parking brake rebuild..?

[mcbonio]

No matter how much I tighten or loosen the parking brake mechanisim I can still hear it binding slightly, not enough to slow the car but its still very annoying.

Its defiantly the shoes dragging as I took them off last night and took it for a spin and it was silent.

Would a parking brake rebuild sort this out? Whats making them drag like this? You guys think maybe the springs are old and have become stiff?

[greggers]

There's not much to the mechanism itself, it might be the springs but I doubt it... Is the cable fully releasing/how much movement have you got in the handbrake lever?

[mcbonio]

Theres more than enough in the lever, even when I slacken it off to the point the shoes don't even bite, they still rub on the discs. I think the springs have lost their ability to return correctly and are not pulling the shoes in enough anymore. This happened on my e46, the springs we're constantly half stretched and just solid.

I've ordered a handbrake fitting kit, I'll rebuild the whole thing on saturday and post back.!

[suedenim]

Where are you adjusting the brakes, on the lever or on the self adjuster between the shoes?

[mcbonio]

Between the shoes.!

But even when its adjusted all the way so it no longer touches the disc, even with the handbrake on... they still rub.! Which makes me think the mechanism needs a refurb.

[greggers]

Think it's possible for the shoes to become skewed, have you had the discs off to have a look at what's going on?

[mcbonio]

yeah had the off, shoes look ok. Just looks like the springs arn't pulling the shoes right in like they used to.

[mcbonio]

Ok, stripped it down this morning and replaced all the springs, not a peep from it.! The springs were hard as hell, no flex in them at all, slipped right off.

Thanks guys.