So my brother and I serviced my rear brakes, adjusted the star screw, and when I got back in my car, I found out I have no e brake...
The brake locked about 60% up before, and now it goes all the way up, and nothing...
Is there something obvious that I did wrong?
Doubt it makes a difference, but it's an 03 Cavalier



Buddy Club Ecotec Cavalier
* More to come *

yea you back the adjuster off. turn it back the other way until the rear drum just slides on and doesn't or just barely rubs the shoes .

we adjusted so far till it barely rubbed
But you're saying I have to back it off all the way first, then re apply tension?



Buddy Club Ecotec Cavalier
* More to come *

No..he is saying you have to adjust it till the shoes are just rubbing the drum. That means they are correctly adjusted.

Check and make sure that your adjusted correctly and that the e-brake cable didnt somehow come off the inside of the drum.

Well we did adjust it till it was barely touching the drum (or as best as we could since they need to be changed) but I'll check and make sure the cable didn't come off



Buddy Club Ecotec Cavalier
* More to come *

Jay Corkit wrote: but I'll check and make sure the cable didn't come off

this happened to me once on one side. pissed me right off after stripping all 8 torx bolts that hold the hubs on. yes i drilled them off. yes, it took forever.



JBO Stickers! Get yours today!

If your shoes are that worn..just get new shoes...

That will make it seem like the e-brake isnt working as well.

Shoes are very cheap for our cars...last time I bought a set was maybe $30 iirc.

You didn't adjust it with the e-brake handle up did you?

if you do end up putting rear shoes on make sure to get riveted and not bonded much better shoe. and if it has the same larger rear drums like my 03 did. they are pretty pricey for a good set. when i first ordered them a few years ago they sent cheap bonded shoes for $30 sent them back and got riveted which were almost $100 even at my cost. hope that helps

Or you could get racing shoes for 197 a set. Yes, carbotech sells them.


1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by: Kronos Performance

WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer

sounds like someone doesn't know how drum brakes work. Or you have a rough Idea, You need to adjust your adjuster so your drums just barely come on and off. you have it backed off WAYYY too much


1999 - Cavalier - 5speed - Exhaust - 17" rims - carbon fiber hood - the beater

Leafy (Club Jeffie FEA man) wrote:Or you could get racing shoes for 197 a set. Yes, carbotech sells them.

Considering a set of OEM replacement up here are $110 discounted, I may consider these

User Chemical wrote:sounds like someone doesn't know how drum brakes work. Or you have a rough Idea, You need to adjust your adjuster so your drums just barely come on and off. you have it backed off WAYYY too much

And, yes, I have no idea how to do it, however, I didn't back the adjuster off?


IRREGARDLESS
My ebrake started working today when I parked my car... I can't explain it, can you?
I was going to take them off tonight and readjust or something, but didn't need to?
Why???



Buddy Club Ecotec Cavalier
* More to come *

Self adjusting drums that actually work?


1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by: Kronos Performance

WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer

Leafy (Club Jeffie FEA man) wrote:Self adjusting drums that actually work?

tis a miracle. mine dont work worth a @!#$. on a side note i need to adjust mine. i have to put the car in gear on semi steep hills