Parking Brake not working, what to fix?

[uhhair]

So recently my parking brake has become worthless. My question is, what is usually the most common cause of this, and what would I need to purchase in order to fix it? I'm pretty sure it isn't related to the cable or mechanics of the parking brake as it pulls up and down fine, just doesn't seem to want to hold my car even on the slightest of inclines. Thanks!

[sean]

Couple of things (no particular order):
1. One or both of the cable ends came off the catch on the handle. You'd need to pull the carpet cover to inspect
2. One or more of your parking brake pads just fell out, I've seen this happen quite a few times believe it or not.
3. The pads are warn and need replacement.
4. You may just need to adjust the adjustment screw if you have good even pad life left.

[Bitsyncmaster]

How many clicks do you get when you pull it up?

[sean]

Example of missing pad:
5547
Example of warn pads:
5548

[uhhair]

I can get the ebrake to go up the entire way, and it basically seems to do nothing. I will inspect the pads and cable and see what that turns up. Thanks for the help!

[Farrar]

I can get the ebrake to go up the entire way, and it basically seems to do nothing.

My car's brake started doing the same thing, all of a sudden -- it was working fine, then quit doing anything.

I look forward to seeing what your solution is; perhaps my car has the same problem.

Farrar

[sean]

My car's brake started doing the same thing, all of a sudden -- it was working fine, then quit doing anything.


To me your situation would be this:


1. One or both of the cable ends came off the catch on the handle. You'd need to pull the carpet cover to inspect

They can come loose and then catch again but then pop back out.

[DMC1983]

They can come loose and then catch again but then pop back out.



Is there a permanent fix for this? Mine seems to do it every time the season changes :angry_whip:

[jackb]

It's kind of a pain in the ass to hook it back up. A flashlight and mirror are a must. I ended up removing the drivers seat so I could remove the cover and the cable went back in super easy like that.

[82DMC12]

It can be really maddening to get the cables back in. I actually replaced one (or both? Don't remember) of mine. Once they are on and it is adjusted properly I think it would be tough for them to fall out. Try to adjust them so the handle only has 4 or 5 clicks before it's tight. There would be too much slack in the wires if the handle goes up too far before it grabs.

[Bitsyncmaster]

It can be really maddening to get the cables back in. I actually replaced one (or both? Don't remember) of mine. Once they are on and it is adjusted properly I think it would be tough for them to fall out. Try to adjust them so the handle only has 4 or 5 clicks before it's tight. There would be too much slack in the wires if the handle goes up too far before it grabs.

+1

My guess it when you let it get to high you risk the cables falling off.

I found pulling the seat and the brake bracket is the best way to return the cables back on.

[sean]

Is there a permanent fix for this? Mine seems to do it every time the season changes :angry_whip:

If adjusting the adjustment screw does not help and you know your pads are good then try and:
Replace the retraction plate
or
Replace the cables.

[Ron]

+1

My guess it when you let it get to high you risk the cables falling off.

I found pulling the seat and the brake bracket is the best way to return the cables back on.
+2

Something I noticed doing it this way (on mine and 2 others) is that the cables were not adjusted the same...IE the swivel (or 'yoke') was not perpendicular to the cables. On one D only, one set of pads had a lot more wear making more sense than the others. I assumed they were maladjusted, maybe a coincidence, but all of them have quit doing it so far.

[Rich]

1. One or both of the cable ends came off the catch on the handle. You'd need to pull the carpet cover to inspect

+1 on this as being the easiest place to start since it involves no work under the car.

This was how ours failed long, long ago. The simple fix was to reconnect the front (ball/stud) end of the disconnected brake cable to the the yoke on the back of the brake handle linkage. And afterward to slightly bend the end of the yoke slot so the cable end would not come loose again. 10 minute job.