Was going to put my 78 SA back on the ground yesterday but decided to check the parking brakes since the Vette was up in the air anyway. The shoes are adjusted properly(tight then backed off about 6 clicks)but the rear cable is tightened to the very end of adjustment. Handle pulled all the way up and still slack in the cables. Do these things stretch that much over time? I don't think the parking brakes have EVER even been used and this is a very, very low milage Vette. New rear cable needed? Mike

When I overhauled the brakes in 2002 I pulled the side-to-side cable and soaked it in solvent for a couple of days and then oiled the heck out of it. It has been working great since being reinstalled. There should be enough adjustment on the center 'hook' to get the slack out for parking brake to work properly, unless the side-to-side cable is stretched too much.

i think your parking brake shoes maybe over tightened. I have always goen with the theory that, when you can start to feel it almost catch the rotor than its good. The cables aren't that expense worse case scenario. Or maybe adjust the console side.

I didn't think there was any adjustment at the console. Just the threaded part of the front cable where the rear cable attaches. The cables are in brand new(looking) condition. No drag at all by the shoes. Without looking yet I'm wondering if the front cable could have come off the wheel under the floor. I'll check that tomorrow. This is an automatic so I feel that the parking brakes have never been used so I can't understand how they can be stretched. If that front cable IS on the roller wheel I'll probably order a new cable and measure the length compared to the old one before I put it in. I just like to have things working! Mike

The previous owner of my car tightened the cables to adjust the e-brakes. Make sure your cables weren't too tight before you adjusted your brakes. Make sure you have enough slack in your cables to allow the e-brakes to release completely. Take off your wheels and look at the arm where the cable attaches. Make sure that the arm is going all the way back. If it is not find out why, cables too tight, spring not releasing, etc... Your cables may or may not be the problem. My e-brakes were acting like yours. I thought I had a cable problem. After making all kinds of adjustments, I found out that one of my e-brakes was not releasing properly. Turns out that the upper spring on the brake shoes was broken. The bottom spring would compress the shoe back some, but not enough to allow me to adjust the e-brakes where they would work properly. I was frustrated until I went back, started over, and checked each component of the system.

OK, was under the Vette again tonite. The cable is correctly on the roller wheel. Pulled on the rear cable by hand with helper turning rear wheel. Brakes engaged enough to cause scraping. Let go of cable, scraping stopped, cable is definitely springloaded when releasing the cable so I think the brake shoe springs are working properly. No other adjustment that I can see so guess I'll try a new cable. Mike

Mike,

The parking brake isn't as important with an automatic as it is with a manual transmission. It is just a real pain to have to shut down, put the car in gear and then start up again when you have to get out of the car for any reason.

I have mine set just loose enough to grab and hold the car on a slight incline. If they're adjusted too tight you're adding extra heat to the rotor which will lead to premature warping. One local Vette shop that I know of will not warrantee their rear brake jobs if you insist on having the parking brake installed and functional. They're that convinced of the "poor design" of it.
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Jim O.
Save the Wave...!!!

Thanks, Jim. I'll probably let it go for now since they apparently never did work. I just happened to try them last year and was surprised they didn't work. Hey, did you ever hear of a place near you by the name "Hooked on Classics"? I think they are a consignment dealer. I drove up there last year to look at a Vette. Place was amazing, but kind of depressing to see all the great collector cars kind of neglected. Drove 1000 miles in one weekend! Mike

A cheap temporary fix might be getting a couple of those cable adjusters that are made to take up cable slack by forming a V when tightened.

mkapp7879 said: ... Hey, did you ever hear of a place near you by the name "Hooked on Classics"? ...

Been by there many times! Never been in the place though, seems like I can never get out there during their business hours. It is about a 15 minute drive west from my place. And you're right about it being a little depressing seeing all those great classics sitting outside taking a beating from the elements. I'd guess the nicer ones are inside.
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Jim O.
Save the Wave...!!!