Ok, so while rewiring the stereo, I routed wires past the E-Brake under the dash...well in doing so I pushed the E-Brake. Today, I went to take it for a ride, but the driver's rear side was locked...so I pump it, and release, and the pedal comes back up, but that side still won't come loose. Now what? Cut the cable?

try tapping the caliper thats sticking with a hammer, and wiggling the cable to try and free it up.

I'll do that...once I find a tire iron LOL! I mounted my sub box over the spare tire spot, and it's bolted down :icon_confused:


Yep, definately did NOT think that one through.

:laugh: good luck

I had that happen to me the first day I had my TGP :laugh:  I just went under the car and disconnected the cables from the calipers.
The cables are shot, I need to replace them.

Quote from: grinders_18 on March 26, 2008, 11:49:03 AM
I'll do that...once I find a tire iron LOL! I mounted my sub box over the spare tire spot, and it's bolted down :icon_confused:


Yep, definately did NOT think that one through.

:lol: :lol:

anyway, this is why I use my e-brake every time I park..

If I were you, I would rather it be a bad caliper than a bad e-brake cable. I though installing my new cables was a BITCH, and that was on a floor lift. Granted it was the 94+ cables and I had no idea where to route them lol.

Quote from: TGP Nick on March 26, 2008, 12:08:49 PM
I had that happen to me the first day I had my TGP :laugh:  I just went under the car and disconnected the cables from the calipers.
The cables are shot, I need to replace them.

Was it really as easy for you as you made it sound? I always had huge problems getting the cable off the caliper.. on my Cutlass I actually stretched the cable trying to get it off. That wheel never locked too wheel w/ the p-brake after that, but the cable was a lot easier to get back on :icon_lol:

Quote from: GutlessSupreme on March 26, 2008, 12:49:16 PM

Quote from: TGP Nick on March 26, 2008, 12:08:49 PM
I had that happen to me the first day I had my TGP :laugh:  I just went under the car and disconnected the cables from the calipers.
The cables are shot, I need to replace them.

Was it really as easy for you as you made it sound? I always had huge problems getting the cable off the caliper.. on my Cutlass I actually stretched the cable trying to get it off. That wheel never locked too wheel w/ the p-brake after that, but the cable was a lot easier to get back on :icon_lol:

Yeah, it was pretty easy.  Just get a pair of pliers and wiggle the cable end out of its slot.  The one wheel was locked up pretty hard, so I had to pull on that cable pretty good, but the other side wasn't hard at all.

Quote from: GutlessSupreme on March 26, 2008, 12:49:16 PM

Quote from: grinders_18 on March 26, 2008, 11:49:03 AM
I'll do that...once I find a tire iron LOL! I mounted my sub box over the spare tire spot, and it's bolted down :icon_confused:


Yep, definately did NOT think that one through.

:lol: :lol:

anyway, this is why I use my e-brake every time I park..

If I were you, I would rather it be a bad caliper than a bad e-brake cable. I though installing my new cables was a BITCH, and that was on a floor lift. Granted it was the 94+ cables and I had no idea where to route them lol.

I installed all new cables when I replaced the rear calipers on my 89 SE and it wasn't too bad.  The old cables SUCKED to get off.. I had to take big cable cutters and cut the old cables off in about 10 pieces :lol: but the new ones were easy to install.  They were the older 88-93 style cables.

Yea getting the old ones out was a bitch too, I cut a set up on a parts car and I fought with my wire cutters for a while before I was even close.

I couldn't get the new cables over the front of the gas tank for the life of me. Kept getting caught on a hole in the frame or something.

Quote from: GutlessSupreme on March 26, 2008, 01:32:06 PM
I couldn't get the new cables over the front of the gas tank for the life of me. Kept getting caught on a hole in the frame or something.

Yeah, that part sucked.  I was pissed that I didn't think of putting in the cables while I had the gas tank out.  It would have made the whole install a lot easier. :laugh:  Oh well, its just the SE.

I figured this was going to be a post about a typical non-working ebrake ratchet mechanism that needs that thick grease buildup cleaned off(like my red car! :laugh:).

SOOO................

Since I don't have access to a tire iron, I used a ratchet....a Craftsman ratchet....and a 3 inch Snap On extension, with the appropriate size socket. Guess what.

SNAP! First the Snap On extension Snapped Off!!!!!!

THEN...

The ratchet broke. Jesus Christ, the tires were just rotated!!

YAY! My girlfriend comes to the rescue...her Cutlass happened to be equipped with everything I don't have access to...the tire iron! We got it off, disconnected the E-brake cable, and punded the lever back into place. Thanks everyone! All better now!

I'd replace those rear calipers I was you.........They are not that bad about 30 bucks each after the core refund.  Get the ones from autozone, they use aluminum slide bushings which won't rust and seize up on you.  Cables are not that expensive/bad to replace at the same time either.  Good investments.

Ken