strange e-brake noise after rotor change

[pirotlord]

I have a 98 GS eclipse and I just changed the front and rear rotors + brakes, to some cross-drilled/power sloted rotors and axiss metal master pads. When I took the rear rotors off, I cleaned the inner e-brake "drum" pads because they had lots of brake dust on them.

I put everything together, and after breaking in everything sounds good... except now my e-brake engages a bit higher and when I pull on it while the car is moving it makes a strange clunk/pop noise from the back... The strange thing is that it only makes this noise one time after I pull the e-brake while driving and after that it engages fine, with no noise.

Did I screw something up when I cleaned the e-brakes and installed the new rotors?

 

[leakyfaucet]

when I pull on it while the car is moving it makes a strange clunk/pop noise from the back...

What the ####? Don't ever do that! Use your e-brake when you're stopped to keep you stopped. That should solve your e-brake making a "clunk/pop" noise.

 

[luv2rallye]

Did you adjust the e-brake shoes the way the manual says or did you just do the handbrake cable adjustment only? Also check all the brake shoe springs to make sure they're not permanently stretched out (my friend's car did that and made that noise).

 

[pirotlord]

leakyfaucet: I e-braked plenty, with no such noise... it only did it after the rotor/brake swap.... I do not think e-braking while the car is moving can do any serious damage unless it is done in excess.

I have not adjusted anything as of yet... should I try adjusting it at the brake side first?

 

[luv2rallye]

yes - you must way loosen up handbrake cable , then adjust both shoes so they are just starting to touch (stick flat bladed screwdriver in drum hole and move it up/down to turn star wheel adjuster), then adjust handbrake cable for 3-5 notches of handle pullup.

 

[pirotlord]

yes - you must way loosen up handbrake cable , then adjust both shoes so they are just starting to touch (stick flat bladed screwdriver in drum hole and move it up/down to turn star wheel adjuster), then adjust handbrake cable for 3-5 notches of handle pullup.

Thanks i'l try it tommarow

 

[luv2rallye]

And if not done in excess and they are adjusted correctly, ebraking should not damage it. We do it all the time on dirt pro rallies to straighten out the car on tight turns - especially with FWD. Just make sure it's adjusted correctly. Actually for the shoe adjustment, a better way is adjusting them out so it's hard to turn the drum by hand so both shoes "seat" properly in the drum. Then bring them in to where they just touch the drum.

 

[leakyfaucet]

Give me one situation on the street where you needed to use the e-brake while driving because your main brakes wouldn't cut it.

 

[luv2rallye]

Give me one situation on the street where you needed to use the e-brake while driving because your main brakes wouldn't cut it.

Well at long stop lights I get tired of holding the clutch and main brake and so use the e-brake often. And on downhill freeway entrance ramps that are backed up bumper to bumper where you move 20 feet, wait 1 minute, move 20 feet, wait 1 minute, etc, I use it so I don't again have to use either the clutch or the main brake (just lean back, listen to cd's and coast up). Oop's, sorry, I forgot you only wanted one situation. I agree while moving more than 3 mph it's not very useful (unless you're on snow up here in Minnesota and want to have some fun spinning the car on purpose on the frozen lakes, tee, hee).

 

[AWDPetmitsu]

Why would you want to keep pulling and releasing your e-brake in bumper to bumper traffic when all you have to do it step on and release the brake pedal?

 

[x camaro owner]

i use my e-brake when i make quick stops because the fronts will fade really fast when doing 140mph. so much for expensive ceramic pads good thing brembo rotors can take it with no abuse. use your e-brake how ever you want thats what it is for to stop the car. plus you can wear your rear pads faster so they keep up with the front. who ever tells you using the e-brake is dumb while driving. they are just as stupid as they say it is to use. i have done brake testing and have a specialty with brakes. they are there to use so use them. as for you engine braking guys why use extra shifts of the clutch when you could just use the brakes. i guess you like doing clutches over brake jobs. personally i prefer doing a brake job over a clutch disc especially with my awd. 4 wheel brake job under an hour. and cheap to do. replace the clutch disc many hours and quite pricey. is down shifting worth it to use that extra couple of unecessary shifts to slow down?

 

[leakyfaucet]

Well at long stop lights I get tired of holding the clutch and main brake and so use the e-brake often. And on downhill freeway entrance ramps that are backed up bumper to bumper where you move 20 feet, wait 1 minute, move 20 feet, wait 1 minute, etc, I use it so I don't again have to use either the clutch or the main brake (just lean back, listen to cd's and coast up).

Okay, that's nice, but everything you mentioned involving the e-brake could and should be done with the car stopped.

When I said find me one time while driving, I meant driving, as in moving.

 

[leakyfaucet]

i use my e-brake when i make quick stops because the fronts will fade really fast when doing 140mph.

Okay, do you go 140mph on a regular basis?

So you think stopping with just the teeny rear brakes will stop you faster than braking with the front and rear brakes? Okayyyyy.......

 

[luv2rallye]

When I said find me one time while driving, I meant driving, as in moving.

Oh, moving, well I guess you got me there . (Except the races on our frozen lakes with FWD - Oops, no - that doesn't count either cause it's not on streets.) Well, give me a minute. Let's see, does when your main brakes fail count? At least they're better than no brakes at all.