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Date:         Fri, 8 Jan 2010 11:10:16 -0500
Reply-To:     Ed <email99@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ed <email99@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      Re: Frozen emergency brake

That's very interesting.


I also have the SmallCar rear disc brakes installed and recently, also on
the first really cold day after some wet weather, my emergency brake cables
also froze.  They broke loose quickly after a very short drive.  However,
when I tried to reapply the emergency brake the handle had no resistance!
One of the flexible cables had slipped out of the cross piece adjuster.
There was simply too much slack with the cables were frozen and the handle
released.  I placed a couple of M8 bolts in the cross piece slots to keep
this from happening again and all is well.


I haven't heard of this happening before so I guess it's not a problem with
standard, unmodified Vanagon brakes.  I imagine it occurs with the disc
brake modification because the disc brake automatic emergency brake adjuster
places the brake handle somewhat higher than with standard drum brakes.
This allows more slack when the handle is released but the cables are
frozen.  Adding two bolts to block the cables from slipping out is a very
simple fix.


BTW, these brakes are great.


Ed




On Thu, 7 Jan 2010 12:57:41 -0800, Luke Bakken <luke.bakken@GMAIL.COM> wrote:


>Hey everyone,
>
>We've had some interesting weather here in Spokane WA - warm and wet
>the first part of the week then suddenly really cold beginning on
>Tuesday night. I got in my van yesterday to drive it around and
>discovered that the brakes weren't disengaging totally from using the
>e-brake. Thankfully I just drove around the block and back home, but
>the right-rear disc was definitely starting to get hot because I could
>hear it cooling down.
>
>I'm assuming that the weird weather change must have frozen something
>up but I'm wondering what the best way to diagnose this issue would
>be. The van has been upgraded to rear disc brakes using a "big brake"
>kit either from SmallCar or Van Cafe (the P.O. installed them). I'm
>assuming I can tap around the e-brake springs on the calipers with a
>hammer to see if I can loosen things up with the e-brake disengaged,
>but other suggestions are very welcome.
>
>Thanks,
>Luke
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