Brake Issues

[Natty]

Hi Guys... Has anyone had any problems with their e-brakes not fully releasing? My 73 recently sat for a month, when I went to drive it I noticed a slight squealing noise when I first started going. It would go away right away... Now, a couple weeks later, it has gotten worse. I can really notice the drag now, and I have not driven it due to lack of time to fix it. Can anyone tell me if they have had the same problem, and what may have caused it - I imagine it is an easy fix, but what is involved? Thanks!

 

[roscoFJ73]

Hi Guys... Has anyone had any problems with their e-brakes not fully releasing? My 73 recently sat for a month, when I went to drive it I noticed a slight squealing noise when I first started going. It would go away right away... Now, a couple weeks later, it has gotten worse. I can really notice the drag now, and I have not driven it due to lack of time to fix it. Can anyone tell me if they have had the same problem, and what may have caused it - I imagine it is an easy fix, but what is involved? Thanks!

Try reversing at speed and hitting the brakes hard. You could also spray some oil around the levers that the cables attach to

 

[Ron R]

You could also spray some oil around the levers that the cables attach to

x2. Yep. Where the cables attach near the drums there are levers. They pivot around a pin and are covered by a rubber thinghy. All this is in an aluminum housing, bolted to the backing plate. Over time that will corrode, make the lever stick in the housing.
To correct this I had to dismantle the brake disks (the inside of the disk 'drum' is the e-brake drum), disconnect the shoes and take out the alu part. Then by spraying and carefully moving the lever forward and back I was able to get them working properly again.
I've attached an image and marked in yellow the part I mean:

 

[roscoFJ73]

If they the handbrake is locked on you can yank on the cable that goes from R to L.
Make sure the cruiser is in gear or wheels chocked.

The oil and cleaning partly helped mine but when I pull the brake lever up hard they can still jam on.
Maybe Ive bent something.

 

[Lacey KZJ78]

After a few times noticing a burning smell from the rear left wheel and not sensing heat from the rotors, I finally noticed a stuck emergency brake (or hand brake) lever as roscoFJ73 has highlighted above. I've seen it termed a 'bell crank'. I had to hammer it back to a retracted position but have yet to road test it. I understand the drum system is reserved for the hand brake itself, so it's fixed for now. Will chime in again if anything changes.