Farmboy86

Replaced the rear parking brake cables and replaced the calipers. When the parking brake handle is all the way up it will not hold the car. Cables adjusted to the right spot. Should I replace the front cable too?

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Hey, Farm, welcome to TGO. Mentioning year, make, model, engine, trans, and so on is always helpful in providing a possible fix. That said, do you have the 82-88 Delco-Moraine system (10.5" rotors with iron calipers) or the 89+ system (11.7" rotors with PBR's)?

JamesC

petrolhead

I've got the early brakes on mine, I have the same problem, also the rears never adjust. They're just a bad design all around. The threaded piece in the back of the caliper piston strips out, gm used to sell a repair kit for it. but that hasn't happened on mine, they just plain do not work, I'm trying to find the later style rear end and do a complete swap, that will be my fix!

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

The older style requires the frequent use of the parking brake to keep the brakes in adjustment.

JamesC

Gumby

^ id say that goes for them all, if the parking brake is used often from new, it works as it should. People who wait 20 years to finally use it, end up cutting cables or never getting it right.

first question I had for the PO, do you use the parking brake, if he didn't, I never would of touched it.

Farmboy86

I am sorry, I forgot to mention that the car is a 1986 Camaro with rear disc brakes. I put on rebuilt capilers and new brake pads.Just bought the car and rear parking brake cables were frozen

petrolhead

They plain do not work even when using the parking brake, I've tried it all, my dad bought one new, and had problems from the start, there was a recall to replace the stripped threads, but that usually didn't fix it. I think that's why they went to pbr calipers.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

The recall can be seen below (note the replacement of the actuator):

http://members.shaw.ca/crussel/recalls/86c28/86c28.html

Though this system has a bad reputation on TGO, I'm uncertain of how merited that reputation is. At any rate, I ran these on my 85 for a number of years without issue.

To the OP: Try pulling and releasing the parking brake lever, say, 30 times. Got nothing to lose.

JamesC

Farmboy86

I don't know when the parking brake was last used or if it was ever used. The front cable from the lever to the equalizer might be streched out. The parking brake was adjusted almost all the way up before. I'm going to replace that and see if that works.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Try the following from the manual--if you haven't already:

1. Lubricate parking brake cables at the underbody rub points and at equalizer hooks. Check for free movement of all cables.
2. Make sure parking brake hand lever is in fully released position.
3. Raise rear wheels off floor.
4. Hold brake cable stud from turning and tighten equalizer nut until cable slack is removed.
5. Make sure caliper levers are against stops on caliper housing after tightening equalizer nut.
6. If levers are off stops, loosen cable until levers do return to stops.
7. Operate parking brake lever several times to check adjustment. After cable adjustment is performed, parking brake lever should travel 14 clicks with approximately 150+ or -20 pounds force of handle effort, using gage, J 28662.
8. Lower rear wheels. Levers must be on caliper stops after completion of adjustment. Back off park brake adjuster if necessary to keep levers on stops.

JamesC

84TransAmNY

Is there a tutorial for doing this. I got the whole system disassembled except for the front cable. I couldn't find where it's hooked up to the handle. Do I have to completely disassemble the metal bracket that holds the handle in place.

Farmboy86

I was going to replace the front cable but did not.Could not get my hands to get pin out.My parking brake is working good now.Rebuild calipers,new rear cables.I make sure to use it to keep it adjusted.

RMK

To be honest, my experience with the pbr parking brake is that it's pretty crap also as mine don't work well at all even though the clippers are new.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Have you adjusted "free travel"?

JamesC

RMK

Hi James,

Can you please give me details of how you adjust the "free travel" and I will try that?

Kind regards

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...ear-brake.html

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/brak...-i-adjust.html

JamesC

RMK

Thanks for the links James. I'll print these off and give it a try.

All the best.