E-brakes, are they supposed to be like that?

[nhromyak]

Hi all!

When I put my E-brake on, the car rolls a little tiny bit and the rear wheels go "clunk". I believe I found the "clunk". It looks like the E-brake cable "locks" into the banana arm. Basically, the E-brake cable is a large metal tube and "clunks" into the banana arm stopping the car from rolling.

Is this right? Should there not be another way for the E-brake to work?

If it is right. Should there be a rubber or poly bushing going around the metal tube and the banana arms? instead of metal on metal?

I looked in the archives and tech articles for pictures. No luck.

The E-brakes work fine, although they do need adjustment.

Thanks in advance.

[wckrause]

Your brakes sound like they are very messed up.

Look at this pic
http://www.pelicanparts.com/911/911_Parts/1978-83/6-3.JPG

The brake cable feeds through spring item #25 and attaches to the butterflies item #24. Pulling on the cable causes the butterflies to flatten out and expand the brake pads item #16 (only one pad is shown, but there are two) against the inside of the rear brake rotor (like a drum brake).

You'll have to pull the rear rotor to get access to the ebrake pads, and mechanism.

[john walker's workshop]

that's a guide sleeve for the cable, as well as an important activating part. the shoes are spread apart by the cable and that sleeve, squeezing the actuator links together. when the shoes are spread, they lift off their stop blocks. the wheel will have some back and forth movement still, until a shoe contacts the stop block. early cars had a bolt on plastic guide ring to keep the sleeve from rattling or contacting the CV joint. it's often gone. later cars just had a hole in the trailing arm.

[Wayne 962]

http://www.101projects.com has at least 3 projects dedicated to proper maintenance and replacement of the E-brake and associated parts. I suggest that you pick up a copy...

-Wayne

[nhromyak]

wckrause, the cable that I am talking about does not appear to be in the picture. Thanks for the reply.

John,

Should these sleeves be "loose"? Loose means they can rattle around in the banana arm. They do not pull outward (in towards the engine compartment). I presume if I pulled on them really hard, the E-brake would then be "on".

Should there be a plastic insulation on the banana arm holding this sleeve a little tighter in place?

I see there is a plastic strap holding the e-brake line up and out of the way of the CV and everything else.

TIA
Nick Hromyak
'85 coupe

[wckrause]

The cable is not shown; however it feeds into the back through item #25 and attaches to item #24 as I stated.

The cable sleeve is what John Walker is describing.

[nhromyak]

Wckrause,

I understand how the cable and E-brakes work, but I don't think that is my issue. Where the cable "rests" inside the banana arm, I am wondering if there should be some plastic or rubber to insulate the e-brake cable/housing from the banana arm. I see there is quite a bit of wearing going on, but perhaps this is how it is made?

That is my question. Is this how it is made, or should there be some rubber or plastic grommet there?

TIA
Nick

[john walker's workshop]

on your car, the sleeve just sits in the hole, no bushing.

[wckrause]

Sorry, my mistake. It sounded like from your description
"the E-brake cable is a large metal tube and "clunks" into the banana arm stopping the car from rolling. " that you didn't understand how the ebrake worked.

I think that some of the slop on the sleeve can be adjusted out with the two tensioning nuts. Maybe you'll have less of a "clunk". I can't remember if my car has the plastic piece that John was describing

[nhromyak]

Well, maybe I don't understand how they work then....

I will double check it right now. I think the sleeve does indeed hit the trailing arm and that is how the E-brakes are stopping the car from rolling.

It almost like the drum is braking and the braking assebley is stopped from rotating (with the drum) from the e-brake sleeve hitting the banana arm.

Double checking now...

Nick

[wckrause]

When the cable pulls on the butterfly, the sleeve counter acts this force by pushing into the trailing arm.

"braking assebley is stopped from rotating (with the drum)"
Just checking, but you do know that the e-brake assembly doesn't rotate with the drum.

[nhromyak]

Hmmm, Ok, they are not doing what I thought they were doing.

Sorry for taking up the bandwidth.

I guess I will go in there an see just what the E-brakes are doing. The wheels roll a little bit then stop dead, no slip or nothing. I thought the brake cable/sleeve is stopping them.

It's almost like it is in gear. But not in gear. I thought the E-brakes would stop it cold, no rolling at all.

If they are supposed to stop it cold, let me know.

Ciao'

Nick