E-Brake Malfunction

[Chambers]

Hi all, my car has a issue with the right side parking brake assembly, I was driving this morning and stopped by a local auto parts store to pick up some oil, I go to leave and it feels like the car is real hesitant. I make a left turn and then a clunking sound starts emanating from the rear right corner. It was a reciprocating clunk, and felt as if the rear right wheel was locking up, then letting go, then locking up again. I pulled over and while decelerating the clunks' repetition slowed as well. I put the parking brake up and it didn't grab until it was almost 2/3 the way up.

This has happened to me two time before, and those times when I put it park the car rolled slightly back and the e-brake assembly would make a somewhat crunching sound. Then when I started driving again, it did the same thing, clunk clunk clunk, at first I thought it was my carrier bearing, so I had a 1 piece drive shaft made, that was about six months ago. The difference is those two times it went away after I stopped the car completely, today I drove for a hour, stopping and going, and it would go away then come right back. I had to park it and drive my lifted Ranger, which only gets 10mpg, so it really sucks.

I'm wondering if anyone else has had this happen to them, I'm going to take it apart when I get home tonight and see what happens. Is there anything that I should look into besides new shoes?

Thanks.

 

[7thousandpiecesMGTE]

Hi all, my car has a issue with the right side parking brake assembly, I was driving this morning and stopped by a local auto parts store to pick up some oil, I go to leave and it feels like the car is real hesitant. I make a left turn and then a clunking sound starts emanating from the rear right corner. It was a reciprocating clunk, and felt as if the rear right wheel was locking up, then letting go, then locking up again. I pulled over and while decelerating the clunks' repetition slowed as well. I put the parking brake up and it didn't grab until it was almost 2/3 the way up.

This has happened to me two time before, and those times when I put it park the car rolled slightly back and the e-brake assembly would make a somewhat crunching sound. Then when I started driving again, it did the same thing, clunk clunk clunk, at first I thought it was my carrier bearing, so I had a 1 piece drive shaft made, that was about six months ago. The difference is those two times it went away after I stopped the car completely, today I drove for a hour, stopping and going, and it would go away then come right back. I had to park it and drive my lifted Ranger, which only gets 10mpg, so it really sucks.

I'm wondering if anyone else has had this happen to them, I'm going to take it apart when I get home tonight and see what happens. Is there anything that I should look into besides new shoes?

Thanks.

Finally found a local MK3 Owner !!!!

I'd look at the springs and such, your shoes might not be the issue.

 

[Nick M]

You want the hardware with the shoes, since that likely is the source of the problem.

 

[Chambers]

Finally found a local MK3 Owner !!!!...

Yea, you would be surprised how many are around, but as for owners that are on this board, there are only a few.


It's way to cold out tonight, but I will be able to check on the springs and shoes tomorrow. Is there any place I can get new components besides Toyota? Thanks.

 

[gaboonviper85]

Something I learned over the years is never use a parking brake in freezing weather. Especially a drum brake which ours are! It probably froze and when you drove it broke something.

 

[Chambers]

Well when I started from my house it was fine, only after I drove about seven or eight miles to the parts store and then left from there it acted up. Also, the last time this happened it was quite warmer out. Thanks for the reply though.

 

[Chambers]

Well, I got the rotor off after some persuasion from a rubber mallet. The first thing I noticed is the toasted front shoe. When I put a little bit of pressure on the front shoe and it moved down about a 3/8". Where the shoes meet up top the front shoe seems out of place, but I'm not sure. Can any one give me a opinion on it? Thanks.

Whole thing, after soaking in WD40 for a couple of mins.

Toasted shoe.

Misalignment?

 

[fool'ssupra]

How's the inside of the rotor look? At worst you'll need a set of rear rotors if the existing ones can't be cleaned up on a lathe. Aside from the rotor, just take the assembly apart, put in new/relined shoes, springs and holddowns, reassemble it and adjust it, and it will be fine. It's not a big job.

 

[Chambers]

Ya, thanks, Its going to be just over $200 for all the new shoes and springs for both sides, but will be worth it in the end.

I checked the TSRM to see if the springs were in the correct position and they all were, so I disassemble it. Turns out the cable was binding up and not releasing it all the way, about 1/4". I compared it to the other side, thats how I was able to come to a conclusion and attempt to fix it temporarily. I sprayed some WD-40 into it and drove around, and had no problems.

I pulled the e-brake when I parked and it was stiffer than usual, I then released it and it worked fine, but I smelled something. Then I drove around again and it didn't bind up, upon returning I looked at the left side rear rotor, it was warm but I could still touch it. The rotor on the other side was smoking slightly and there was a smell emitting from it. I got my hand near it and touched it, the thing was hot enough to burn my finger and it hurt. So now I have another problem, It just never ends. I would be out there working on it and trying to figure it out but the darn weather always gets in my way, snow that melts when it hits the ground then its going to rain.