Difference between revisions of "Free a Frozen Parking Brake"
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| − | + | A frozen parking brake (also called a hand brake or emergency brake) is going to cause a delay, but it can be “thawed” easily. Unlike the “regular” ([[Replace a Hydraulic Hose|hydraulic]]) brake system on most vehicles, the parking brake is a purely mechanical system. It is operated by springs and cables inside a sheath. Water can become trapped in the sheath and freeze solid if it is cold enough. This ice prevents the cable from sliding inside the sheath as designed. | |
[[Category:Car Brakes]] | [[Category:Car Brakes]] | ||
== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
===Dislodging Ice=== | ===Dislodging Ice=== | ||
| − | #Start the vehicle. Turn the key and start your vehicle. This will start warming up all of the car's components via heat from the engine and exhaust. It usually takes around ten minutes for the engine to warm up, but that does depend on the outside temperature.<ref>http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a19086/warming-up-your-car-in-the-cold-just-harms-engine/</ref> Revving the engine will speed up the process. | + | #Start the vehicle. Turn the key and start your vehicle. This will start warming up all of the car's components via heat from the engine and exhaust. It usually takes around ten minutes for the engine to warm up, but that does depend on the outside temperature.<ref name="rf1">http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a19086/warming-up-your-car-in-the-cold-just-harms-engine/</ref> Revving the engine will speed up the process. |
| − | #Release and set the parking brake repeatedly. This is the easiest way to dislodge ice from your parking brake.<ref>http://www.dbausa.com/whats-that-noise/</ref> It also has the added benefit of not requiring that you get out in the cold. If you have given your car time to heat up as suggested above, and tried five or ten times to release the brake without success, you should consider trying to tap the ice off of the brake. | + | #Release and set the parking brake repeatedly. This is the easiest way to dislodge ice from your parking brake.<ref name="rf2">http://www.dbausa.com/whats-that-noise/</ref> It also has the added benefit of not requiring that you get out in the cold. If you have given your car time to heat up as suggested above, and tried five or ten times to release the brake without success, you should consider trying to tap the ice off of the brake. |
#Tap the parking brake lightly. Consult your service manual to see which wheels the parking brake holds. Try gently tapping the brake drum or caliper with a hammer or mallet to dislodge any ice. You can put cardboard or a block of wood between the hammer and your bake components, though this is not necessary. You can also try gently wiggling the brake cable in an attempt to dislodge ice. | #Tap the parking brake lightly. Consult your service manual to see which wheels the parking brake holds. Try gently tapping the brake drum or caliper with a hammer or mallet to dislodge any ice. You can put cardboard or a block of wood between the hammer and your bake components, though this is not necessary. You can also try gently wiggling the brake cable in an attempt to dislodge ice. | ||
===Melting Ice=== | ===Melting Ice=== | ||
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#*If you have access to a hydraulic lift, it will save you time. | #*If you have access to a hydraulic lift, it will save you time. | ||
#Remove the wheels. At this point, the lugs may be loose enough to remove by hand. If not, finish [[Remove Lug Nuts and Tires|removing the lugs]] with the lug wrench or impact wrench. Once the lugs are removed, pull the wheel off of the wheelbase. Place wheels under the car as back-up protection in case the jack stands fail. | #Remove the wheels. At this point, the lugs may be loose enough to remove by hand. If not, finish [[Remove Lug Nuts and Tires|removing the lugs]] with the lug wrench or impact wrench. Once the lugs are removed, pull the wheel off of the wheelbase. Place wheels under the car as back-up protection in case the jack stands fail. | ||
| − | #Remove the grease dust cap. This cap will be in the center of the hub and can be removed by simply prying away from the hub. This will expose the retaining nut.<ref> http://www.allpar.com/fix/brake-drums.html</ref> | + | #Remove the grease dust cap. This cap will be in the center of the hub and can be removed by simply prying away from the hub. This will expose the retaining nut.<ref name="rf3"> http://www.allpar.com/fix/brake-drums.html</ref> |
