Davidgou

iTrader: (2)

I replaced the rear brake pads monday night, mainly 'cause the emergency brake doesn't grab. I have to pull the handle way up and it still doesn't work. The cable works, moves the pistons, but I think it needs adjustment. Where does it adjust under the car or under the console? The car is described in the signature. Thanks in advance!

Redbird87

I believe that if you do a search of the tech boards you will find some interesting info on the problem with the EM on Moraine caliper equipped cars, and even a fix for the problem that the General knew they had before going a better caliper in 89. I don't have the thread but am sure Ed does. Don't give up. Dave

H0TR0Dn

There is an adjustment on bottom of car above the driveshaft. Pretty sure you have to remove driveshaft to reach it.

AFRO IROC Z

you don't have to remove the driveshaft to reach it. I just used one of those wrenches that has the ratcheting mechanism, but you couldjust as easily use a normal boxed end wrench(ie. no ratcheting mechansim, can't remember what it's called), it would take a little more time but would work. And i don't remember the size of the nut, but i know it can be reached.

MdFormula350

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...brake+adjust..

Davidgou

iTrader: (2)

Thanks guys! Man that stinks if I have to get new calipers, I sure hope not.
I'll check to see if I can adjust it and check into the things you've all mentioned here. I'll let you'll know as soon as I can check it out. Thanks again.

kjgroen

i adjusted mine and it still doesnt work

H0TR0Dn

kjgroen
Did you check to see if your cables are moving both of the calipers? Sometimes you might have 1 cable stick and the other cable work.

kjgroen

yea I had someone else look while i pulled the e brake.. they move but it must not be enough ! kevin

Redbird87

I understand that there is an internal adjustment in the Moraine caliper itself that self-adjusts whenever you use the emergency brake, HOWEVER, many failed to do that, some not even able to compensate for pad wear enough for the pad to even touch the rotor !!! Many would touch enough to polish the rotor leaving some to think that the brakes were working when in reality the calipers were NOT effective even with the emergency pulled !! And GM knew of the problem, fixing only the standard transmission equipped because some rolled down hills when parked depending the rear brakes to hold them. Automatics had a mechanical parking pawl in the trans so the logic was they will not have a parking problem, BUT the rear brakes still would NOT contribute to STOPPING the car. GM corrected the poor design with a fix somewhere in 87 or 88 I think, then in 89 changed to PBR calipers on four wheel disc equipped cars. Sorry for the long post but hope it helps. BTW most of this info came from these boards. Dave

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

(Damn...)

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

Here's mine on my '88 Iroc:

Steve89GTA

Just so you guys know...I have an 89 GTA with the pbr rear calipers and my parking brake hasn't worked since i got the car. I've tried everything from adjusting the cables, cleaning the calipers...etc etc...the pushrod that the lever pushes on doesn't seem to be long enough to provide enough pressure. The car doesn't hold at all!
The lever maxes out and hits the other side just when the tinyest amount of pressure is beginning to be placed on the rotor. I dunno, maybe I have the lever/spring in wrong but I don't think so.
Does anyone have a closeup?

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

OH! You've already got the PBRs.

You have to make an adjustment to the small (read TINY) Allen screw on the opposite side of the piston. This changes the distance the lever travels to make contact with the rotor and keeps the actuating piston parallel to the face of the rotor. Screw the Allen screw in a bit and see if that makes a difference.

Ed

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

You can BARELY see it in the pic below. It's right above the piston area, located between the piston housing and the hole for the other return spring:

Steve89GTA

Thanks man!!
I'm gonna check it out tonight.
I wish my calipers looked like that one though.
Maybe it's time to spring for a rebuilt set. Do you know if the parking brake lever and it's small parts are included when you buy the caliper? I'm guessing they are...

Thanks again for the pic..

Davidgou

iTrader: (2)

If I don't get mine to work properly, can I buy new calipers for an 89 and use them on my 88 GTA? Or if I get a pair of remanufactured calipers for an 88, will they have the problem solved?
Thanks

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

This is a new 4th gen caliper minus all the piston stuff. Don't buy rebuilt ones unless you have a real problem with the ones you have. Rebuild kits are about $12 each and make the caliper work just like new. The job is sooo easy it's sick. You really only need an air tank or a shot of compressed air to blow the piston out. Everything else is done with your hands and hand tools.


David, you can't just bolt '89 calipers on an '88 rear..won't work. Gotta switch backing plates, get caliper cradles, etc. If you get a set of rebuilt '88 calipers, they may OR may not have the recall kit installed. No way to tell that I know of.

Ed

Steve89GTA

Interesting.
I have a full set of air tools in the garage and a sandblasting cabinet as well. I don't have a press though. Is one needed in order to rebuild them?
And finally - will most rebuild kits come with the parking brake components? The pushrod looks kinda rusted and worn on both of them...
EB, thanks for all your help. You website is very imformative too!

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

You don't need a press. To get the piston back in, just use a big (6") C clamp. I cleaned the pushrod and round thing with the hole in the middle (parking brake actuator) with a wire brush. They look great. You'll need a toothbrush to get into the piston o-ring groove but that's about it. I cleaned up the outsides of the calipers with a die grinder and a small wire brush tool. They look almost polished.

