Parking Brake Help

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- Tom Howlin
  
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posted
20 years ago

Tue, Feb 10, 2004 1:15 AM

I've got somewhat of an unusual problem with the parking brake in my 92 Miata. Simply stated, it won't hold. I've adjusted the cable at the handle, that helped for a while but now it feels as if it has strechted a lot. I've adjusted the rear brakes per the manual - that helped for a while (2K miles?) but now when I pull the handle all the way up (probably 10-12 clicks) it literally doesn't engage the pads at all. I've searched Miata net and found lots about sticking pads when using the e-brake but nothing on pads not engaging or unusual stretching of the cable. Any thoughts or help is appreciated.

Tom

92 Red

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- mcyben
  
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posted
20 years ago

Tue, Feb 10, 2004 3:52 PM

The parking brake cable likely did not need adjustment, the rear brakes more likely didn't self adjust enough. I have had this problem on a few cars and did the same thing the first time. Then I had to go back and reset the parking brake cable, so that the brake levers at the wheels were correct. And then adjust the brake self adjuster [ star wheel ], and every now and then go help the self adjuster "adjust". Now I have to one or two times a year, go help the self adjuster "adjust". If, I were harder on my brakes I might not need to help the "adjuster". But I do like 150,000 to

200,000 miles between brake jobs.

Have a great day,

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- Lanny Chambers
  
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posted
20 years ago

Tue, Feb 10, 2004 8:42 PM

Note that nothing in this post applies to a Miata, which has disk rear brakes.

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- mcyben
  
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posted
20 years ago

Thu, Feb 12, 2004 4:34 AM

I did not say I had a Miata, or that my words were only for a Miata. But I did have a '92 Protege with rear disk brakes, and it the same thing of not fully self adjusting the rear brakes. The rear disk brakes were only half as bad as rear drums were at needing help to stay adjusted. Sorry for trying to help some one, as my post was the only one responding to the org. post. I'll go sit in the corner now.