Emergency brakes are broke

[reverendstu]

I had a nasty rattle from my left rear. I yanked apart the wheel since I was replacing a stripped lug and found the E brake shoe just kinda floating around. It just seems to hang on a clip on top and wedge around a little piston thing at the bottom, no springs or anything positive to hold it in place. The cable is kinked and damaged in several places too. I've never used the E-brake, so I tested it out and it doesn't work at all.
How tough is it to replace the cable and other workings? Are the parts expensive? Waddaya think?

[capriceman]

Don't know about prices on parts, but brake work isn't to difficult.
Get a Haynes repair book and follow the steps.
When You're done, make sure that everything looks like the picture.
Like I said, brake isn't to hard. It's when You start getting into front/rear balance ratios that You need an expert.

[9C1LT195]

GM e-brake repair kit costs over $100 and it doesn't even include the cable.

[reverendstu]

Gotcha, thanks. I do my own brake pad and rotor swaps, ever since I was a kid. I just never worked on this odd looking independent cable e-brake. I'll dive in a few weeks down the line. Till then I just won't park on steep hills and use chocks when I jack it up.
Have a good Memorial day guys!

[capriceman]

Just had thought. I'd better go lay down.
If Your cable is kinked, it won't have the proper tension.
The entire problem might be solved by a new cable.
To be honest, I'm not an expert on E-brakes with disc rear, but I do know that if you have too much tension, the brake lever won't move far enough to lock properly.
To little and it won't pull the brake on at all.
Next time Youre just rolling a few miles per hour, like 5, try pushing the E-brake and see.
If it only goes down a little bit and You get some brakes that the cable is to short.
If You get nothing, it could be the cable or any part of the mechinism.
Stupid question time.
Did You check the pads?
Yeah. I thought You did.
A lot of people have come into shops where I was working, "I don't know why my brakes suck..."
"Welll, You have like 110,000mi. on the pads."

[reverendstu]

Thanks, I'll try the cable first. Think maybe I should actually open my Haynes manual? LOL. :D

[capriceman]

Originally posted by reverendstu
Thanks, I'll try the cable first. Think maybe I should actually open my Haynes manual? LOL. :D
Yes.