Rear brakes and handbrake problems ...

Dear all:

I hope someone can offer advice before I start authorizing expensive
parts replacements.

Problem description / symptoms:

1. Pulling the handbrake up or down sometimes does not exhibit the usual
level resistance, as if the handbrake cable is broken (it is not).

2. Rear brakes may lock while driving with the handbrake pulled down.
Pulling the handbrake up and down several times may or may not disengage
the brakes. Sometimes, riding over a rough bump is all it takes to free
them again.

3. Rear brakes were measured recently and the right side was found to
have half the braking power of the left one (600 vs 1200 in some obscure
power units I cannot recall).

Can (3) be related to (1) and (2)? The dealer has suggested replacing
the rhs caliper and hanbrake cable at the same time but offered no
insight / rationale :-(

Thanks in advance,

Nikolas

ps. Car is 1.6L '93

Nikolas --

One of your rear brake calipers is sticking (i.e., staying partially or fully engaged even after you release the brake). The caliper slides in/out on a steel pin, which may have gotten either dirty or bent.

One solution is to take the caliper apart and clean it well. The other is to replace it. New calipers are expensive (> $200); a used one may be had for about $80 from local junkyards or on-line.

-- Robbi.

intell1 wrote:
> Dear all:
>
> I hope someone can offer advice before I start authorizing expensive
> parts replacements.
>
> Problem description / symptoms:
>
> 1. Pulling the handbrake up or down sometimes does not exhibit the usual
> level resistance, as if the handbrake cable is broken (it is not).
>
> 2. Rear brakes may lock while driving with the handbrake pulled down.
> Pulling the handbrake up and down several times may or may not disengage
> the brakes. Sometimes, riding over a rough bump is all it takes to free
> them again.
>
> 3. Rear brakes were measured recently and the right side was found to
> have half the braking power of the left one (600 vs 1200 in some obscure
> power units I cannot recall).
>
> Can (3) be related to (1) and (2)? The dealer has suggested replacing
> the rhs caliper and hanbrake cable at the same time but offered no
> insight / rationale :-(
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Nikolas
>
> ps. Car is 1.6L '93