e brake not working - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

Kevin · 10-24-2009

fwe weeks ago i pulled my 90 z out to do some work to the other cars and the e brake no longer ratchets/engages. No idea what the problem is, anyone have an idea?

tomtom72 · 10-24-2009

Kevin,

You don't hear the ratcheting noise when you pull up on the hand lever? The lever moves but doesn't ratchet? The lever is stuck?

It could be the lock lever inside the ratchet assembly has broken, you got to r&r the seat so you can R&R the P/Brake assembly and then tear it down to see what broke, and or if anything is rusted frozen.

Did you look under to see if the cables are okay? What about the ends over at the rear calipers? Maybe remove the cable at the caliper lever and see if the lever is frozen or you can pull a bit on the cable end to see if it is frozen?

Bad news is I do think the cables, front and rear, are NLA from GM. Other bad news is if the mechanism in the rear calipers is n/g then you either buy new calipers or rebuild kits....I have kits but wasn't in the mood exactly as it looked a bit complicated.

Tom

GOLDCYLON · 10-24-2009

Tom is 100% correct as posted above but the cable is not ZR-1 specific so any C4 can donate a new cable. But the rear calipers or J55 rears can be found if the rear calipers are the issue

ZR1Vette · 10-29-2009

This might sound odd but it could be the OEM lubricant used on the e brake unit... over the time the 'grease' hardens and jams up the mechanism. I would take a look at that first and if is the case all you have to do is clean (parts cleaner) off the unit and then add new lubricant

10-24-2009	#1
Kevin Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 4,632	e brake not working fwe weeks ago i pulled my 90 z out to do some work to the other cars and the e brake no longer ratchets/engages. No idea what the problem is, anyone have an idea? __________________ It's not the car, it's the people - Doug Johnson 90 r/r "KEYS ON" nick named "T.L.B"

10-24-2009	#2
tomtom72 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 4,645	Re: e brake not working Kevin, You don't hear the ratcheting noise when you pull up on the hand lever? The lever moves but doesn't ratchet? The lever is stuck? It could be the lock lever inside the ratchet assembly has broken, you got to r&r the seat so you can R&R the P/Brake assembly and then tear it down to see what broke, and or if anything is rusted frozen. Did you look under to see if the cables are okay? What about the ends over at the rear calipers? Maybe remove the cable at the caliper lever and see if the lever is frozen or you can pull a bit on the cable end to see if it is frozen? Bad news is I do think the cables, front and rear, are NLA from GM. Other bad news is if the mechanism in the rear calipers is n/g then you either buy new calipers or rebuild kits....I have kits but wasn't in the mood exactly as it looked a bit complicated. Tom __________________ 1990 ZR-1, Black/grey, #2233, stock. ZR-1 Net Reg Founding Member #316 & NCM member

10-24-2009	#3
GOLDCYLON Join Date: May 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 9,155	Re: e brake not working Tom is 100% correct as posted above but the cable is not ZR-1 specific so any C4 can donate a new cable. But the rear calipers or J55 rears can be found if the rear calipers are the issue __________________ GOLDCYLON - 91 ZR-1 #2014 GOLDCYLON - 90 ZR-1 #2794, 4L60e (Formerly Schrade's) GOLDCYLON - 11 CTS-V Arizona State Director 91 WHITE/BLACK #2014. 380 P&P&PCed,Ported Heads, Jeal Long tubes, Corsa Exhaust/FIKSE FM-5s /LED TLs, LED Headlights, Front Wilwood 6 piston narrowlite calipers and rear Wilwood caliper street shop mod,CNCed Coolant Pipes,TPI Cvr,Filter cover,Stainless Bolts, DRM/DOM PROM /ZFDOC mod build #102,DRLs,BMAD with stainless Debris Screen,Coplan Air Blaster, Pioneer APP Radio 4,Brey-Krause HB,Sub Bar,Fire extinguisher seat mount,DRM Coilovers,LEDs everywhere,Compass mirror (orange),V1 DIC hidden display, Homelink sun visor, Carbon Fiber top x3 and APSIS Carbon Fiber interior, APSIS CF Steering Wheel/NAPA Leather, Banski trailing arms, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension) ZFDoc drive shaft safety loop, raptor shift light (orange),AO engineering louver front plate, Console seat cushion, 96CE seats with black custom Sheepskins, ss billet catch can,Viper remote entry/alarm,Cragar Rear Louvers,LED side louver lights, Dewitts Radiator with SPAL fans and a Woods 160 T-Stat 90 RED/BLACK #2794. 4L60e Automatic Stage V by RPM Transmission, TCI Dedicated TCM, OBX Stainless Headers, Corsa Exhaust, SAN Secondaries and Haibeck PROM, Exotic Muscle Coil overs, LED Interior Lights, LED Tail Lights, LED Headlights, 94 Sport seats with black custom Sheepskins , Cragar rear louvers, GS Front calipers, Banski Trailing arms, APSIS Carbon Fiber steering wheel, Front and Rear Baer Eradispeeds, DRLs, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension), Dewitt's Raditor with Dual SPAL fans and a Haibeck 170 T-Stat 11 RED/GREY CTS-V Last edited by GOLDCYLON; 10-24-2009 at 03:16 PM.

10-29-2009	#4
ZR1Vette Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Reston, Virginia Posts: 939	Re: e brake not working This might sound odd but it could be the OEM lubricant used on the e brake unit... over the time the 'grease' hardens and jams up the mechanism. I would take a look at that first and if is the case all you have to do is clean (parts cleaner) off the unit and then add new lubricant __________________ Michael :cheers: [I][SIZE="2"]1990 RED on RED #566[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE="2"]WAZOO MEMBER[/I][/SIZE]

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode