I know it´s a basic question but according to my friend who is a part time mechanic, the e brake is adjusted someplace apart from the rear shoes (drum brakes in the rear) and I think he is right but can´t find the proper bolt. Would someone help me?? car is a Z-24 ´96

jack up the car
take off back wheels
take off drums
on the bottom there is a twist knob with a lever it pushes the shoes out the more you push it
twist it and keep putting the drum back on until you can barely get it on
do the same for both sides


they say our ebrakes are "self adjusting" by going backwards and slaming on brakes but ive never heard it work.

I could be wrong but it kinda sounds like you're asking about the cable adjustment instead of the actual brake shoes. If so, I'm in the same boat. I haven't got under this car yet, but I'd assume it would be similar to most other vehicles. The cable has a threaded section somewhere and you turn it one way to shorten the cable and the other to lengthen it. If you were talking about the actual brakes, see above.


1999 Cavalier RS 2.2 5-speed

Thanks, but that procedure adjusts the rear brakes (both shoes). Did that. The e brake is adjusted by tensing the cable that is pulled by the ebrake lever this will pull the shoes closer to the drum (usually only the upper shoe), To tense the cable there is a 10mm bolt, i believe, somewhere close to the e brake lever, can´t remember it´s exact location, this is what I need to know.

Your rear brakes have whats known as a primary and a seconadry shoe, or front and rear. There is no top shoe. By adjusting the brakes as Brandon described you will
be adjusting the e-brake at the same time. I've adjusted mine this very same way and gotten it down to where it only clicks like 3 times before the rear wheels are fully locked.
Adjust the rear brakes correctly and there's no need to look for any adjustment on the cable itself.

The only reason the cable should ever need adjusting is if its old and has streched or you have replaced it. Beyond these it means your rear brakes are done incorrectly.




Semper Fi SAINT. May you rest in peace.

Ok, right what I´m looking for is the cable adjustment, I got new drums,shoes, springs and cylinders and do not want to tighten the twist knob too much until shoes get some miles.... I did adjust the cable sometime 3 years ago, just can´t remember the location of the bolt. It was not under the car.

So your cables are old and have strecthed I'm guessing. Well I just looked in the computer here at work and I don't see where you could make an adjustment on the cable itself. It looks like it goes from the lever back to the rear axle in one solid peice.
Once there it splits and goes to the wheels so I'm not sure where the adjustment your looking for would be. Have you looked at the parking brake lever area? It might be there.

Sorry.




Semper Fi SAINT. May you rest in peace.

I think your right the cable must be stretched and I´m sure the adjustment is somewhere around the lever that´s what I remember but haven´t found it yet...

the lever is where you adjust the ebrake.. thats wut its for it has a ebrake cable going into it it adjust how many clicks before the brakes engage the drum. follow my orginal directions.

Thanks, I will after the shoes sit properly.

what do u mean sit properly you should of adjusted them right when you put them on.

Drums and /or brake shoes even though new are not perfect and with some use say a weeck both surfaces will make contact closer to 100%, or so the mechanics told me...
I´m pretty sure there is a bolt like a tensioner on the e brake lever somewhere just haven´t have the time and patience.

Hi Luis

http://www.j-body.org/forums/read.php?f=29&i=52739&t=52727#52739

This link tells how i adjusted my '93 2.2 cable, after adjusting the shoes.

The adjuster on these is at the junction of the right and left cables, above the rear axle, around the fuel filter area

I am not sure the adjuster is on the later models



Alont

The third gen ebrake is self-adjusting. If you pull up (hard!) on the e-brake lever 4-6 times, and it's not improving... then the rear brakes need adjustment, as they already described... though I use a caliper to measure it, then set the drum brakes 0.030 inches less than that. (I believe that's the GM spec).

Make sure the pawl spring is properly engaged in the notch on the ratchet on the e-brake assembly... that could also cause problems if it's not engaged right.... the e-brake won't reset to the zero position when disengaged.

Thanks for the info, did the self adjusting thing and now the lever goes up some 7 or 8 points... What is the proper number of points or notches that it should go?? I recall about four years ago a friend did the adjusting at the lever it was I believe with a socket maybe 10mm and an extension... guess it was under the hair like thing and it is hard to find. Lenko, you are right that spring keeps the adjustment it is a must.
Have a good weeck end.