Why doesn't my E-brake work??
 

I need to get it working to pass inspection but its very hard to pull, I can only get 2 clicks and it doesn't keep the car from rolling....

Ideas?

ideas only.

1. Rear brakes (calipers) are sticking.. Have you had them apart to even see if they are working properly under normal braking?

2. The hand brake mechanism is sticky or corroded, even if the normal hydraulic caliper portion is working

3. caliper is not floating (could contribute to #1 above)

4. cable is binding

i would start by removing the rear wheel and looking carefully. In adjustment? Caliper floats? Rotor face shiny? Pads worn evenly? Basic brake stuff.

not familiar with how floating calipers work? See my how-to in the tech section.

G

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Actually yea I'm quite familiar with how they work....

The cable works just fine, the pistons work just fine under normal braking, they are floating.

The problem is the actuators themselves on the calipers appear to be sticky.

I worked them loose enough to grab when I pull the lever, but the springs do not return the actuators when I release the brake, I need to tap them back with a hammer.

i'd have to see the actuator, but i hear they can corrode badly.

one note - the piston(s) are singular. There is but one, and it does not float. The two halves of the caliper do. Still unclear if you're missing that point, or just typing too quickly....

What I mean is they work just fine using th brake pedal, and release on their own. So its not the caliper guide bolts.