Broke something in the parking brake mechanism while doing the rear disc brakes

[Wingman707]

I've joined the jacked up e-brake club

Man, I feel quite foolish. I scrubbed T4R.org for this topic prior to replacing my rear pads and rotors. I thought it would be safe to remove the rear rotors with out adjusting in the shoes......big mistake. For a job that should only take 2 hours for both sides has now become quite the headache.

I have a couple questions:
1. Do you need to pull the axle hub to rebuild the e-brake assembly?
2. Should I be consider taking this to the dealer?

I completely destroyed at least one of the springs, cups assembly. They were found at the bottom of the rotor drum.

Honestly, I'm hoping BlackWorksInc will pipe in, but will take any experience you all have with the e-brake reassembly.

 

[shahsmerdis]

No you don't need to take the hub off.

you should get a new springs though. I had good luck with the parts store springs kit. But everything other than the springs were low quality. Just use the springs you should be okay But if you have a quick way of getting oem springs I'd go the OEM route. it might add up quickly to 30$ for a bunch of small parts if you go oem. all my problems were solved with new springs.

You need to use or the screw driver technique to get the top springs connected.

it will really help if you have two people working on this. the techquie I learned here was to use rope to hold the shoe hold down spring assembly together and pull it through the hub to get everything situated. it will require a lot of cursing that is for sure.

I spent 3 weekends to get this shit right, and then the lug nut snapped. (one of my lugs were damaged). I drove with one less lug, but the parking brake was perfect, it held in on a step hill in neutral.


I gave it to a professional and he completely ****ed it up. I saw he left one of the springs off until I brought it to his attention. (i know mechanics hate being told something from a DYI'er but it only holds in one direction. do it yourself do it right.

for reference this is how it should operate when you are all done. If only one side actuates, then you didn't do it right. both shoes should come out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpMa8YXcLCI (the assembly is off center but it fixed itself when you put the rotor on.