Did rear rotors and pads today but....

[apyah]

Did rear rotors and pads today but.... the guy who had the car before me must have had emergency brake problems, when we got it there were extra parts in the glovebox so today was the day to figure them out. one was a spring for the return lever on the emergency brake. now I know why he had it apart. the cables are froze on it. I believe it is only the front one. that appears to be a pain in the ass to remove, has anybody done this before, its a 94 camaro z28. thank you Allen

[JoeliusZ28]

not sure what you mean by the front one. as far as i know there are two cables running from the ebrake. one goes to the left rear caliper, the other the right. Im not 100% positive but they shouldnt be too difficult to remove. you can remove the cables from the calipers with just a screwdriver and a pliers. Ive not looked at the handle end, but it shouldnt be too difficult (shouldnt is a keyword ) I would look into the cost of replacing the entire cables and go from there.

[apyah]

in the rear there are two cables one to each caliper. they meet in the middle under the driveshaft and exghaust. then join the front one there and run into the interior to the handle. the front cable I had mostly diconected but really could not reach up above the driveshaft and dont really think I will attempt it at this point. I put it all back together and came inside lol. Allen

[JoeliusZ28]

I know the cables are easy to disconnect from the calipers, i disconnected them in a matter of seconds when i dropped my rear axle last weekend.

[apyah]

that part is not bad but when the front cable is frozen it gets interesting

[TSTONE]

Cables
GM Camaro/Firebird 1993-1998 Repair Guide


REMOVAL & INSTALLATION


Front Cable
See Figures 1 and 2

1. Remove the front floor console.
2. With the parking brake lever in the up position, remove the parking brake spring.
3. With the parking brake lever in the down position, rotate the adjuster arm toward the front of the vehicle until a 3mm metal pin can be inserted into the hole. Perform the following:
   1. Remove the remaining piece of plastic shear pin from the hole.
   2. Insert a 3mm metal pin into the hole, locking out the self-adjuster.
4. Pull the parking brake lever all the way back.
5. Raise and safely support the vehicle with jackstands.
6. Disconnect the rear cables from the equalizer.
7. Remove the fitting of the front cable from the bracket using tool J 37043 or equivalent release tool.
8. Remove the grommet from the slot in the underbody.
9. Carefully lower the vehicle.
10. Bend back the cable retainer tab on the pulley.
11. Remove the barrel-shaped front cable end fitting from the adjuster track on the pulley.
12. Use release tool J 37043 to detach the parking brake front cable from the lever.

Fig. 1: Disconnect the front parking brake cable from the lever using the release tool

1. Remove the front parking brake cable from the floorpan.

Fig. 2: Parking brake cable routing


To install:

1. Route the front parking brake cable and grommet into the floorpan, as follows:
   1. Using soapy water as a lubricant, feed the forward end of the grommet into the slot.
   2. Use a small, curved, flat-ended prybar to gently press the rearward end into the slot.
   3. Make sure the grommet is properly seated in the slot in the floorpan.
2. Attach the front parking brake cable to the parking brake lever.
3. Install the barrel-shaped front cable end fitting into the adjuster track on the pulley.
4. Bend the cable retainer tab to its original position on the pulley.
5. Make sure the parking brake lever is in the down position.
6. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
7. Attach the rear cables to the equalizer.
8. Carefully lower the vehicle.
9. With the parking brake lever in the up position, install the parking brake spring.
10. Remove the metal pin from the hole.
11. Cycle the parking brake lever 3 times, then install the front floor console.

Rear Cable
See Figure 2
VEHICLES WITH DRUM BRAKES
See Figures 3 and 4
CAUTIONOlder brake pads or shoes may contain asbestos, which has been determined to be a cancer causing agent. Never clean the brake surfaces with compressed air! Avoid inhaling any dust from any brake surface! When cleaning brake surfaces, use a commercially available brake cleaning fluid.
These vehicles are equipped with a blind cable system at the brake drum the rear parking brake cable can be installed to the brake drum without disassembling the drum.

1. Fully disengage the parking brake lever. Be sure the handle is down and the brake indicator lamp not lit. If the parking brake lever is partially engaged, it won't be possible to pull the equalizer rearward.
2. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
3. Detach the rear parking brake cables from the equalizer, as follows:
   1. Pul the parking brake cable equalizer rearward to get necessary cable slack.
   2. Insert a fabricated spacer to hold the parking brake cable equalizer in place, as shown in the accompanying figure.

Fig. 3: Use a piece of scrap metal to make a spacer of the proper specifications

1. 1. Remove the left or right rear cable from the equalizer.
2. Detach the left or right rear cable from the underbody bracket and retainer. Use tool J 37043 or equivalent release tool to compress the retainer fingers on the casing and pull the rear cable from the underbody bracket.
3. Pull the rear cable through the guides installed on the rear axle housing.
4. Remove the rear tire and wheel assembly.
5. Remove the brake drum.
6. Remove he left or tight rear cable from the brake backing plate. Use release tool J 37043 to compress the retainer fingers and pull out the left or right cable, as applicable.
7. Remove the cable end fitting from the parking brake lever.

Fig. 4: Rear parking brake cable attachment-vehicle with rear drum brakes


To install:

1. Install the brake drum.

Make sure the guide spring projects through the hole in the backing plate so that cable insertion can be performed.

