Okay so my car has rear disks, but originally had drums. Somewhere along the line someone swapped them out, but didn't do anything with the e brake, so its not connected to anything?
Were rear disks a stock option on an 89 camaro?
Also what would be the best way to fix this, right now it doesn't matter too much but I want to swap out my 700r4 for either a t5 or a t56 soon and I'll need it.

 

Yep, discs were a stock option in '89, and I believe that was the first year for the PBR aluminum calipers. Depending on what all was done (or not done) when they converted from drums to discs, you may just end up needing e-brake cables, it's hard to say for sure! Do you know whether your rear calipers are aluminum or cast iron? If they're aluminum both calipers will sit on the same side of the rotor (toward the rear). If, however, they are the earlier iron calipers the driver's side caliper will sit on the rear of the rotor and the passenger side caliper will sit on the front of the rotor. I don't know how much that helped, but take a look under the car and see if you can tell what is there and what isn't there. That'll be a start at least!

-Paul

For reference, here's a picture of a rear end with aluminum calipers:


and here's one with cast iron calipers:

 

With either option, you should be able to purchase cables at most any auto store.

JamesC

 

Not meaning to steal the thread but are e brake cables different for each year car? or are they the same, depending on disc/drum rear end? i recently swapped my 9 bolt for a 10 bolt and the e brake cable wasnt good that came with the 10 bolt.

 

AFAIK the parking brake (Not sure what an "e-brake" is? Pretty sure these cars don't have it though, whatever it would be; all they have is "service" brakes which are the ones you step on to stop the car, and a "parking" brake which is the handle in the console) cables go with the TYPE of discs the rear has, meaning there are only 2 varieties for these cars: 82-88 with the Saginaw system, or 89-92 with the PBR system.

I can tell you however, I put a PBR rear out of about a 91 or 92 in my 83 car, and the parking brake cables hooked right up to the 83 actuator like they were meant to be there. Didn't even have to change the adjustment from where it had been before.

So just get yourself the parking brake cables for 89-92 disks at any parts store. They'll hook RIGHT UP to your car.

 

e brake=parking brake

thanks!

 

also known as EMERGENCY brake LOL

 

No; these cars don't have one of those either, whatever that would consist of. I can't BEGIN to imagine what an "emergency" brake would look like, or how you'd apply it, or how it would work, or anything of the kind. I've never seen any such thing on any car I've ever driven, that's for sure. Maybe there's one out there somewhere but I've sure never come across it.

It would be a cool idea though; even if it only worked ONCE, and that was it. But that parking brake is WORTHLESS for an "emergency" situation, it won't even stop the car from a 10 mph coast. Definitely not something that would take care of any kind of "emergency".

Sad to say, all these cars have, is the regular "service" brakes, and a parking brake. Pretty much about like any other kind of car.

 

uh yeah...right...I'm not saying it is worth anything in an emergency (trust me, I know, I lost my "service" brakes!) I was simply trying to clarify the word usage in this thread. People refer to the brake we are discussing as a parking brake, emergency brake, or e-brake. They all refer the same thing. It is used as a brake for situations when your "service" brakes do not accomplish the task required (usually holding a parked car, sometimes in an EMERGENCY situation). K? Cool..but does it really matter what it's referred to as? We all know what he's talking about, so let's try to help him solve his problem, ok? Cool, thanks!

-Paul

 

All I know is one night coming down I-95 South from Providence RI I thought (in my infinite wisdom) it'd be fun to pull the "EMERGENCY brake" at 70MPH....well tell you what I had an emergency all right....after the shart in my pants cooled off from fish tailing all over 2-3 lanes I came to a stop. Seemed like it took forever to stop. Don't worry, that was 11 years ago and like 3AM, I've matured a bit more now.

 

Options were drums or PBR 11.7" rear discs. All cars got the same discs from '89-92. Best option would be to install the '89-up discs which work very well.

Ed

 

They're Iron, so how does the parking brake cable hook to the caliper?

 

ifyou need pics of iron caliper e-brake cable mounting I have my disc out and can take pics for you

 

Yeah, I can take pics too if needbe. It'll be easier to look at pics than try to describe it I think. Basically there is just a lever on the caliper that the cable hooks up to, but pics will show it best.

-Paul

 

sounds like how mine are

 

oh and on a side note ... the e-brakes on the type of calipers never really worked good to begin with so consider that before you invest all the time to hook them up.

 

It would be nice if I could get the pics, I'm probably going to bite the bullet and upgrade. But I might not, still flapping in the breeze
on that, pics would be appreciated though, if you want my email it is thepenguinsarecomingtogetme@gmail.com

 

OK, I will try and get some pics of mine up in the next couple of days

-Paul