Parking Brakes Adjustement/Replacement

Melchor · 08-05-08, 04:14 PM

Hello... long time viewer here. Have searched the forum and haven't come up w/ anything on how to maintain the parking brakes... How easy or hard it is to adjust the parking brake on a '99 LC? Or to replace the pads on the drum brakes (parking)? I have to yank the brake handle all the way up to properly set the parking brakes. Any tips... Thank you in advance.

Trunk Monkey · 08-05-08, 04:20 PM

Probably just needs adjustment. There's an adjustment at the handle and one at the brake (star wheel). Look in the 80 section, I recall some good write ups. Very unlikely that the pads need replacement unless you've had the e-brake on and driving a long time.

spressomon · 08-05-08, 04:21 PM

Check to see where the play is. You can adjust the cable play out at the rear axle. Otherwise the pads are adjustable like any drum brake via the access window on the inside of the drum area.

Replacing the drum pads for the parking brake are like any other...not too bad really.

socalsuv · 08-05-08, 04:21 PM

I think "hand brake" is what you want to search for to find the threads in the forum. Here is one that contains some other thread links:

e Brake Thread

100 TD · 08-05-08, 06:56 PM

DO it exactly as the FSM says, which I think is to adjust the brake shoes first, then adjust the bell crank, then adjust the cable and lever for the right slack and the correct number of clicks on the handle to pull it on. I did mine a while ago and it now works a treat.

cruiserheadrat · 08-08-08, 10:04 AM

If you're not in the habit of using your E brake you might start. I ordinarily don't use it and everything rusted soild. I had to sawall parts off, basically spent close to $400.00 on replacement parts to get everything back together again. I live in the rust belt, and would occasionally spray breakfree on the visible parts. The bell crank pivot is inside a rubber boot. Everything inside that boot was fused solid. The adjusters were frozen, so getting the drums/rotors off was a real joy. Luckily I had new slotted rotors waiting to go on. The torch pretty much trashed the old ones.

Trunk Monkey · 08-08-08, 10:51 AM

What you're experiencing is the fun of a dissimilar metals reaction. The bell crank is aluminum and the pin is metal, so you get a galvanic reaction that cruds everything up. I've had to replace both parts on my 60 and 80. And may have to on the 100 too.