[Shotimes] Parking brake

[David P]

Yes, it seems backwards, but what you are doing is correct. What I've seen
happen on many cars is this: after the cable splits, one side sticks inside
the cable housing. When this happens, the other side cable will
"mysteriously" have too much slack when the PB is not set. I'd disconnect
the driver's side PB cable and see if it moves freely or not inside the
cable housing. I'm betting solidly that it won't. Since it is moving a bit
(driver's caliper engages slightly), you may be able to save the cable by
working some PB blaster into the cable housing, followed by brake cleaner,
then lubricant.

I've been suggesting for years a method of lubrication for these cables that
us cyclists like to use on our chains and brake cables. They have paraffin
wax lubricants that you melt and dip your chains/cables in. Dirt does not
stick to the wax and it is highly water resistant. Will cost you $20 to
order some of the good stuff online or pickup at a local shop if you've got
any real cycling shops in town, but I've used it several times on
almost-frozen PB cables with excellent results. It's a little hard to apply
(pour over cable as you pull cable through housing), but it seems to seal up
the ends of the cable and prevent further problems by keeping out the water.
Do NOT use the spray-on wax as it is not any better than a regular
lubricant.

David P

95MTX



~
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael S Wojton" <Mike.Wojton@owens-ill.com>
To: <shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, February 03, 2003 11:00
Subject: [Shotimes] Parking brake


> I need some advice from someone who's "been there and done that".
> When parking brake is set, the car can still move.  On my slightly
> angled driveway. I have to force the pedal done as far as it can possibly
> go to keep the car from rolling backwards after I start it.  That kinda
> scares me.
>
> Mark Mallory and I looked at it this weekend.  The cables are not frozen.
> On the driver's side, their is no slack in the cable at the caliper.  On
the
> passenger side, there is about a 1/4" of cable sticking out past the end
> of the caliper.
>
> Now, when the parking brake is set, the slack on the passenger side is
> gone.  And, in fact, that is the side that is the tightest.  That rotor
cannot
> be rotated.  Not by hand anyways.  But the driver's side rotor can still
be
> turned by hand.  So we figured it needed to be adjusted.  We were going
> to try to adjust the nut on the bracket on the cable under the car until
we
> got it to work fine.  I say we WERE, because we couldn't.  The nut
wouldn't
> budge.  Tried PB Blaster too.  When I have more time, I'll try some heat.
>
> So I guess what I'm asking is, is that the right course of action?  By
> adjusting
> that nut, that is adjusting the driver's side brake, I believe.  It seemed
to
> make
> sense to us.  Also, when the parking brake is not set, the cable hangs
down
> a little under the car.  Can that be adjusted out at the brake pedal?  The
> pedal
> is pretty easy to push down, by the way.
>
>
> Mike Wojton
> Toledo, Ohio
>
> -'95 Green MTX  3/01-1/03
>    ShoShop y-pipe
>
> -'95 White Mtx
>    '96 Brake Upgrade
>
> "Avoid the clap." - Jimmy Dugan
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