| − | #Pull out the cotter pin. There will be a pin in front of the retaining nut that prevents the nut from loosening (referred to as a cotter pin). Remove it by straightening the bent end of the pin and prying it out of its hole with pliers or a screwdriver.<ref | + | #Pull out the cotter pin. There will be a pin in front of the retaining nut that prevents the nut from loosening (referred to as a cotter pin). Remove it by straightening the bent end of the pin and prying it out of its hole with pliers or a screwdriver.<ref name="rf3" /> |
#Remove the retaining nut. Using a wrench or ratchet, turn the nut counter-clockwise (to the left) to loosen it. If the nut is stuck, lubricate it with WD-40 or similar lubricant. | #Remove the retaining nut. Using a wrench or ratchet, turn the nut counter-clockwise (to the left) to loosen it. If the nut is stuck, lubricate it with WD-40 or similar lubricant. | ||
| − | #Inspect the drum. Some drums have small bolts holding them to the hub. If this is the case, you will need to remove those bolts. <ref | + | #Inspect the drum. Some drums have small bolts holding them to the hub. If this is the case, you will need to remove those bolts. <ref name="rf3" /> |
#Attempt remove the drum. Pull the drum straight off of the hub. You may have to wiggle a little to get it started. If the drum appears stuck and will not pull off, you should: | #Attempt remove the drum. Pull the drum straight off of the hub. You may have to wiggle a little to get it started. If the drum appears stuck and will not pull off, you should: | ||
#*Check to make sure all bolts holding the drum to the hub are removed. | #*Check to make sure all bolts holding the drum to the hub are removed. | ||
| − | #*Check to see if the drum is getting caught on the brake shoes.<ref | + | #*Check to see if the drum is getting caught on the brake shoes.<ref name="rf3" /> |
#Retract the brake shoes. This step is only necessary if your drum is getting caught on the brake shoes. You will need to look on the back side of the backing plate (the steel plate on which the brake components are mounted) for a small rubber plug. Removing this plug will provide access to the brake shoe adjuster. Use a flat head screwdriver or a brake adjuster bar to retract the brake shoes. | #Retract the brake shoes. This step is only necessary if your drum is getting caught on the brake shoes. You will need to look on the back side of the backing plate (the steel plate on which the brake components are mounted) for a small rubber plug. Removing this plug will provide access to the brake shoe adjuster. Use a flat head screwdriver or a brake adjuster bar to retract the brake shoes. | ||
#*The adjuster is designed to self-adjust the shoes into a tightened position, so loosening them may be tricky. If the drum gets harder to turn as you adjust, you are going in the wrong direction. | #*The adjuster is designed to self-adjust the shoes into a tightened position, so loosening them may be tricky. If the drum gets harder to turn as you adjust, you are going in the wrong direction. | ||
#*Once the shoes are retracted, you can remove the drum and continue. | #*Once the shoes are retracted, you can remove the drum and continue. | ||
===Removing the Cable=== | ===Removing the Cable=== | ||
| − | #Remove the return springs. These springs attach to the brake shoe and the shoe anchor and hold tension on the brake shoe. Once the brake pedal is released, they return the brake shoe to its original position. To remove them, use the round part of the brake tool with a little notch. Place the round part on the anchor pin (the nob that the springs are hooked to) and turn it until the notch catches the spring, and then twist and pull to remove the spring.<ref> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIyESaecC2s</ref> | + | #Remove the return springs. These springs attach to the brake shoe and the shoe anchor and hold tension on the brake shoe. Once the brake pedal is released, they return the brake shoe to its original position. To remove them, use the round part of the brake tool with a little notch. Place the round part on the anchor pin (the nob that the springs are hooked to) and turn it until the notch catches the spring, and then twist and pull to remove the spring.<ref name="rf4"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIyESaecC2s</ref> |
| − | #Remove the retaining rings that hold the brake shoes in place. To do this, lightly grip the outside of the retaining ring with pliers, push in, and twist until the ring comes off.<ref> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaJ6X-uxMGM</ref> | + | #Remove the retaining rings that hold the brake shoes in place. To do this, lightly grip the outside of the retaining ring with pliers, push in, and twist until the ring comes off.<ref name="rf5"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaJ6X-uxMGM</ref> |
