My Parking brake will not hold my camaro in place in neutral.

I got under the car and tightened the brake cable tension nut a lot and the wheels still would not lock. I looked in the repair manual and it said i should get 13 to 17 clicks on the brake handle, I got about 7 before i couldn't pull it anymore. Would making it too tight cause it not to lock up? I'm new to this and not exactly sure how the parking brake locks the wheels in place. Does it use a brake pad like other brakes?

If you need this info, I have 4 wheel drum brakes on the camaro.

If you guys have any info that might help, please post a reply.

-Matt

 

Do you mean 4 wheel disk or rear drum. I dont think you have 4 wheel drum. If it is 4 wheel disks the calipers are probably the culprit from what I have read. I guess the 82-88 rear disks had problems, but you can get a rebuild kit from gm from them that will fix them suposedly.

Ben

 

Rear Drum brakes, my mistake.

 

Have you tested if your brakes will stop your back wheels if they are up in the air? Not your parking break but normal? I was wondering because there is an adjustment in the drum that moves how close the shoes are to the drum. I wondered if it was off if it could cause your parking break not to be able to move the shoes enough to stop the car.

Ben

 

My 89 rear disks don't hold the car for $hit either. No matter how much adjustement, the rod that the lever pushes just doesn't seam to be long enough. Maybe it's just too worn out or something.

 

I just converted to the 89 style disks on my 3.45 9 bolt. The parking break on them seem to hold fine. Your pads may just be too worn. Your right though that rod could probably only push it so far, and if your pads are too thin it probably wont grip well. This is just a guess, but I figured I would take a shot at it.

Ben

 

Momar,
THat's the strange thing cause my pads are almost NEW. What happens is... the lever full extends and hits the mount which gives people the impression that the pads are seated..but it really is the lever hitting the other side (fully extended).
At the fully extended position, the rod JUST Barely begins to push.
What do you think?

 

I dont know. I would email someone like AndyZ28 because he deals with these all the time and makes parts for them.

Ben

 

When i had the car up on jackstands, I tightened the cable like I said. The rear wheels spun just as freely with the brake engaged as disengaged in both directions. I think the car's rear brakes/brake shoes are shot. I haven't had a chance to take the wheel off and inspect this yet. Any other opinions?

 

It does appear to be your rear brakes, but it may not mean they are shot. Check them and if there is still shoe left they can be adjusted. I believe those brakes are supposed to adjust themselves when you use the brakes in while in reverse, but I am not sure. There is a little gear looking thing that you can access from behind the drum that adjusts it manually though if you need to.

Ben

 

The p brake cable pulls a lever which pushes 1 of your pads. My car had trouble with this 2. Mabe your cable is snaped up front