E-Brake Problem

[Memphetic]

I finally got the engine built and put into my DSM (which has never ran before in my possession). However, I have a problem with the emergency brake - I noticed the cables were uneven and, more importantly, the e-brake does absolutely nothing. I fixed a leaking brake line today that went to the drivers' side rear brakes. What should my method of operation be?

 

[concept4g63]

Check the caliper maybe its frozen. Take out the cable off by he caliper and pull the ebrake and check to see if the move and if they do then fix the caliper, if not then its the cable but most likely not

 

[psx]

Well if your brakes work and not your e-brake. Its something mechanical, maybe the e-brake cable snapped? What happens when your pull the e-brake, does it have tension??

 

[concreteTSI]

1st gen rear calipers are famous for freezing up when not being used. Need to make sure that when you hit the brake pedal the rear is actually grabing. If they are grabing then disconnect the cables at the calipers and have someone pull the ebrake up, looking to see if the cables move, if not your replaceing cables. On my current 1st get i have had to replace both cables and calipers.

 

[slikvik]

My old talon had the same problem. The ebrake cables where rusted out. Had to go to the junkyard to get new ones.

 

[Ninja GSX]

It definitely sounds like rusted cables which is a common problem with cars and bicycles. When I worked as a mechanic one of the hazards we had to deal with was cars whose owners never used the handbrake so the cables became rusted. I would pull a car in, engage the handbrake, work on the car, then when I tried to pull out the rear wheels would be locked up and they weren't coming loose.

This a part that you may not want to source from a junk yard because they are going to be prone to rust as well if they have just been sitting out in the elements for a while.

This is why you should use your handbrake whenever you park your car even if you park it on flat terrain where it's not going to roll away so you keep the cables from seizing up.

One last point which I don't mean to be an elitist comment but if it is taken that way I apologize. Emergency brake is not the correct term for this device. The correct term is handbrake. Because it is hand operated and it's normal use is for a variety of driving situations that are not emergencies.

 

[Memphetic]

It definitely sounds like rusted cables which is a common problem with cars and bicycles. When I worked as a mechanic one of the hazards we had to deal with was cars whose owners never used the handbrake so the cables became rusted. I would pull a car in, engage the handbrake, work on the car, then when I tried to pull out the rear wheels would be locked up and they weren't coming loose.

This a part that you may not want to source from a junk yard because they are going to be prone to rust as well if they have just been sitting out in the elements for a while.

This is why you should use your handbrake whenever you park your car even if you park it on flat terrain where it's not going to roll away so you keep the cables from seizing up.

One last point which I don't mean to be an elitist comment but if it is taken that way I apologize. Emergency brake is not the correct term for this device. The correct term is handbrake. Because it is hand operated and it's normal use is for a variety of driving situations that are not emergencies.

When, precisely, do you use this while driving that *isn't* an emergency? Or should we actually call this a PARKING brake?