Do your e-brake suck?

Baal · Post by **Baal** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 2:59 pm

Just wondering, cuz mine do, its VERY hard to lock the rear tires to spin or do a 180°, i changed my drum rear pads for metalic ones and it still kinda sucks.

Theya re perfectly adjusted, they are good pads, and even if the cable if streched it would feel "spongy" but they should lock the rear tires estily (i can lock them but i have to pull the brake VERY hard).

I have a 97 V.W. GTI and the hand brake is 10 times stronger.

What do you say?.

Post by **Diablo0** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 4:51 pm

To quote my other post in the other brake thread...

Diablo0 wrote:As for your ebrake, the pads that are used for stopping your car are really not the onces that are used for your ebrake. If you look at your rear rotors you'll notice that it has a large hub in the center. That hub houses a small drum brake setup which is your ebrake. You could try adjusting your ebrake cable tensioner under your center console b/c the cable can sometimes stretch over time. Also...if you've done any ebrake turns or done anything that like putting a lot of wear on the small ebrake pads you could need to replace those pads.

Part #18 - 5073647AA - $70.25

dawm · Post by **dawm** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 5:12 pm

ebrake cable tensioner in center console? where? what? ive never seen such a thing

Post by **Diablo0** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 5:17 pm

Well technically it's called an Equalizer (gives the same amount of tension to both sides of the car) but I think you can adjust the ebrake cable there.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 5:59 pm

dawm wrote:ebrake cable tensioner in center console? where? what? ive never seen such a thing

i think it should be located underneath the center console armrest.

tamadrumr88 · Post by **tamadrumr88** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 7:21 pm

yeah you have to remove the console to adjust it.... it just looks like a Y... with the single cable towards the front and the two other cables facing rearward going to each corresponding rear brake system

mitch546 · Post by **mitch546** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:11 pm

I got a problem with my ebrake sticking on my 02 mtx., if i use it when i park it squeaks until i stop 3 or 4 times sometimes longer. I was told its a big process to getter fixed myself cause i dont know shit about brakes LOL but i know dont use my e-brake just leaver in 1st. any suggestions

03sxt · Post by **03sxt** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:18 pm

mitch546 wrote:I got a problem with my ebrake sticking on my 02 mtx., if i use it when i park it squeaks until i stop 3 or 4 times sometimes longer. I was told its a big process to getter fixed myself cause i dont know shit about brakes LOL but i know dont use my e-brake just leaver in 1st. any suggestions

My '03 SXT is the same way with the sticking. When I got ready to test drive the car before I bought it, they were locked real bad - Like to the point it dragged the back tires about 10 feet before they broke loose.

The guy at the dealership said, "Yeah, the car hasn't been moved in about a week and a half." I try NOT to use the E-Brake unless I'm on a steep inclide, etc. Always use 1st or Reverse. I gotta' do brakes pretty soon, anyways.

Post by **Diablo0** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:30 pm

BTW... the above explination that I typed only relates to those with rear disc brakes.

BTW... I ALWAYS use my e-brake plus Reverse Gear that way I don't put any strain on the transmission to hold the car but incase the ebrake was to give out the trans would catch it.

03sxt · Post by **03sxt** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:32 pm

I only don't use my E-Brake because they rear drums stick and squeal like hell.

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:57 pm

The only time I will ever use my e-brake is if there is an "emergency"

GTS · Post by **GTS** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 10:22 pm

Suck? I can only pull mine up to about 3 clicks. On the second one i can have the car in drive and it practically sits there as if I was holding the brakes. Now if you go three or you are strong like my dad you can go four and compleetly lock them up. So I think its an adjustment problem rather than pads.

boom314 · Post by **boom314** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 12:00 am

three clicks i swear i hear like 5 or more clicks when i use my e-brake

Baal · Post by **Baal** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 2:15 am

Diablo0 wrote:To quote my other post in the other brake thread...

Diablo0 wrote:As for your ebrake, the pads that are used for stopping your car are really not the onces that are used for your ebrake. If you look at your rear rotors you'll notice that it has a large hub in the center. That hub houses a small drum brake setup which is your ebrake. You could try adjusting your ebrake cable tensioner under your center console b/c the cable can sometimes stretch over time. Also...if you've done any ebrake turns or done anything that like putting a lot of wear on the small ebrake pads you could need to replace those pads.
Part #18 - 5073647AA - $70.25

I have rear DRUM brakes, that quote talks about disk brakes, with drums you e-brake with the big drum -.-

In case that quote wasnt directed to me and you were correct about that part#18, what in the hell is that piece and why is it screwing up my e-braking?

dawm · Post by **dawm** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 12:26 pm

boom314 wrote:three clicks i swear i hear like 5 or more clicks when i use my e-brake

mines more like all the way up (8clicks?)

boom314 · Post by **boom314** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 7:18 pm

dawm wrote:
boom314 wrote:three clicks i swear i hear like 5 or more clicks when i use my e-brake
mines more like all the way up (8clicks?)

well i do pull it all the way up, but i think i do it so quick and i dont pay attention, but i hear like 5 clicks

Post by **Diablo0** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 7:33 pm

beal... yeah after typing that and someone pointing out to me that you didn't have an R/T or ACR I posted above that it was for disc brake setups.

I'd still try adjusting your ebrake cable since yes your rear drum pads that stop your car are also used for the e-brake.

WiTeOuT · Post by **WiTeOuT** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 2:28 am

I'm gonna take a look at this as well, cause I swear mine is like 8 clicks or more....but maybe I am just over doing the click count. I have an MTX and it's goin on 6 years of e-brack use....time for a tighten! Thanks Jason

dawm · Post by **dawm** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 5:00 pm

well i just read the Factory Service manual and found the following information for us with rear disc.

it looks like the rear ebrake shoes are not self adjusting (on vehicles with rear disc), thus manual adjustment is required after a period of time.

the green boxed area is how to ADJUST the ebrake (regardless of type, drum/disc same method. but drums are auto-adjusting)

Baal · Post by **Baal** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 8:50 pm

My e-brake doesnt go that far, 5 clicks at most, its not the pads.

So the only possible thing is the cable streching, im not sure but i dont think this will solve anything and probably its just that the neon e-brake suck.

WiTeOuT · Post by **WiTeOuT** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 1:38 am

WiTeOuT wrote:I'm gonna take a look at this as well, cause I swear mine is like 8 clicks or more....but maybe I am just over doing the click count. I have an MTX and it's goin on 6 years of e-brack use....time for a tighten! Thanks Jason

Holy exaggeration batman! I tried to pull my e-brake today and count the clicks.....and yeah.....I must have been crazy last night....cause the furthest mine will go is 5. Sounds like that's pretty normal.