eBrake adjustment problem

[GSpreeman]

I pulled the road wheels, tightened the ebrake pads until they where tight, backed them off by 5 clicks, each wheel turns freely (yes, I did all this with the ebrake dissengaged). Put the wheels back on and now there is a rubbing noise coming from the right back wheel. It wasn't there when I had the car jacked up and rotated the wheel. Any ideas what went wrong?

[David Ceruti]

I am busy replacing my brake discs and e-brakes because a PO tried driving around with the e-brake on.
When I was discussing the problem with the local head mechanic, he told me that the non asbestos brake shoes heat up even when the do not touch the brake drum (as the whole disc assemblly gets hot from the disc brakes) and it is better to have a little too much clearance than risk toasting the shoes and drums.
My guess is that the shoes got a bit hot, expanded and the right one is touching a bit - why don't you loosen it another click or two and see if that solves the problem.

Good luck - Please let me know how this is going as I am tackling the same job today

[cary]

It really shouldn't make any difference whether the car is up or down. Except you can't really turn it very fast by hand. Compared to drving it.

My thought...........

If you took the drum off you could see it. You need to get the e-brake pads re-centered. They are held in place with a spring pin combo at one side. And a slot on the brake adjuster.
If they haven't been touched for a long time they build up a rusty corrosion. And they don't want to move to center themselves.

I'd try driving the car slowly and pulling up on the e-brake. Too see if you can nudge them back to center.

Unless you have them TOO tight. How many clicks do you have at the e-brake handle. Should be about 4 min. Maybe go 6 for a little more space.

[Early_S_Man]

Greg,

Is the 'rubbing' continuous, or intermittent 'cricket chirp' type sound?

If it is continuous, try a few applications of the hand brake at 30 mph -- all the way down to zero. If it is still dragging after a cool-down ... readjustment is probably needed with more clearance -- just a couple of clicks.

If is is the cricket mating call ... the spiral guide for the cable is probably rubbing on the backside of one of the studs for the wheels. The cable will need to be readjusted and repositioned slightly.

[Bill Douglas]

My SC started doing that and it turned out the ebrake cable had jumped out of the bracket and was rubbing on something.

[GSpreeman]

Okay, it seems to have magically disappeared. If it happens again I'll back them off another click or two.