E-brake stopped working after rear brake work...

Post by **plumsmooth** » 08 Sep 2015, 14:01

It has to be almost 5 years my former mechanic did a rear brake job including Pads and rotors I believe...
Since then the Parking Brake has not worked...

I believe I read somewhere that it has to be adjusted after brake job, and told him that.
But he said you don't need it with an automatic transmission and didn't seem interested.

I am wondering if it is worth trying to adjust it from the inside before I start poking around in the rear wheels. And/or what a possible basic troubleshooting procedure might be.

I starting reading some posts that unfortunately sounded a little more complicated than I would like.

Post by **scot850** » 08 Sep 2015, 14:16

If the parking brake is not working and has not for 5 years, it is most likely the cables will have seized or broken. Your mechanic is a fool. Parking brakes were fitted for a reason, and chances are he did not know how to repair or adjust them.

What is your ability in terms of repairs?

If you are able to jack the car up and turn the wheel, you can slowly try pulling up on the parking brake lever and have someone turn the rear wheel and see if anything happens. If you run out of lever travel then adjusting may help.

To do this you need to take the wheel off to see and access the adjuster for the parking brakes. If I recall the adjuster crown wheel on a FWD car is near the top of the rotor. Some rotors have an inspection hole, others you need to access the adjuster through one of the holes for the lug bolt. ?You will need a long narrow flat blade screw driver to turn the crown wheel. One way tightens other way loosens. If it won't move at all, then it is frozen and then the rotor needs to be removed.

If it rotates, then keep turning it and turn the rotor until it locks up. Then back off 3-4 clicks. Do the same on the other side. Then you need to access the cable adjustment hidden under a little flap inside the center console arm rest. It prizes out with a flat blade screw driver and you will see a silver adjusting bolt. You need to urn that until when pulling up on the parking brake lever clicks only 4-5 times until it won't go further. Check both sides once the wheels are back on and still are in the air, that when the brake lever is pulled up, it locks both wheel.

Realistically, the system may need to be fully re-built as the cables most likely will have snapped or frozen.

Also be aware, the danger of pulling on the parking brake, may freeze the parking brakes on if the cable is bad.

Neil.

Post by **plumsmooth** » 08 Sep 2015, 15:52

IT looks to be a t-50 under the Center Console.
My Socket wrench and socket Torx bits seem to be too long to make the Ninety Degree angle for adjustment. Any ideas?

I would at least like to try that adjustment...

This might be a good time to try a u-joint?

Post by **scot850** » 08 Sep 2015, 17:01

The bolt shouldn't be too tight to turn, so you could try carefully using vice grips.

Neil.

Post by **RussB** » 08 Sep 2015, 17:55

If you haven't used your e-brake for 5 years in wintery and salty Vermont, I will guaranty you that the whole e-brake mechanism is rusted up and frozen. The brakes (regular) brakes are about due for service too at this point

Post by **plumsmooth** » 09 Sep 2015, 07:24

The answer is a Torx Key, ; but of course I have to thank M.V. for that.
Proves it is well worth the time to read through all available post and Tutorial write-ups before asking questions. I imagined that there might be a Torx driver like an allen wrench but I guess I have never seen one.

Post by **scot850** » 09 Sep 2015, 08:27

They exist as I have a set I bought at Princess Auto (Canadian version of Harbor Freight).

Neil.

Post by **QuirkySwede** » 09 Sep 2015, 22:49

The rear brakes use pads. The parking brake (rear) uses shoes. Not uncommon for material on shoes to fall off after years. Cables also go. Do it right and pull the rear wheels, calipers, and discs to inspect, service and replace as needed. No amount of fiddling with the T50 adjuster will help if any component is compromised, but you crack up you center console by pulling the e-brake lever up to far.

For photos see: https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=61043

Post by **plumsmooth** » 10 Sep 2015, 10:04

So, since the parking brake is a separate mechanism; when the Mechanic Did my Rear Brake Job something must have happened to the e-brake since it never worked after than. I was confused and thought I read that after a brake job the parking brake needed to be adjusted.

I'm trying to do the minimum to get an inspection currently.
I ordered a torx t-50 key.
If that doesn't do it I'd like to just check each individual wheels Parking Brake assembly before ordering new stuff -- maybe try and clean it up?

Post by **plumsmooth** » 10 Sep 2015, 10:30

I'm just curious as to why an e-brake would stop working after rear brakes were done with rotors and calipers?