to blow out the dust, NO DUST!! It looked like that side had NEVER worked!! All clean, and brand new looking.
Turns out the spring behind the "shoe" assembly was not hooked on correctly. Took about an hour to figure it out, not too complicated really. Got it on and adjusted, works GREAT!!!!
I had herd (don't know where, maybe here) about the reverse adjusting procedure, but after being inside, there's NO WAY it's set up to adjust like that.
So, thanks guys, I'm good to go (Park?) now.
ART
1st side, drivers, I blew out the brake dust, adjusted the "shoes", worked great.
Other side, passenger, I went to blow out the dust, NO DUST!! It looked like that side had NEVER worked!! All clean, and brand new looking.
Turns out the spring behind the "shoe" assembly was not hooked on correctly. Took about an hour to figure it out, not too complicated really. Got it on and adjusted, works GREAT!!!!
I had herd (don't know where, maybe here) about the reverse adjusting procedure, but after being inside, there's NO WAY it's set up to adjust like that.
So, thanks guys, I'm good to go (Park?) now.
ART
Just one friendly word of caution, however. I would recommend using Brakleen by CRC or any other brake cleaning product that is similar. That brake dust is no good for breathing. :D
[Modified by LoneStarFRC, 8:03 PM 9/26/2003]
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 479
Likes: 1
From: Portland OR
Re: parking brake adjustment (MANNY)
...needs to be adjusted every 10k, unless you adjust with the back up method ...
There is no such thing as a “back up method”.
Did the dealer you mention tell you this?
If so, I wouldn´t go there no more.
There is no such thing as a “back up method”.
Did the dealer you mention tell you this?
If so, I wouldn´t go there no more.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: fort worth Texas
Re: parking brake adjustment (alc2001)
Its funny you guys say the back-up method won't work. I thought that is just what mine did. However after reading your post's i know believe it was prob stuck and simply worked its way loose. My 98 parking brake has not worked since i got it 1.5 years ago (38K) it now has (42K) and the parking brake just started working last week. Now i am wondering if i should take it apart to inspect for any damages.... Your thoughts?
Thanks
Mike~
Thanks
Mike~
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 260
Likes: 4
From: TX
Re: parking brake adjustment (User (mike))
well thanks to all the input here my parking brake now holds tight with only having to pull it up 5-6 inches. next is the shifter adjustment. :cheers:oh yes mike , i would take it apart to clean and inspect the brake ,making sure your star adjuster wheel spins freely.wheels adjust from out side toward the back of the car on the pass side,and from the inside toward the front of the car on the drivers side .bettter description is CLOCKWISE. good luck and this does work :smash: :chevy
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 781
Likes: 4
From: Reno Nevada
Re: parking brake adjustment (texasfireman)
Yea Mike,
If your familiar at all with drum brakes (that's what the parking brake really is, a small drum brake), you, I and most others here know drum brakes are adjusted when you back your car up. A self-adjusting feature almost all cars had when cars had drum brakes. A real simple, good idea.
BUT, after seeing what's inside a C5 parking brake, it’s so simple, but there's NO back-up type adjuster in there. So whoever told me it can be adjusted like that, has never seen in side the brake, our just has no idea what they’re talking about. But the idea does sound good, too bad .
ART
If your familiar at all with drum brakes (that's what the parking brake really is, a small drum brake), you, I and most others here know drum brakes are adjusted when you back your car up. A self-adjusting feature almost all cars had when cars had drum brakes. A real simple, good idea.
BUT, after seeing what's inside a C5 parking brake, it’s so simple, but there's NO back-up type adjuster in there. So whoever told me it can be adjusted like that, has never seen in side the brake, our just has no idea what they’re talking about. But the idea does sound good, too bad .
ART
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 479
Likes: 1
From: Portland OR
Re: parking brake adjustment (Arthur6)
Yea Mike,
If your familiar at all with drum brakes (that's what the parking brake really is, a small drum brake), you, I and most others here know drum brakes are adjusted when you back your car up. A self-adjusting feature almost all cars had when cars had drum brakes. A real simple, good idea.
BUT, after seeing what's inside a C5 parking brake, it’s so simple, but there's NO back-up type adjuster in there. So whoever told me it can be adjusted like that, has never seen in side the brake, our just has no idea what they’re talking about. But the idea does sound good, too bad .
ART
If your familiar at all with drum brakes (that's what the parking brake really is, a small drum brake), you, I and most others here know drum brakes are adjusted when you back your car up. A self-adjusting feature almost all cars had when cars had drum brakes. A real simple, good idea.
BUT, after seeing what's inside a C5 parking brake, it’s so simple, but there's NO back-up type adjuster in there. So whoever told me it can be adjusted like that, has never seen in side the brake, our just has no idea what they’re talking about. But the idea does sound good, too bad .
ART
[Modified by alc2001, 9:21 PM 9/28/2003]
