Rear Caliper Removal

MiltP · 10-26-2009

How do I remove the rear caliper parking brake cable....Please help

racin366 · 10-26-2009

There's a bolt that holds the clip and spring to the caliper. Getting it off isn't so hard, but you're gonna have a lot of fun trying to get it back on. Are you changing the caliper or something? Remember, on the rear calipers you don't push the piston back in, they rotate back in kinda like a screw, you can use needle nodes pliers, or there is a special tool tool for it to use with a ratchet... for the $5 or so the tool costs its worth its weight in gold.

MiltP · 10-26-2009

Can't get the parking cable off...Can't get enough slack to pull it off the lever.

racin366 · 10-27-2009

you have to get the caliper off the bracket, and I had to pry at it with a screwdriver. I'm sure there's a better way, but it was 1am and I was already pissed because a simple pad and rotor swap had turned into a nightmare because my friend messed up the caliper. I still get mad when I think about it.

MiltP · 10-27-2009

So...I finally get the brake cable off and remove the caliper. Now how the heck do I get the cable on the new caliper? I'm very frustrated at this point. Can I get more slack in the line by loosening something at the brake lever?

Im doing all this to correct a parking brake problem where the brake wouldn't hold. Things I think I know:
1. There is no way to adjust - caliper self adjust via the jack screw - reason you screw the plunger in.

2. The cable isn't slack - see above

3. Can't afford a shop to guess at the answer at $100/hr

Im not giving up...I really need some experienced help!

maidenofiron · 10-28-2009

when i was doing the brakes on mine, i took it off because my instructor wanted to show everyone how to do it... so turns out what he thought would take about 5 minutes ended up taking even him a good hour... turns out we just used needle nose plyers and two guys... was quite a **** to do but eventually after a bit of time and a couple of attempts... and of course the odd swear thrown in... we got it done and got it running again... except the guy who was putting it back together never tightened up the stupid bolts to hold the caliper on, so now i have to try to get another bolt the same size so my caliper dont flip around on me... god if he wasnt bigger then me id beat him!

MiltP · 4 Weeks Ago

I'm with the brute force technique....I can't do it by myself and I've tried for two nights (over 4 hours). The cablehwas very little slack and wants to spring back due to the lever spring! I can't believe no one on this forum has experienced this. My car is 2000 GT and has no means to adjust the parking cable! I am replacing the caliper because it is the only other option for fixing my parking brake issue (keeping me from passing inspection - wouldn't screw with this if not for that...have an auto)

I may need to remove the center console. Can some tell me how to do this. I will unhook the cable from the pully mechanism as a last option. I'm also thinking that the junction where the lever cable connects to the two caliper cables (above the drive shaft) may be a good place to get additional slack in the cable (3 guys?).

Any additional experienced help is appreciated...I really need to get this car through inspection Saturday.

TempletonGT · 4 Weeks Ago

Getting the cable on and off can be a challenge. I'm assuming the caliper pucks are screwed back in and the caliper is bolted on already. I found a 1/4" extension end fit in the slot in the arm that the spring fits into nicely. I was able to use a ratchet handle to rotate the arm and with a pair of needle nose vise grips on the cable end get it back in the slot. Hope this helps.

MiltP · 4 Weeks Ago

Looks like my cable is rusted and binding in it's sleeve. How much am I looking at to get my parking brake cables replaced?

bkaul · 4 Weeks Ago

My approach has always been to use two pairs of pliers:

1. Release the parking brake (should be self-evident, but ...
2. Use channel-locks or vice-grips to move the parking brake lever to the applied position and hold it there.
3. Use another pair of pliers to move the end of the cable (which will now have slack on it) around the notch in the lever.

It's a bit of a PITA, but very do-able with 1 person. I've done several brake jobs on my '01 Cobra (205,000 miles), and it takes a few minutes of fussing with it, but not hours.

MiltP · 4 Weeks Ago

Shop charged me $120 to repair (?) and I passed INSPECTION!!!! Got home from shop (2 miles) and that brake was cherry red! Now what! Cable appears to be working caliper parking lever is in released position when brake is off. I put on new pads and the shop test drove my car (about 1/2 mile). Whatever...I PASSED!

racin366 · 3 Weeks Ago

If that brake is red, you have a serious problem and it needs immediate attention. The shop screwed something up, make them fix it.

MiltP · 3 Weeks Ago

The E-brake didn't release completely because the caliper spring was weak. Shop replaced the spring and all is well.

There is a need to remove the center console and unwind the tension spring to provide the cable slack needed to properly remove and install the cable on the caliper! I'm not sure how the mechanic did it but it is a must do. Took me two days trying to stretch the cable back on the caliper e-brake lever and it took the shop 45 minutes!