1. Feed the left rear cable through the guide and right rear cable through the guide on the axle housing.
2. Place the cable end fitting into the parking brake lever. This can be done by inserting the tear-drop shaped end fitting into the guide spring until a click is heard. After the click is heard, pull on the cable to make sure the connection has been made.
3. Attach the rear cable to the backing plate, making sure the retainer fingers are properly seated.
4. Install the rear tire and wheel assembly.
5. Route the rear cable into the underbody bracket. If it was necessary to remove the tie strap from the brake cables, then a new tie strap must be installed in its original position.
6. Attach the rear parking brake cable to the equalizer.
7. Remove the fabricated spacer.
8. Carefully lower the vehicle. Cycle the parking brake lever 3 times.

DISC BRAKES
See Figure 5

1. Fully disengage the parking brake lever. Be sure the handle is down and the brake indicator lamp not lit. If the parking brake lever is partially engaged, it won't be possible to pull the equalizer rearward.
2. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
3. Detach the rear parking brake cables from the equalizer, as follows:
   1. Pul the parking brake cable equalizer rearward to get necessary cable slack.
   2. Insert a fabricated spacer to hold the parking brake cable equalizer in place, as shown in the accompanying figure.
   3. Remove the left or right rear cable from the equalizer.
4. Detach the left or right rear cable from the underbody bracket and retainer. Use tool J 37043 or equivalent release tool to compress the retainer fingers on the casing and pull the rear cable from the underbody bracket.
5. Pull the rear cable through the guides installed on the rear axle housing.
6. Remove the rear tire and wheel assembly.
7. Remove the rear cable from the parking brake actuator lever and parking brake cable bracket. Perform the following:
   1. Pull all of the parking brake cable slack to the caliper end of the parking brake cable.
   2. Remove the rear cable from the tang on the parking brake actuator lever.
   3. Using release tool J 37043, compress the retainer fingers on the cable casing and pull from the cable bracket.

Fig. 5: Rear disc brake equipped vehicle rear parking brake attachment


To install:

1. Attach the rear cable to the parking brake actuator lever and parking brake cable bracket. Seat the retaining fingers into the parking brake cable bracket.
2. Install the rear tire and wheel assembly.
3. Pull the rear cable through the guides on the rear axle housing.
4. Install the rear cable into the underbody bracket. If it was necessary to remove the tie strap from the parking brake cables, then a new tie strap must be installed in its original position.
5. Connect the rear parking brake cable to the equalizer.
6. Remove the fabricated spacer.
7. Carefully lower the vehicle, then cycle the parking brake lever three times..

ADJUSTMENT


Free-Travel
REAR DISC BRAKES
See Figure 6
Adjustments are not normally required after replacing the parking brake cables. On vehicles with drum brakes, the parking brake is adjusted automatically by pulling on the parking brake lever. Also the rear brake drum adjustment can impact the initial travel of the parking brake.
The following adjustment requires an assistant to apply a light brake pedal load. The parking brake lever free-travel is set by the position of the adjuster screw. Turning the adjuster screw clockwise increases the free-travel, while turning the adjuster screw counterclockwise decreases the free-travel.
Disc brake pads must be new or parallel to within 0.006 in. (0.15mm). Parking brake adjustment is not valid with heavily tapered pads and may cause caliper/parking brake binding. Replace tapered brake pads. Parking brake free-travel should only be made if the caliper has been taken apart. This adjustment will not correct a condition where the caliper levers will not return to their stops.

1. Disconnect the parking brake cable and remove the parking brake actuator lever return spring.
2. Have an assistant apply a light brake pedal load, enough to stop the rotor from turning by hand. This takes up all clearances and ensures that components are correctly aligned.
3. Apply light pressure to the parking brake actuator lever.
4. Measure the free-travel between the caliper lever and the caliper housing. The free-travel must be 0.0024-0.028 in. (0.6-0.7mm).

Fig. 6: Adjusting the parking brake free-travel

1. If the free-travel is incorrect, do the following:
   1. Remove the adjuster screw.
   2. Clean the thread adhesive residue from the threads.
   3. Coat the threads with adhesive.
   4. Screw in the adjuster screw far enough to obtain 0.024-0.028 in. (0.6-0.7mm) free-travel between the parking brake actuator lever and the brake caliper and point B in the accompanying figure.
2. Have an assistant release the brake pedal, then apply the brake pedal firmly 3 times. Recheck the free-travel and adjust as necessary.
3. Install the actuator lever return spring and parking brake cable.

[JoeliusZ28]

todd where do you find these things, that amazes me.

[TSTONE]

I work in service at a chevy dealer - most is at my finger tips - or i know where to locate quickly for my techs

if anyone ever needs something just ask - ill always try to help

[ZeeVert]

that part is not bad but when the front cable is frozen it gets interesting

I've been there before.
What does the cable cost? Probably not worth trying to save. You should be able to cut it and move on.

[JAdair]

todd where do you find these things, that amazes me.

I was going to ask the same thing

[96BlackBetty]

Todd what computer system u using? its pretty sweet and whered u get it

[96mikez28]

I work in service at a chevy dealer - most is at my finger tips - or i know where to locate quickly for my techs

if anyone ever needs something just ask - ill always try to help

Nice to know!