#Pull the brake shoe off. At this point the shoe should easily pull away from the backing plate. There will be another spring attached at the bottom of the shoe, but it will no longer be tensioned so you can just slide it off of the shoe. | #Pull the brake shoe off. At this point the shoe should easily pull away from the backing plate. There will be another spring attached at the bottom of the shoe, but it will no longer be tensioned so you can just slide it off of the shoe. | ||
| − | #Remove the emergency brake line. One of the brake shoes will be connected to an emergency brake line. To remove it, pull the spring cover back and slide the cable sideways away from the shoe.<ref | + | #Remove the emergency brake line. One of the brake shoes will be connected to an emergency brake line. To remove it, pull the spring cover back and slide the cable sideways away from the shoe.<ref name="rf5" /> |
#Slide the emergency brake line out of the backing plate. There will be a hole in the backing plate where the emergency brake line comes in from under the car. Use a flat screwdriver to depress the tabs on the brake cable that hold it in the backing plate and then pull it through the hole. | #Slide the emergency brake line out of the backing plate. There will be a hole in the backing plate where the emergency brake line comes in from under the car. Use a flat screwdriver to depress the tabs on the brake cable that hold it in the backing plate and then pull it through the hole. | ||
#Follow the length of the cable back to the brake lever. Whether your brake is operated by a hand lever or a foot pedal, it will connect to the brake cable. Once you find this connection, use a flathead screwdriver to release the cable from its clip. Now that the cable is loose on both ends, you are ready to install your new cable. | #Follow the length of the cable back to the brake lever. Whether your brake is operated by a hand lever or a foot pedal, it will connect to the brake cable. Once you find this connection, use a flathead screwdriver to release the cable from its clip. Now that the cable is loose on both ends, you are ready to install your new cable. | ||
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#Connect the new cable to the park brake lever. Connect the front end of your new cable to the lever assembly by sliding it into the same clip that held the old cable. | #Connect the new cable to the park brake lever. Connect the front end of your new cable to the lever assembly by sliding it into the same clip that held the old cable. | ||
#Run the cable to the backing plate. Be sure to fasten the cable to the body of the vehicle whenever called for in your service manual. You want to keep the correct amount of tension on the cable at all times to ensure that it functions properly. Slide the cable into the hole in your backing plate. | #Run the cable to the backing plate. Be sure to fasten the cable to the body of the vehicle whenever called for in your service manual. You want to keep the correct amount of tension on the cable at all times to ensure that it functions properly. Slide the cable into the hole in your backing plate. | ||
| − | #Connect the new brake line to your brake shoes. Fasten the emergency brake cable to the brake shoe on the same side you removed it. To do this, pull up the cover and slide the cable into the proper slot on the shoe (it will look the same as the one you removed from it).<ref | + | #Connect the new brake line to your brake shoes. Fasten the emergency brake cable to the brake shoe on the same side you removed it. To do this, pull up the cover and slide the cable into the proper slot on the shoe (it will look the same as the one you removed from it).<ref name="rf5" /> |
| − | #Grease the backing plate. You want to avoid squeaking and rubbing of the brake shoes. For this reason, you should grease any bare or rubbed spots on the backing plate.<ref | + | #Grease the backing plate. You want to avoid squeaking and rubbing of the brake shoes. For this reason, you should grease any bare or rubbed spots on the backing plate.<ref name="rf5" /> |
#Slide the bottom spring onto the brake shoe. There will be a hook at the end of the spring and a slot in the bottom of the brake shoe. Hook the spring into that slot. | #Slide the bottom spring onto the brake shoe. There will be a hook at the end of the spring and a slot in the bottom of the brake shoe. Hook the spring into that slot. | ||
#Slide the shoe into place against the backing plate. Now it is time to put the first brake shoe back into place. Once you get it lined up, hold it there until you can replace the retaining ring. | #Slide the shoe into place against the backing plate. Now it is time to put the first brake shoe back into place. Once you get it lined up, hold it there until you can replace the retaining ring. | ||
