Rear Brake Dilemma

Tim · #1 11-26-2005, 09:48 PM

This weekend I had a chance to install my rear brakes. (RaceConcepts rotors/new calipers/pads/braided steel lines)

2 weeks ago I installed the front. Amazed by the improvement.

I wish I could say the same for the rears....

The passenger side rotor went on very easily.

I ran into major problems installing the drivers side. I put the rotor on and the rotor was able to spin freely, right up until I tightened the lugnuts down. Then it would be very difficult to move. The caliper was not installed yet so it seems like its caught on the rear parking brake. I made sure the parking brake was down, and I adjusted and checked the amount of clearance for the parking brake shoe with a precise measurement tool and it seems to clear it. Put the rotor back on... spun freely... tightened it with lugnuts and then it pretty much would not turn freely. The passenger side spins fine.

I put the old rotor back on and repeated the process, but would spin freely. I decided to put the new rotor back on and try it, and the inside of the rotor shows signs of brake dust indicating it must be rubbing the parking brake pad.

I installed everything just to see if it would turn fine, but to no suprise it makes a very bad scraping sound when trying to move and I have very poor braking response now.

Could my rotor be warped from the factory/shipping? The box was pretty much crushed when I got it but all the parts inside seemed intact.

After fiddling with everything for a good 7 hours I had to call it a day. I'm exhausted.

Anyone have any ideas?

kuoh · #2 11-26-2005, 09:54 PM

Swap the left and right rotors and see if the problem follows or stays.

KuoH

intelisevil · #3 11-26-2005, 10:24 PM

Do you have access to a set of calipers (not brake calipers . . . ) to measure the inside diameter of the old "drum" vs the new "drum"? I'm guessing the "drum" on the old rotor was worn and the parking brake shoes were adjusted accordingly.

Try adjusting the shoes smaller and see if that fixes your problem. If it does, don't forget to readjust appropriately so you still have a working parking brake!

I have not done this, I'm assuming they would work similar to conventional drum brakes.

Manarius · #4 11-27-2005, 11:04 AM

From what you say, it sounds like the inside of the new rotor is hitting the parking brake. Like the guy said above me...just swap the rotors and if it stays on the side with that specific rotor, sounds to me like you need to have that one remade.

Tim · #5 11-27-2005, 12:57 PM

I tried switching rotors left and right, and the problem persisted.

kuoh · #6 11-27-2005, 01:08 PM

Yes that was expected, but the point of the exercise was to find out whether the trouble followed the rotor or the brakes. That points you in the direction of which component to focus the troubleshooting efforts on.

KuoH

Quote:

Originally Posted by TE1221

I tried switching rotors left and right, and the problem persisted.

Tim · #7 11-27-2005, 04:49 PM

Right now I installed the original rotors and pads with the new calipers and lines so I can temporarily drive to work and school. I bled the brakes in the front and rear but it still feels like theres air in the brakes.

is it bettr that I go get them bled at a shop with the bleeding equipment?

kuoh · #8 11-27-2005, 05:53 PM

You can bleed the brakes without any special equipment, but you do need a helper at the pedal. It looks like you realy have two problems here. First you're going to have to make sure that there aren't any leaks with the install. If there are leaks, no amount of brake bleeding will help. Once you have that resolved, then you can get back to figuring out whether you actually have a problem with the new rotors or if it's just a matter of making some adjustments to the parking brakes.

KuoH

Quote:

Originally Posted by TE1221

is it bettr that I go get them bled at a shop with the bleeding equipment?

Tim · #9 11-27-2005, 08:32 PM

I realized what I did wrong. I forgot to bleed the front abs sensor first.

ensteele · #10 11-27-2005, 08:39 PM

So does everything work ok now? If so, that is great.

kuoh · #11 11-27-2005, 08:46 PM

I think you should probably just take it to the professionals. You can't bleed a sensor and the ABS system didn't need to be touched for what you were doing.

KuoH

Quote:

Originally Posted by TE1221

I realized what I did wrong. I forgot to bleed the front abs sensor first.

Tim · #12 11-27-2005, 08:48 PM

No not yet... I did find out hte reason why all my friends hate brake jobs...

I have to rebuild my parking brakes as well because the "strut" piece inside is broken and only one of the actual shoes push out when i pull the e-brake handle up...

I ended up getting into yet another project I didn't anticipate...