anyone's E-brake suck as much as mine does/

[LONO100]

hey all, i went hiking last sunday and pulled onto this little parking area along a gravel road that tilted into a ditch. before putting my 03 ST in park, i stepped on the E-brake and as i let my foot off the brake for a second, my ride started crawling down toward the ditch. i wasnt even really tilted into the ditch, but my ride just started to flow with the grade. it feels like my E-brake is completely not working. anyone have this problem too? any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

 

[600remguy]

I use mine all the time. They do need adjusting every once and a while by hand. Can't for the life of me remember if they are to self adjust, but I don't trust it if it does. Snug them up a little and you will be amazed.

 

[brianwsnc]

All the E brakes I have seen are activated with a cable. Cable operations is not as strong as hydrolic, so you have to push harder to make it clamp the brake shoes to the little parking brake drum.

As stated above, adjust them.. and you will see a great improvement in the gripping power. IF not.. remove and inspect the parking shoes and drum for excess build up.. also check the cable operation for binding and rust in the sheath.

other than that.. your E brake should work as good as any other Ebrake

Brian B

 

[bdmaash]

They are supposed to adjust when you reverse and step on the brake pedal. Since it seems like they may not be working, the cable may be stretched, or corroded, for stretched cable there is probably an external adjustment to take up the slack.
There are kits available for the internal parts (if it's drum brakes), just in case the parts have failed inside the drum. The adjuster wears out and isn't able to turn the screw sometimes.

 

[brianwsnc]

I didn't think E brakes automatic adjusters. I am sure they have a star wheel.

I think your thinking about rear brake drums that adjust when you brake going in reverse. causeing the shoes to priviot backwards, pulling on the adjustment cable and clicking the star wheel.

I don't know how that would work with Ebrake operation.

 

[LONO100]

i actually have four wheel discs, and have never really looked at the e-brake assembly down there, but i have noticed before while being down there that it is def controlled by a cable that leads to the rear wheels. im waiting for some free time at night to take a look at it because right now, the ground (even in my garage) is just way to hot to be lying on.

 

[sohcneondriver]

I have 4 wheel disc brakes on my '04 as well. I was a little surprised the first time I pulled the rotor off and discovered a set of brake shoes behind it. The rear rotors are actually drums, too, for the parking brake. Apparently this is a common thing. They do have to be adjusted manually, but I wouldn't think the shoes would wear down very fast unless you drive with your parking brake on a lot, lol.

 

[IZwack]

All the E brakes I have seen are activated with a cable. Cable operations is not as strong as hydrolic, so you have to push harder to make it clamp the brake shoes to the little parking brake drum.

Its not so much of cable vs hydraulic, its just that the hydraulic brake system is "boosted" with the engine's intake vacuum where as the E-brake is not.

 

[brianwsnc]

IZwack.

I will have to respectfully disagree with you.

if cable operations were as strong as hydrolic activation.. they would not use hydrolics in so many levering and power transfer operations

try using a cable operated floor jack or cable operated back hoe..
But I do understand what you are saying

lets keep on the subject of the orginal posters question. His emergency brake should work as well as any other vehicle parking brake operation. clean and adjust the braking shoes and clean, lube the cable.

 

[IZwack]

lets keep on the subject of the orginal posters question.

I'm down with that - PM sent.

But for S and giggles, what do you think would happen if you disconnected the brake booster's vacuum line, plugged both ends (so as to not throw a CEL) and went for a quick drive?