DIY - Parking Brake Exploration
 

Okay, here's the scenario.

You attempt to remove your rear rotors and the suckers are stuck. You bang on them with your big hammer, wiggling them as you try to pull them off but they just barely budge. Your patience is really being tested as it is not comfortable being bent over that long trying to do something that is not that complicated (removing the rear rotors). They are working themselves free but they just won't come off. Finally, you get good and worked up and start yanking at the rotor. You're all huffin' and a puffin' but those darn things finally yank free. You look at what is still attached to the car and this is what you see:

http://pc-surgeon.net/images/cforum/...brakewrong.jpg

Yep, you did it wrong.

I did too which is why I know know how the parking brake assembly now works. I have to admit, "learning by screw up" is not a technique that I suggest anyone subscribe to! :willy:

Now there are 2 ways to do this. The "by the manual" way and the "you got to have the patience of a saint" method. The latter does not require any parts removal but requires you to fish the spring behind the wheel hub. I lasted all of 30 minutes before I crapped on that method and just took the entire assembly apart. It helped that I was doing a output shaft seal repair so most of my rear end was already disassembled. I believe Jason (JDMVette) did a write up on the shortcut technique but I can't seem to find it. I bet he'll chime in later on down this thread.

Now I'm going to do this a little different than the norm because this will actually serve multiple purposes. I'm going to assemble the parking brake from total breakdown. This way, you'll see what it takes to assemble it and this may assist in your repair if you have to reattach that spring. So, as my main man and former Marine Mills Lane would say, "Let's get it on!"

http://chronicle.augusta.com/images/...Mills_Lane.jpg

Here's the way it's put together.

First, the stabilizer with nothing but the upper control arm attached.

http://pc-surgeon.net/images/cforum/stabilizer.jpg

The next thing that you add is the dust plate, the parking brake actuator assembly, the parking cable bracket and bolts. The bolts that hold the actuator assembly onto the dust plate also hold the dust plate onto the stabilizer.

http://pc-surgeon.net/images/cforum/dustplate.jpg

http://pc-surgeon.net/images/cforum/pbrakebracket2.jpg

Next, install the parking brake shoes. You'll have to grab them with both hands and spread them apart to get them attached to the actuator. It also helps to have the actuator adjusted down to its smallest width.

http://pc-surgeon.net/images/cforum/pbrakeshoes.jpg

Next, add that blasted spring...

http://pc-surgeon.net/images/cforum/pbrakespring.jpg

Now you're ready to add the wheel hub. The wheel hub has part of the the wheel speed sensor for the traction control attached to it. Here a picture of it (special thanks to Randy aka BlackSedan87 for correctly identifying that part. :thumbs:):

http://pc-surgeon.net/images/cforum/tirepressuremod.jpg

...and here's the wheel hub in place.

http://pc-surgeon.net/images/cforum/wheelhub.jpg

Here's the backside of the stabilizer showing the 3 bolts that hold the wheel hub in place. These can be removed using a Torx 55 socket bit. I had to go buy this bit to remove the hub. Thanks to Randy for saving me a trip into the garage to identify it!

http://pc-surgeon.net/images/cforum/wheelhubbolts.jpg

Now here's the kicker! If you remove the center nut that holds the shaft in the stabilizer and then remove the 3 hub bolts, you should be able to pull the hub out of the stabilizer. FAT CHANCE AND GOOD LUCK!

That's why I'm not calling this a fix. This will give you some idea what's holding the parking brake together and maybe assist you in coming up with a method to resolve your issue.

There is one very important minor detail that I did learn that would have kept this whole situation from happening from the get go. Before removing your rotors, work the parking brake a bunch of times to free the parking brake shoes from the rotors. This is in the manual Had I bothered to read the manual before fooling with the rotors, I wouldn't have had to go through all this nonsense! Since you're reading this now, neither will you!

If you end up deciding to pull the shaft, you'll probably want to check out this thread.

Last of all, here are the instructions for adjusting your parking brake.

Have fun boys and girls! :thumbs:

The Junkman

Nice write-up A.J.! One thing though - the sensor that you identify as the "tire pressure sensor" - isn't that the wheel speed sensor for the traction control?

I'm facing replacing the wheel bearing/hub assembly this week and even though I'm going to be working on the front - your pics will sure help.

One more thing - that reference you made to a special socket to remove the hub assembly...I believe it is a T55 Torx.:cheers:

You sir, are correct on both counts! I will go back and do a little editing right now. That's what I love about this place. The knowledge is abundant and folks are willing to share. :thumbs:

Excellent write up. These type of posts really help out the forum members. :thumbs:

The spring and shoe are fairly easy to re-install.

I did a write up on it but evidently a lot of C5 folks either have no sense of humor or it zoomed right by.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1955752

On the other hand no one was crazy enough to try and order one. :lol:

Wow, I never saw this. The thread I did see was the way I tried to do it at first but it did nothing but frustrate me. I remember two guys having luck with it. I had nothing but more gray hairs when I was done trying.

Great Post - Please sticky

Another awesome writeup by the Junkman! :cheers:

I'm anxiously awaiting one of your write ups for a head swap. :lol:

Excellent write-up. I really like how you put pictures in your posts. I really believe that pictures are worth a thousand words...

Thanks for sharing with everyone. :cheers:

Haha, this would have helped a couple of years ago. After adjusting my parking brake, I had inadvertantly tightened it too much, and when I tried to remove the rotor, B-O-I-N-G, damn spring popped off. I used the "patience of a saint" method which took about 30 mintues a day for 3 days because I would get so frustrated. Finally got it back on, but this probably would have saved me time and frustration! Thanks for the writeup and pics.

:cheers:

Junkman, you are the junk:thumbs: Very nice write-up on how that all works. Thanks for sharing:cheers:

Allow me to add to the statement that a picture is worth a thousand words, in any language! :yesnod:

EXACTLY!

I couldn't stand it. I tried and I tried and I got frustrated quick so I said screw this. My patience when it comes to working on cars is VERY low. It has drastically improved since finding the Corvette Forum but that's only because there are guys who pass out laughing at your question and then jump back in their computer chairs and shoot you an answer!

Three days, man you sound like me!

Another great write up AJ! You are definately da man when it comes to write ups with pics. :thumbs: :cheers:
Here's a tip for anybody going with the "SAINT" method. Get the biggest flathead screwdriver you can find, and either file or dremmel a "V" shaped notch in the end of it. Make sure you make the notch deep enough that the spring fits inside the notch. You can then use this to push the spring in place in less than the time it takes to have a pizza delivered. Ask me how I know this little trick. :ack:

Hey AJ, excellent job. Your tutorials are the best. :thumbs: :cheers:

I can see how old these posts are, but my problem is new. My parking brake just quit on me, I was not working on the rear rotors or anything else. I was just driving the car as usual and went to use the parking brake, but it was now limp like an old man. Do I have to re-attach some springs or cables???

(Yes, I know this is a 6-year-old thread.)
Pictures are indeed worth a thousand words...if they're attached to the thread and not hosted on a inaccessable external site.

Thank you for your quick response. I was not able to pull up the pictures in this section but I did see some picture's from Blue 92's post and that will help me when I get around to doing this.
Thanks again.

Damn really need to see these pics :(

I would try to pm junkman.

PM sent...