Ebrake doesn't hold! What to do?
09-05-05, 04:20 PM
#1
Ebrake doesn't hold! What to do?
Well, I've notice for awhile now my ebrake seems to be loosing it's "strength." I was under the car the other day and the cables looks fine and when I pull the ebrake handle up it's tight and it releases fine. Except it has a hard time locking up the wheels. I can't park on a hill relying on the ebrake cause it'll just roll back. I'm not sure if my calipers are bad, I replaced the pads not too long ago. What could it be?
09-05-05, 05:01 PM
#4
Keep your main brakes in good condition, and just put it in reverse when you park it. If it's a steep enough hill that reverse won't hold it, either your compression is low, or you need to find a flatter place to park.
Mine doesn't work at all. I really should fix that one of these days.
-=Russ=-
Mine doesn't work at all. I really should fix that one of these days.
-=Russ=-
09-06-05, 12:46 AM
#5
Well my ebrake wont even hold even with it in gear. I think the tranny is just getting old and when I'm on a hill in first it will still roll back. It'll fight gravity and stop and go....almost like something in the tranny is slipping and can't handle the weight.
-I know the ebrake wont completely lock the wheels it's just it doesnt work PERIOD! I am having a hard time understanding why cause it was fine earlier.
-I know the ebrake wont completely lock the wheels it's just it doesnt work PERIOD! I am having a hard time understanding why cause it was fine earlier.
09-06-05, 02:34 AM
#7
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You probably have air bubbles in your brake lines....
I have the same problem...my suggestion is:
- when you park up the hill turn your front wheels away from the curb(side walk).
- when you park down the hill turn them into the curb.
or placing a brick under your wheel will help (if there are no side walks).
I have the same problem...my suggestion is:
- when you park up the hill turn your front wheels away from the curb(side walk).
- when you park down the hill turn them into the curb.
or placing a brick under your wheel will help (if there are no side walks).
Last edited by mali_FC; 09-06-05 at 02:41 AM.
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09-06-05, 03:17 AM
#8
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Use the lessons taught to you in drivers ed when parking your car on a hill such as what was said in the previous post. Use your e-brake and put it in gear as well.
09-06-05, 07:39 AM
#10
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Bubbles in the brake lines?
I always thought the e-brake was mechanically linked to the rear calipers?
It sounds like you just need to adjust the e-brake?
It does get "loose" sometimes.
-Ted
I always thought the e-brake was mechanically linked to the rear calipers?
It sounds like you just need to adjust the e-brake?
It does get "loose" sometimes.
-Ted
09-06-05, 08:32 AM
#11
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AFAIK the e-brake isn't supposed to lock the wheels.
and just put it in reverse when you park it
1. How many clicks do you hear when pulling on the e-brake? You should only hear up to 10. any more then that and you should adjust the cable. Also.
2. You need to make sure all the clips that hold the cable under the car ar still good. broken ones may let the cable flex and not hold.
3. Make sure the ebrake is pulling equally on both calipers. I dont know exactly how to determin this but if it feels like only one tire is getting more brake when you park it, then adjust the other side at the caliper where the cable connects to it.
4. make sure your rear pads are good and that there is no oil residue on them for any reason
Justin
09-06-05, 10:08 AM
#12
Reverse is, at least on the S4 NA tranny, the lowest gear ratio, which means it holds best. The engine will turn forwards or backwards just fine if it wants, so there's no real advantage to using a forward or reverse gear. On some cars, 1st is shorter than reverse, so you'd use that.
-=Russ=-
-=Russ=-
09-06-05, 11:59 AM
#15
HAILERS
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Install NEW rear brake pads.
But since you did that NOT TOO LONG AGO, adjust the cable and or look at the mechanism for the emergency brake AT the rear caliper to see if you see brake fluid leaking around that outfit.
It's fluid/mechanical in nature (emergency brake). Last time I looked anyway.
Or also remove the old pads and adjust the *adjuster* behind the pads and then reinstall the pads to see if it works better.
But since you did that NOT TOO LONG AGO, adjust the cable and or look at the mechanism for the emergency brake AT the rear caliper to see if you see brake fluid leaking around that outfit.
It's fluid/mechanical in nature (emergency brake). Last time I looked anyway.
Or also remove the old pads and adjust the *adjuster* behind the pads and then reinstall the pads to see if it works better.
Last edited by HAILERS; 09-06-05 at 12:04 PM.
09-06-05, 03:14 PM
#16
Ok I'm not too much of a noob so I've already done EVERYTHING you all have suggested, but I do appreciate the help.
Here's what I've already done.
-Check the pads they are fine.
-Adjusted Ebrake already that's fine.
-No breaks in the cable.
-When I change the pads about two months ago I bled the system.
-It's pulling the hook that's down by the caliper.
The only thing I can maybe think of is that the rotors are old and maybe they're too skinny? I'm not sure if it's cause of use and age they've worn down and should I replace those? They seem ok but I'm not sure if that's it.
