E-Brake broken (kind of)

Cam2Fast · 01-29-2013, 07:29 PM

So I went to park my car one day as I always do, on my driveway which is a very steep grade and when I engaged the parking brake, it felt fine until I let it go and realized it wouldn't stay. Seems the button had popped out quite a bit and there was no ratcheting action at all... gone. Whatever clutch or gear is in there to keep the brake up is apparently busted although the brake itself still works perfectly fine.

Is this repairable or does it make more sense just to replace the whole handle? How might I go about such a task? Thank you.

bricooper78 · 01-29-2013, 07:46 PM

Just hit a junkyard and nab another one. Ironically I hold my button in while I'm putting my brake on, so far so good

There was another post on another site just couple weeks ago about the same thing

Cam2Fast · 01-29-2013, 09:14 PM

Lol that's what I figured... damn thing. Worked fine for more than a decade only to go tits up on me now.

How much of a PITA is it to swap it out? Do I have to rip everything apart to get at it? I'd prefer not to have a mechanic destroy my interior over a brake handle.

bricooper78 · 01-29-2013, 09:16 PM

http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/sh...t=brake+handle

2nd post has some links to .pdf files on "how-to" remove this stuff, it ain't terrible, but you'll need to be patient.

It just unbolts and you have to remove the cable, of course..
but, its a remove the console kinda job... lame.
I'll dig you up a link

kzulfic · 01-29-2013, 09:27 PM

Removing the console sucks. I find it more comfortable to take out the seats first. Just 2 bolts per seat and a plug on the drivers seat.

rocketfast123 · 01-30-2013, 08:42 AM

1 liter sprite bottle works great at holding up the parking brake. I'm just too lazy to remove the center consul.

Cam2Fast · 01-30-2013, 09:15 PM

No no no no no.... I have so much custom wiring going up through there. I can't rip all that apart. I'll never get it all back together again. WTF this thing have to break for?

Seriously looking at the sprite bottle option.

I guess I shouldn't have hooked nitrous into the cupholder and my subwoofer volume control into the lid. What a mess.

Thanks for the PDFs. I know you were trying to help. I just have a sick feeling now though thinking of fixing this. I wish cars were designed to be more repair-friendly.

TruGreenGAGT · 01-30-2013, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cam2Fast

No no no no no.... I have so much custom wiring going up through there. I can't rip all that apart. I'll never get it all back together again. WTF this thing have to break for?

Seriously looking at the sprite bottle option.

I guess I shouldn't have hooked nitrous into the cupholder and my subwoofer volume control into the lid. What a mess.

Thanks for the PDFs. I know you were trying to help. I just have a sick feeling now though thinking of fixing this. I wish cars were designed to be more repair-friendly.

um ya you got pics of the parts in bold??

01-29-2013, 07:29 PM	#1
Cam2Fast GAGT - Member AKA: Cam Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Toronto Ontario Posts: 63 Vehicle: 2003 Grand Am GT	E-Brake broken (kind of) So I went to park my car one day as I always do, on my driveway which is a very steep grade and when I engaged the parking brake, it felt fine until I let it go and realized it wouldn't stay. Seems the button had popped out quite a bit and there was no ratcheting action at all... gone. Whatever clutch or gear is in there to keep the brake up is apparently busted although the brake itself still works perfectly fine. Is this repairable or does it make more sense just to replace the whole handle? How might I go about such a task? Thank you.

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01-29-2013, 09:14 PM	#3
Cam2Fast GAGT - Member AKA: Cam Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Toronto Ontario Posts: 63 Vehicle: 2003 Grand Am GT	Lol that's what I figured... damn thing. Worked fine for more than a decade only to go tits up on me now. How much of a PITA is it to swap it out? Do I have to rip everything apart to get at it? I'd prefer not to have a mechanic destroy my interior over a brake handle.

01-29-2013, 09:27 PM	#5
kzulfic GAGT - Senior Member AKA: Kameron Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Genoa, IL Age: 33 Posts: 1,116 Vehicle: 2004 Grand Am SE2	Removing the console sucks. I find it more comfortable to take out the seats first. Just 2 bolts per seat and a plug on the drivers seat.

01-30-2013, 09:15 PM	#7
Cam2Fast GAGT - Member AKA: Cam Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Toronto Ontario Posts: 63 Vehicle: 2003 Grand Am GT	No no no no no.... I have so much custom wiring going up through there. I can't rip all that apart. I'll never get it all back together again. WTF this thing have to break for? Seriously looking at the sprite bottle option. I guess I shouldn't have hooked nitrous into the cupholder and my subwoofer volume control into the lid. What a mess. Thanks for the PDFs. I know you were trying to help. I just have a sick feeling now though thinking of fixing this. I wish cars were designed to be more repair-friendly.