2002 emergency brake cable too tight

[jopizz]

I just recently purchased the car so I don't know when the last time it worked. The emergency brake handle won't move far enough with normal motion for the ratchet to engage. If I pull up hard with two hands I can get it to hold so I don't think it's the handle mechanism. It appears that the cable(s) are too tight. I checked both cables and the levers at the rear calipers and they move freely. When I look at the shop manual at the equalizer bracket there doesn't seem to be any adjustment to add some slack. I removed the console and there doesn't seem to be anything abnormal where the cable connects to the handle. Any ideas on how to add some play to the cables.

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[T-BirdTom]

Hi J,
Sometimes where the brake cable runs through a sheath, it will get stuck or stubborn. Try some Liquid Wrench on the exposed cable and see if you can squirt a bit down inside the sheath. Give it a day or two and see if it moves more freely.

As regular maintenance, I baste these areas annually, just to keep them from getting "stuck." The Liquid Wrench will wick up the wire rope cable and keep things happy. (WD40 might work, but it is a penetrant, demoisturant and rust preventative, not a lubricant.)

Best wishes,
Tom

 

[jopizz]

I see the cable moving freely at the handle and both cables are moving freely at the brake calipers. I did oil the cable and levers at the calipers. It's possible it could be stuck at the equalizer bracket.

 

[T-BirdTom]

I looked in the service manual for an exploded view of the emergency brake system, but don't find it. I'll keep looking.

Do you think the rear brakes are dragging under normal driving? The emergency brake cables, when used, rotate the caliper piston to "adjust" the rear brakes. They don't un-adjust when the e-brake is released (well, only slightly). You could try screwing the caliper piston back into the caliper a quarter or half turn to see if it's too tight. That should be enough to ensure the rear brakes aren't dragging.

When changing rear brake pads, and for this effort, there's a tool that engages the face of the caliper piston so you can "screw" it in or out.

Tom

 

[jopizz]

The rear brakes don't seem to be dragging. I can turn the rotors by hand pretty easily. I will be changing out the pads in the next day or two so I will be screwing in the pistons some. The old pads look to be about 50% so I don't know how much I will gain.

 

[T-BirdTom]

It doesn't sound like the rears are "too tight" at this point if you can turn the rotors easily.

I changed all the brake pads on my 2005 when I first got it. The car had 34K miles on it and the original pads were fine - if you didn't mind a lot of black brake dust!!

I put on ceramic pads and like their feel and the considerably lower amount of brake dust they shed. Good luck with both the brake change and finding where the E-brake is hanging up.

Tom

 

[jopizz]

If you don't mind can you tell me where your emergency brake handle is when you have it on. If 9 o'clock is the handle off where is it when engaged. This is my first retro bird so I may be chasing a handle issue rather than a cable problem if it doesn't move that much.

 

[T-BirdTom]

Here's the "off" location of the handle..................



This one is with the e-brake FULLY engaged.


So, it doesn't rise very far. I gave it a good, hard yank, so that's the extent of travel.

Hope this helps,
Tom