Here's what I've already done.
-Check the pads they are fine.
-Adjusted Ebrake already that's fine.
-No breaks in the cable.
-When I change the pads about two months ago I bled the system.
-It's pulling the hook that's down by the caliper.
The only thing I can maybe think of is that the rotors are old and maybe they're too skinny? I'm not sure if it's cause of use and age they've worn down and should I replace those? They seem ok but I'm not sure if that's it.
09-06-05, 03:19 PM
#18
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He's not asking on tips for parking, he's asking what might be wrong with his ebrake..
(I have the same problem, doesn't hold on any incline, cable / pads / tension are fine)
(I have the same problem, doesn't hold on any incline, cable / pads / tension are fine)
09-07-05, 12:01 AM
#20
Hmmm I haven't tried that yet I'll do that tomorrow and see what happens.
Also Thanks "Phr00t" yea I wasn't looking for advice to PARK MY CAR. I know how to do that come on guys I know all this already. I drift my car out on the damn track and done all the mods myself.....what kinda of driver would I be if I couldn't park on a hill!
Also Thanks "Phr00t" yea I wasn't looking for advice to PARK MY CAR. I know how to do that come on guys I know all this already. I drift my car out on the damn track and done all the mods myself.....what kinda of driver would I be if I couldn't park on a hill!
09-07-05, 06:38 AM
#21
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Originally Posted by a_drift
The only thing I can maybe think of is that the rotors are old and maybe they're too skinny? I'm not sure if it's cause of use and age they've worn down and should I replace those? They seem ok but I'm not sure if that's it.
The brakes (calipers) are all "self-adjusting", so unless you ran the reservior dry, the brake pads will keep self-adjusting to the brake rotor thickness.
*bzzt* Try again...
I still think you didn't adjust the e-brake correctly.
...especially since you mention you "drift".
-Ted
09-07-05, 11:33 AM
#22
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As Ted suggested, try tightening up the cable. That can help and I believe the procedure is in the Haynes manual. I believe that if the cable stretches enough you may need to replace it.
09-07-05, 03:20 PM
#23
I TRIED THAT A MILLION TIMES!!!!! I did to where the thing is tight and you can't pull it any further at just 2 clicks then I loosened it to see if it'll work in 6 clicks then loosened it to 9 clicks to where I can't pull the handle anymore. Trust me I've adjusted it just fine. When you're inside the car and pull the handle everything seems fine but you can get out and push the car back with the ebrake all the way up.
09-07-05, 04:02 PM
#24
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I think what I'd do......jack the car and have someone try to turn the rear wheels with just the normal brake pedal applied. Just in case you have something wrong with the calipers. Like a non floating caliper or something like that.
09-07-05, 07:12 PM
#25
Ok I was under the car for a couple of hours today trying to figure all this out....this is what I can figure out.
1) I actually did have a buddy apply the brakes and the rear calipers seem just fine. They do apply pressure to the rotors when the pedal is depressed.
2) When it came to adjusting the ebrake from the little nut on the handle I noticed that the screw inside the nut is sticking out quite a bit. It looks like it's tighten as tight as it can possibly go. Now the screw in the middle just turns with the nut and I had to pry a screwdriver in there to stop it just so I can see if I can take the nut off if needed.
-My first conclusion is that I need a new front cable cause it's pulling the hook at the calipers as much as possible and it still doesn't lock the brakes. Also I worry cause the screw at the adjusting nut is sticking out.
-Second I may need new calipers cause for some reason they aren't reacting to the pressure from the ebrake cable. I don't know if something inside the calipers is stuck but it doesn't seem right cause both calipers aren't grabbing at all. But that's why I think it may be the cables.
If you look at the pic that hook as hardly any free play at all. The cable is pulling it back as far as it can go. Shouldn't the calipers lock up sooner so the hook doesn't have to travel so far? I'm not sure I'm just throwing out everything I know about the problem.
1) I actually did have a buddy apply the brakes and the rear calipers seem just fine. They do apply pressure to the rotors when the pedal is depressed.
2) When it came to adjusting the ebrake from the little nut on the handle I noticed that the screw inside the nut is sticking out quite a bit. It looks like it's tighten as tight as it can possibly go. Now the screw in the middle just turns with the nut and I had to pry a screwdriver in there to stop it just so I can see if I can take the nut off if needed.
-My first conclusion is that I need a new front cable cause it's pulling the hook at the calipers as much as possible and it still doesn't lock the brakes. Also I worry cause the screw at the adjusting nut is sticking out.
-Second I may need new calipers cause for some reason they aren't reacting to the pressure from the ebrake cable. I don't know if something inside the calipers is stuck but it doesn't seem right cause both calipers aren't grabbing at all. But that's why I think it may be the cables.
If you look at the pic that hook as hardly any free play at all. The cable is pulling it back as far as it can go. Shouldn't the calipers lock up sooner so the hook doesn't have to travel so far? I'm not sure I'm just throwing out everything I know about the problem.