Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2005 20:31:23 -0800
Reply-To: Chris Agh <chris.agh@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Chris Agh <chris.agh@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: help: locked e-brake?
In-Reply-To: <7649c95c0501020931723e777e@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
So, to let everyone who helped know, I finally got to mess around with
my "stuck" brake since the weather cleared today.
I tried hammering the backing plate to loosen it, but it didn't work.
Since I heard a "clanking" sound when I tried to manually spin the
wheel (only 1/2 inch of play) I was leery to just rev it up and force
it free. So, I tried to get the drum off thinking there was no way it
was coming loose with the shoes stuck to it. However, it came free
quite easily and nothing inside was broken or apart. (I expected a
broken spring or something.) After checknig everything out I decided
to try to adjust the brakes and bring the shoes in a bit. This seemed
to do the trick. Weird.
However, part of the drum surface has been roughed up as well as the
shoes. I think I can get the drum turned (is that what you call it?)
and I'll get new shoes.
Now, back to the cat problem. This being the first time I've been
able to drive since I replaced the cat and 02 sensor I noticed some
smoke and something was definitely burning after a quick spin around
the block. Things are pretty well sealed up on the cat and the 02
sensor is connected correctly, so I'm not sure what the trouble could
be. The sensor is not brand new. I got it from a friend with the
same van who had a spare - ordered one and didn't need it.
Besides all that the van sounds a bit "funny". The idle and "rev" is
a bit higher pitched (not more rpms though); almost more of a buzz to
it. Definitely stuff going on with the cat exchange. Sorry for the
ambiguous sound description. It's tough to describe.
Again, any cat replacement ideas are appreciated. As for the brakes
I'll replace the shoes and see what happens.
Too bad we've got rain coming for about the next week.
cheers,
Chris
89 GL
Santa Barbara
On Sun, 2 Jan 2005 09:31:27 -0800, Chris Agh <chris.agh@gmail.com> wrote:
> Thanks for all the suggestions.
> It is not too cold where I live (50F) but it has been raining off and
> on for the last week. If the rain lets up today I will try some of
> the ideas you all posted.
>
> Also, I had to replace the brake master cylinder about 2 months ago in
> which the brake fluid was also replaced and bled, so that stuff should
> be clean.
>
> The e-brake cable does not seem hung up on anything, but the rust
> possibility needs to be looked at. I'll let the group know what I
> find once the weather clears up and lets me get outside to work a bit.
>
> Thanks a ton to everyone.
> Chris
>
>
> On Sun, 02 Jan 2005 05:01:12 -0600, Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@mchsi.com> wrote:
> > Chris:
> > The emergency brake cable gets holes in the plastic sheath and then
> > rust sets in and they bind up sometimes. Get a hold of the cable
> > housing, maybe 12 inches ahead of where it goes into the backing plate.
> > Bend it back and forth somewhat, even in a couple different directions.
> > You will usually get it to release. Sometimes it helps to spray some
> > penetrating oil into the cable housing, but be careful that none follows
> > the cable down onto the brake drum.
> > It is time for a new e-brake cable, it gets very tiresome kneeling down
> > in the slush to do this in the winter.
> > People in dry climates never experience such trouble.
> > Putting a new one in is not too bad of a job. The most likely spot for
> > trouble is that they also rust into the socket on the backing plate.
> > Backing plates are made of sheet steel and the rust and can break when
> > trying to extract the end of the cable housing. I always heat the socket
> > red hot and work the stub back and forth with a vise grips while
> > pulling it out. I put grease into the cable housing when i put the new
> > one in. Probably waterproof grease would be a good idea.
> > Al Brase
> >
> > Chris Agh wrote:
> >
> > >I have an 89 GL and just replaced the catalytic converter and oxygen sensor.
> > >Everything sounded fine upon start up so I decided to go for a test
> > >drive. However, the van would not move. It felt as if something was
> > >locking up one of the rear wheels. The e-brake also felt very tight
> > >even when released. I mean, I could only get one or two "clicks" when
> > >trying to engage the e-brake and it was much stiffer than normal. I
> > >jacked up the rear end to see if the wheels would spin freely and with
> > >the brake off in neutral the passenger side rear wheel would not spin.
> > > It would move only about 1/2 inch and then it sounded as if something
> > >metal was blocking it.
> > >With the tight parking brake I assumed something was wrong there, but
> > >in being a beginner at fixing the van I also naively assumed something
> > >i did in replacing the cat messed up the wheel.
> > >Also, the van drove fine 2 days before this happened - without the cat
> > >or muffler connected as i just had to move the van across the street.
> > >
> > >Any help, comment or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
> > >Thanks.
> > >
> > >Chris
> > >89 GL
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
| 
