rear brake sounds like an elephant when i back up.

[ceniack]

well, when i back up, my brakes sound like there is an elephant behind me. plus my brake light is on most of the time, but sometimes it isn't, and sometimes it is on and then when i drive for awhile it goes off. also, my e-brake has no bite, like it won't even lock up my back wheels if i pull it going slow. but it has enought to keep my car in place when i park. it also doesn't look like there is anything wrong with my brake rotors or pads (but i'm not a mechanic so i am not really sure what i am looking for besides groves in the rotors)

i did a search and they said something about rebuilding the rear calipers. what all do i need to do that. i also heard you can swap one piston calapers for two piston calapers. does it matter if they come from a car with ABS or not (i don't have ABS). and if i do the swap, would i need to rebuild the ones i am putting onto my car.

sorry that is such a long post. thanks in advance

 

[Defiant]

Your rear pads are used up, and the lack of pad has dropped your brake fluid level far enough to cause the warning light to come on sporadically. Get a picture book and new pads, read the book, pull the rear wheels, take out the bolt, slide out the old pads, SCREW IN the pistons to retract them (keep an eye on the fluid resevoir so that it doesn't overflow on you), put ALL the little metal bits back on the new pads, LINE UP THE LITTLE TITS WITH THE SLOTS, put the caliper back and re-install the bolt.
When you're done with both of them, start the engine, pump the brakes a half-dozen times to take up the slack, slowly test drive in a neighborhood with no traffic. Drag the brakes lightly for about two neighbor house's worth.
It's also a good idea to flush out the old fluid if you have a helper, speed bleeders, or a MityVac.
If you choose to have a shop do it, go to an independant, small shop and tell them you _only_ want the pads replaced and the fluid changed. If you go to Midas or the like, they'll insist on turning the disks, repacking the wheel bearings, replacing that leaking shock, replacing that axle seal and a boatload of other stuff you "need". If you aren't running Sebring this year, you don't need it- even if you've gotten down to metal-to-metal. The brakes just don't care.

 

[ceniack]

cool beans, thanks for the help.