e-brake problem

[seanhawn]

I own an 04 accent 1.6l. My e-brake was working without issue. I had to change the back drum brake as they were low. Replace with drums, shoes, and spring set. Found I had a leaky wheel cylinder and ended up replacing both, as they are problematic on these cars. Put everything back together, readjusted the e-brake cable and adjuster wheel.

Now when I apply the ebrake, the handle gets stiff but does not stop the car at all. The cable moves freely and engages. My car only has a 2 piece cable line. ONe from either wheel that connects to the lever. Lines are not siezed or caught up and can see they engage when I remove the drums. Can see they get pushed out.

So what is going on? ANy ideas? Can the line be stretched and not apply them hard?

Thanks for any help. Like using it and knowing its there in case something happens

 

[eljefino]

That's a wierd one. Usually after what you do the e-brake works really well-- the new shoes are arced right to fit the inside of the drums.

Do you have to push out any rivets or undo any horseshoe things to attach the e-brake doohickey to one of the shoes? Maybe you have the front shoe on the rear or otherwise somehow found a wrong hole? If you jack the car up does the e-brake at least keep you from spinning the wheel by hand?

 

[Stanley Rockafeller]

+1

I'd say you installed something in the spring kit incorrectly.

 

[seanhawn]

Everything is installed correctly. Only one way everything goes on. The brakes work great. Just the ebrake. The ebrake can stop the wheel from spinning by hand on the rear right more then the left but can still spin both with a little force. If I adjust the ebrake any more the wheel won't turn with it disengaged. its set for the right number of click to the max. Made sure the brakes match the other brakes exactly and did one side at a time so id have a reference. The only spring that controls the ebrake was not changed because it on the line. The arm gets replaced with the new shoes. There is nothing to remove, other then slipping out the ebrake line from the notch in the arm. If I take the drum off and pull the ebrake the shoes move out and go back in when released. Springs are on properly and are no hang ups. Could the line be stretched? There is tension so I know its not snapped.

 

[mechtech2]

The shoes have to seat. On front disc rear drum systems, that can take a LONG time - thousands of miles for drum shoes.
You may have installed something wrong, but it doesn't sound like it.
Take ten minutes and yank the drum, and operate the lever - see what's up..

 

[seanhawn]

As far as I see it you can't install anything wrong on the accent drum and shoe brakes. I have removed and drum and pulled the ebrake. The shoes move out and upon disengaging the ebrake the shoe return in. There are only 2 spring for the ebrake in my car. One spring on each ebrake cable. The return spring. It is only a 2 line system. One cable from each brake attached to the lever. Everything is put back the way it was. Don't know whats up. In case of any brake failure, the only thing that should control to ebrake are these 2 cables and springs, and the shoes. Shouldn't matter about any of the other springs. Well on my car anyway.

Any other suggestions to try?

Thanks

 

[Donald]

The test in NYS is to set the ebrake, step on the gas to a fast idle and the vehicle should not move, pop the ebrake and it should surge ahead.

 

[seanhawn]

Well aready know that the car would just move with little problem. But that's the problem. Guess all I can do is just replace the ebrake cable and see what happens.

 

[ltslimjim]

Are those 'servo' or 'non-servo' style?

Does pulling the lever up help or does this car need to be driven in reverse any, etc?

 

[chrome]

As mechtech2 mentioned, the new brakes will need to bed-in before they become fully effective. Give it a few hundred miles and report back. You mentioned that everything seems to be moving and retracting correctly, so perhaps it just needs some time.