No, the rebuild kits will not have the parking brake stuff. Just all the seals and small stuff. I'll get you some pics later tonight of my stuff waiting for my drum to disc upgraded 3.42 rear. I'll have pics of that swap later...this stuff is fun!!

Ed

Davidgou

iTrader: (2)

I agree too!

I'll check my calipers. They work fine, it's just the ebrake part of them that doesn't brake fine. I'll try cleaning them good and adjusting when I get a chance, maybe tomorrow, hopefully. I'll let you know. If you could attach some pictures, it would be great. Thanks again.

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

Ok, here's what comes in the basic rebuild kit: seals, new metal pieces that go around the e-brake adjuster, assembly lube, new caliper mounting screws.
It's not that much reall and not hard at all.

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

Sorry 'bout the size..man these are big. This is one of my calipers that were "polished" up with just a wire brush in a die grinder.

Anyhoo, here's the screw I'm talking about...5mm Allen I think.

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

And here's the point of contact where the paralleling adjustment is made by that small screw. By pushing up against this small metal clamp thing, it limits/changes how far the e-brake has to go before it makes the pads engage the rotor.

How's that?

Ed

Steve89GTA

wow, I feel like mailing you a check!
Ok, so considering that my discs are almost new and the pads are in really good shape - I need to turn the adjuster screw clockwise a few turns? Can't wait to try it...

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

Yes. If that doesn't do it, I don't know...

OH! One more thing. Don't tighten that screw TOO much or it will cause the inner pad to be in contact with the rotor while you're driving the car causing brake pad wear, heat, damage, etc.


Ed

Steve89GTA

Thanka again,
I'll make sure to give it a few turns and make sure the pads aren't engaging when they're not supposed to be.

Davidgou

iTrader: (2)

Ok, Ed, you're really helping us around here a lot, thanks man.
One thing though, my rear calipers don't look like yours. Mine use the bigger kind of pads. When I first bought them I ordered for 88 Trans Am and they're like yours (small) but when I compared them with mine which are bigger I had to order for 88 Firebird eventhough my car is an 88 GTA. My calipers don't have that little allen screw. It's just the emergency brake adjuster. I'll try to take pictures if I get to work on them today.

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

Sorry Dave...we've kinda left you out to dry with all this PBR stuff..

In your case you can do 2 things: install the GM recall kit for those calipers or purchase rebuilt ones that may have the fix already installed. As you know, the '88 and '89 calipers are different. The place you got your pads (that won't fit your car) probably gave you the performance (IE-PBR) pads, and so you had to get those for a "Firebird" implying "not performance". Search for "recall kit" and user "Apeiron" in this forum and you should be able to pull up the part number.

Your rear calipers look like this, right?

Davidgou

iTrader: (2)

Yes they do, so mine are not "performance"? I would think that if they're bigger they would be. Is this ok for a GTA?

I just looked that info on the actuators that Apeiron had posted a couple of years ago. Checked the web site too. GMpartsdirect has the recall kit for $31.84, part # 18019028

Thanks Ed!

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

No problem. The "performance pkg" means "1LE" which they DID have in '88, but only 4 of them Camaro-wise. Just fine for a GTA if you "fix" them. You have the standard J65 4 wheel disc option, which has the crappy calipers that tend to stick. If you plan to keep your current setup, I recommend just gettting the rebuild kit.

2 reasons: One, the rebuilt calipers will run you a lot more money and you won't be sure that they are "fixed". Two, it's only $35 or so and one kit is supposed to do both sides. The only reason I didn't fix mine is that I upgrades to 1LEs.

Good luck!

Ed

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

PS: Steve, just leave the check blank...I'll take care of it.



Ed

badredbrd89

I wonder, where did you get the rebuild kit from? I have an 89 formula 305 w/o 1LE and I'm being told by a major radio show host in the area,(Northern Va) that the only real cure is a complete new set of rebuilt calipers-close to 300.00 if I chose to do it myself.

Davidgou

iTrader: (2)

Here's where you can get them: www.GMpartsdirect.com
has the recall kit for $31.84, part # 18019028.

That's the place that Ed told us about. Hope it works!

David

AaronIROCZ

iTrader: (5)

The recall kit is only for 82-88 cars, the 89-92 have totaly different calipers, so the recall kit won't work.

Calderone

Well,Well
we have a big problem rite here ya know
i have 89 Formula with rear discs
and i have the same problem drivin me mad
we tried adjusting from equalizer nut under the shifter
and over the trans---
and the little Allen nut in the calipers---
we even tried adding NEW thicker pads
and the E-brake DON'T work at all !!!

Whats the real solution for this ?
we've tried almost everything !!
Thanks ...
Its a 1989 Formula WS6 with new design calipers (1989)
bye

H0TR0Dn

You may check to see if the cable that runs over the exhaust if moving freely, both sides while your under there. I guess the heat and age of mine caused it to freeze up.