E-brake locked

[oldman]

Hey guys I need some help here. Today is the coldest day here in NJ and my E-brake will not release this mornning. I have removed the center consel and see that the cable is lose when I release the brake. I just changed both cables in June because it use to lock last winter as well. Does anyone know where exactly does it lock up? Are there any joints or something that needs to be lubricated? I checked the rear rotor after I got to work and it was pretty hot. Please help. Thanks.

 

[92redman]

That is why you are really not supposed to use the e-brake in the winter. It is probably frozen.

 

[oldman]

I hear you. It's kinda impossible not to use it with a TT though. So how do I unfreez it.

 

[92redman]

Wait until it thaws out in the spring

 

[oldman]

Thanks a lot

 

[92redman]

Haha, honestly I don't really know what to do. Maybe you could take a dryer or something and heat up the area around the rear brakes. That's what I would try, but I have never had that happen to me....yet.

 

[oldman]

So you think it's the drum brakes that's frozen but not joints along the cable?

 

[MrPikolo]

do 1gs have drum brakes?

 

[oldman]

I think 90's have both, don't know about 91-94. The e-brake cable goes to drum brakes not to the caliper. Somone please correct me if i'm wrong.

 

[92redman]

The cable goes to whatver you have in the rear whether it is drum or disk it just connects to a different brake component.

 

[oldman]

I really thought I read somewhere that 90's were different. I have worked on Subaru Legacy that had both, and thoght mine had the same system. I could be wrong. In any case, any ideas besides the blow dryer. I don't think it's going to get warm anytime soon?

 

[Mike1992]

My 90 has 4-wheel disc brakes

 

[IHeartTurbo]

Try parking it in someone's heated garage for a few hours so that everything can warm up and maybe it will unfreeze. If that does work, just make sure you don't use it again.

 

[oldman]

I will give that a shot. I guess I won't be using turbo timer for the winter either Thanks Brian.

 

[MrPikolo]

My 90 had 4 wheel disk breaks as well.

 

[jfdid]

Sorry to bring this post WAY back from the dead, but it's still in the archives and people may need some clarification.

1. 90's have 4 wheel disc brakes, with a DISK parking brake. Maybe someone can chime in with the year that the parking brakes went to secondary drum. (Disc service brakes, and a little drum on the inside of the rotor for the ebrake)

2. Of course you can use your ebrake in the winter. If yours is sticking, it's either rusted/rusting, or it has some moisture in it that is freezing due to the temperature. It may also be caliper problems. A rule of thumb: either never use your ebrake, or use it all the time. If you let it sit for a couple months, it may have corroded, next time you use it, you're callin a tow truck.


Again, sorry for the outdated post, just trying to keep the archives somewhat useful.