Date: Thu, 24 Oct 1996 10:25:28 -0700 (PDT) From: Douglas Henry To: type-3@umich.edu Subject: E-brake sticking Hi all: I have a problem with my Squareback's emergency brake. When I leave it on, even overnight, it is frozen up in the morning, as if it is rusted stuck. I've taken to just leaving it in gear when I park, but this is obviously not a good long-term solution. The shoes are only about a year old, and the brakes have been adjusted to a couple of different positions. Any suggestions? Thanks, Doug Henry '71 SQB Date: Thu, 24 Oct 1996 20:44:18 -0500 To: type-3@umich.edu Subject: Re: E-brake sticking Your emergency brake cables are probably just frozen. The fix it to replace them--they are still available. Your rear brake cylinders might also be sticking. They are easy to rebuild right on the car. Jim --------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Adney jadney@vwtype3.org Madison, Wisconsin --------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 28 Oct 1996 09:51:05 -0800 (PST) From: Douglas Henry To: Melissa & Jim Subject: Re: E-brake sticking > >I have a problem with my Squareback's emergency brake. When I leave it > >on, even overnight, it is frozen up in the morning, as if it is rusted > >stuck. I've taken to just leaving it in gear when I park, but this is > >obviously not a good long-term solution. The shoes are only about a year > >old, and the brakes have been adjusted to a couple of different positions. > > Your emergency brake cables are probably just frozen. The fix it to replace > them--they are still available. > > Your rear brake cylinders might also be sticking. They are easy to rebuild > right on the car. > > Jim Jim: Thanks for the advice. I don't think it's the cylinders, as I just replaced them about a year ago. When this sticking happens, the only way to get on the road again is to tap on the edges of the drums with a mallet to free them up, so I don't think it's a problem with the cables. When I put on new shoes last year, the drums looked pretty smooth, so I didn't have them turned. Is it possible that this is the problem? I used some Italian made cylinders instead of the OEM German, so I'm wondering if that might be a problem.... However, do the rear cylinders even participate in the function of the e-brake? I thought the e-brake was purely cable-driven. Just trying to sort this out.... Date: Mon, 28 Oct 96 14:00:00 PST From: Toby Erkson To: type-3-errors@umich.edu, jadney@vwtype3.org Subject: Re[2]: E-brake sticking Your cables aren't the problem, it's the brake shoes -- they are rusting to the drum. When the shoes get wet and then are set (e-brake pulled up) the water evaporates (due to the heat from the drivetrain) and the shoes rust to the drum. What to do? First, adjust your e-brakes at the drum as per the manual (roughly 3-4 turns from fully set). Second, don't get your drums wet, or dry them before setting the brake. What do I mean "don't get them wet, or dry them"? Well, don't drive through any deep water that will splash water well up into the wheel well. Since that's not so easy, to dry the drums just brake a tad bit harder when coming to a stop or two. The added use will wipe the water off and heat up the drums (depending upon how hard you actually brake). Also, I notice that some people really yank up on the brake handle (boy, do I cringe!) when it just needs to be pulled up until it becomes firm. These are just some ideas, and the harder braking is probably not a good idea because it'll wear the front even more. Jim is correct about the cables, they're easy and available (there's a joke somewhere in there... :). The cylinders are easy, but I found it much more convenient to take them off the car. And you are correct, the e-brake is by cable so you probably don't need to worry about them. As for the brake shoes, try a different brand and/or go for organic, not semi-metalic, because organics don't rust. Toby Erkson air_cooled_nut@pobox.com modified '72 VW Squareback 2.0L stock '75 Porsche 914 1.8L Thanks, Doug Henry '71 SQB