P5 (manual) Parking Brake/ Rolling Problems...

[crazylikeafox11]

I recently had to replace a leaking caliper on my passenger rear (last week). Within a few days after replacing it, I park my car one morning and put on the parking brake when all of a sudden it starts making this groaning/ creaking noise from what sounds like the driver side rear end and my car starts rolling backwards (it wasn't in gear). The parking brake felt like it'd only catch every now and again and I made sure to leave it in 1st while parking with the parking brake. I figured this would be ok until my brother (went through mechanic tech school) could look at it.

Well just now I tried parking it again with it in gear and it started rolling backwards causing me to freak out and drive around the parking lot looking for a flat spot or one that slanted down into a curb. I didn't think it was supposed to be able to roll while in gear.

Any ideas what's wrong/ how much it would cost to take to a shop to fix? My brother already said he doesn't have the knowledge of parking brake stuff to fix it and usually my mechanic takes a week or so to get you in but I'm thinking a fix sooner rather than later is the best.

 

[yangsui]

Sounds like the parking brake is not engaging.

Does the parking brake handle feel light? Usually after any rear brake work, the parking brake feels really loose. Like you can easily pull the handle all the way up. If the handle feels loose, put your foot on the brake, pull the parking brake repeatedly until it tightens. Try that first.

Don't know how your car is rolling while in gear. Unless it was on a steep hill or your transmission is totally F*ed

 

[wildo]

Usually after any rear brake work, the parking brake feels really loose.

Yeah, unless you do the job correctly.

OP, there is a star bolt hidden behind a small bolt on the back side of the caliper. This is used to adjust the parking brake at the calipers. Additionally, you could adjust the parking brake at the handle itself. Sounds like you just need to tighten them down a bit. To my knowledge (and I would verify before doing the job myself- haven't done my rear brakes in a while) you tighten the star bolt down until you can't turn the rotor, and then you loosen it 1/4 turn. This is all done while the handle is in the lowered position, of course.

If you did this, then you might focus on the PB handle itself, adjusting there. If that doesn't work- then perhaps you need to inspect the cable.

Search for one of the many brake how-to's on here. The star bolt thing has been covered numerous times.

 

[crazylikeafox11]

Sounds like the parking brake is not engaging.

Does the parking brake handle feel light? Usually after any rear brake work, the parking brake feels really loose. Like you can easily pull the handle all the way up. If the handle feels loose, put your foot on the brake, pull the parking brake repeatedly until it tightens. Try that first.

Don't know how your car is rolling while in gear. Unless it was on a steep hill or your transmission is totally F*ed

Yeah, what really threw me off was the fact that it was rolling while in gear (and completely turned off). It was on a slight incline the first time it happened but like I said, I drove around to a few spots. The second and third spot I tried both looked to be pretty much flat ground and the car was still rolling backwards.

And I normally have my foot on the brake when I pull my parking brake. Sometimes it feels tighter than other times but for the most part it's a lot easier to pull up than it was before. Those times when it does feel tighter don't last. It just goes back to jello.

Wildo, I'll have to search for the how to's and pass it along to more mechanically inclined people.

Anyone else have any ideas? I tried googling it and found something about a "parking prawl" but had no idea what that was talking about. (I think it was something inside the transmission.)

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

When I did my rear rotors and pads a month ago, I had this problem. It turned out that one side I had not adjusted properly (what was said above). My Ebrake handle just flew up when I pulled it. I would jack up the car, pull the ebrake and see if either of the rear wheels spin. If they do, you know that the caliper needs to be adjusted on that side (they should be locked in place if the ebrake is pulled). If you did a caliper replacement but did not readjust the allen gear, your ebrake will be all screwed up. Check out the service manual...it has a very clear step-by-step for adjustment. PM me if you have questions.

 

[RMW Guy]

I replaced my rear calipers this weekend.

When done with the job, I adjusted the parking brake allen setscrew to where the pad just touched the rotor enough to slow it while spinning then backed it out until it was free. (My brake handle adjustment was at it's limit so I backed that out completely before starting the job.)

Maybe I got lucky but I only need 2-3 clicks on the lever and it's set. The rear brakes are not any hotter than normal so I know that it's about right.

 

[P-Funk!]

My rebuilt caliper from NAPA requires constant re-adjustment of the hex bolt on the caliper.

Jus' sayin' in case the problem comes back kind' soon.