brake replacement problem /rant

[silky]

Hey all,

I had to get a safety inspection and the shop told me I needed new brakes all around. I didn't want to pay for this so I decided to do it myself. Today was the day.

So everything went well on the first three but I ran into problems on the left rear wheel. The first problem was that the tire/rim was stuck to the hub. I removed the lug nuts and the thing would not come off. I had to kick it hard about 25 times before it came off. This tells me that the shop that told me I needed new pads and was supposed to do an inspection of them, never did the inspection and never had the wheel off.

So, after I got the tire off I had a struggle with the rotor. It was on there pretty well and I couldn't get it to budge. I tried to adjust the parking brake rotor and noticed something was wrong. So I finally got the rotor off by beating it and prying it and when I did, pieces of the parking brake fell out. The whole parking brake assembly was shifted out of position. It seems that the 2 pins that hold the pads in place pulled through the dust shield. I removed the parking brake system and stored the springs, pins, clips and pads in a box. I put the new parts on and everything seems to work well.

Is it ok to run the parking brake on the right side but not the left side? Also, when I put the right rear rotor on it was tight. I had to tap it on with a hammer. Should I adjust the right rear parking brake or is it supposed to be tight when installling the rotor?

I do plan on re-installing the parking brake. I think I need to get a new dust shield first!

thanks guys!

 

[jlsparky7]

Do you have drum brakes in the rear or disc? Just for clarification. Specs on your vehicle would help.
I don't know if they check the parking brake during inspection but only hooking 1 brake up wont hurt anything.

Here's a few vids to help out.
Front Brakes Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DhlRS2JjnM
Front Brakes Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9RUvjAt7Bk
Rear Disc brakes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wli3VEN7Gg
Rear Drum Brakes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRf7iwWWgvE

 

[silky]

it's a 98 sport 4x4 sohc. it's disc all around.

 

[96eb96]

I would try to find a washer that can adapt the parking brake pins to the larger hole. You can then clean up the housing a bit and optionally jbweld it to the back of the housing if you confirm it fits (its not going anywhere either way).

It shouldn't cost more than 15 cents. I believe the retainers are spring mounted so a thin washer should not make a difference.

The rotor should not be on "tight." You adjust the starwheel until there is an allowance of movement with a bit of resistance.

 

[silky]

I would try to find a washer that can adapt the parking brake pins to the larger hole. You can then clean up the housing a bit and optionally jbweld it to the back of the housing if you confirm it fits (its not going anywhere either way).

It shouldn't cost more than 15 cents. I believe the retainers are spring mounted so a thin washer should not make a difference.

The rotor should not be on "tight." You adjust the starwheel until there is an allowance of movement with a bit of resistance.

thanks! As soon as I Get some free time I will try the jb weld washer method. I may just replace the dust shield depending on the cost of it.

When I put the new right rear rotor on I had to tap it with a piece of wood and a hammer to get it on. Does this mean the parking brake is too tight or is that normal?

thanks

 

[Dan Whitaker]

thanks! As soon as I Get some free time I will try the jb weld washer method. I may just replace the dust shield depending on the cost of it.

When I put the new right rear rotor on I had to tap it with a piece of wood and a hammer to get it on. Does this mean the parking brake is too tight or is that normal?

thanks

It is adjusted out too much. The rotor should just slide on.

 

[silky]

thanks!

sigh, I imagine that is what's causing my poor fuel mileage!

 

[jlsparky7]

thanks!

sigh, I imagine that is what's causing my poor fuel mileage!

Probably.

Clean your IAC and MAF and itll help your mileage too.

 

[silky]

I have cleaned both of those and the throttle body which fixed my sticking throttle cable.

new problem:

So I removed the right rear tire and the rotor. I adjusted the parking brake cable, adjusted them in by pushing that start thing up, and re-installed the rotor. I adjusted it until the rotor slid on fairly easily. I re-installed the pads, caliper and tire and took it for a test drive. I am now getting this rubbing/grinding sound comming from the right rear when coasting. Any idea what I should look for?

thanks guys!

 

[jlsparky7]

You mean "I am now" not "I am not" right?

Did you apply the brakes firmly a few times before you went for a drive? Pads might not be seated.

 

[silky]

Ya, sorry. I meant NOW not NOT but I edited it.

I didn't hammer the brakes a few times before I took it out, but I did Hammer the brakes a few times while I was driving.

 

[jlsparky7]

Sounds like the ebrake is over adjusted.

 

[silky]

it's weird though. It didn't make this noise before, when the parking brake was massively over adjusdted. Maybe I reduced it soo much that it's still over adjusted but only rubbing occasionally....I dono.

 

[jlsparky7]

Maybe.

Are you sure you have the right size rotors?

 

[silky]

well they are the same as the ones that came off. Same size and shape and everything. I am going to take it apart again tomorrow. I think it may be a bent dush shield or soemthing. I had to pry on it a bit to get the rotor off, maybe I bent it a bit or something.

 

[jlsparky7]

More than likely its something simple. If it were something major it would be more than just a noise that was the problem.

 

[silky]

I will be sure to let you know what the problem is when I find it. And thanks for your input!

Oh, and I don't think it's anything major. The brakes and the parking brake work perfectly!