stiffer e-brake return spring?

[Mike Arman]

>Message: 15
>From: "Torbjorn" <torbjorn at flashmail.com>
>Reply-to: torbjorn at flashmail.com

>Subject: stiffer e-brake return spring?
>
>Has anyone had any luck finding a stiffer e-brake return spring in the US?
>I've got an 87 5ks and the e-brake sticks in the on position just a little
bit.
>This isn't as bad as it was since going through the maintenance and cleaning
>steps found in many postings in the archives (both e-brake cams were
completely
>frozen when I started...)
>
>The cables slide freely, and I can easily disengage the stuck calipers by
hand,
but the springs can=92t.
>
>There were many mentions of stiffer springs available from Ford in Germany 
>unfortunately the European part number was no help here, and the guy at the
>parts counter was down right rude when I explained what I wanted! (There=92s
>no excuse for being rude to a customer! But that is the topic for another
discussion)
>
>So if anyone has had any luck finding stiffer springs for these wonderful
Audi
>calipers on this side of the Atlantic and can let me know where to get them
>it would be much appreciated.
>And yes I know that if I buy new cables and new calipers the problem will go
>away... But then again if I wasn=92t so cheap I=92d just go buy a new a6.
>
>
>Thanks 
>
>torbjorn
>'90 90... frozen e-brake...
>'87 5ks... not quite so frozen e-brake




Acronym time: BTDT, PITA, NFG.

I was able to obtain a set of these stiffer e-brake springs from a UK
lister who was kind enough to drive over to the Ford dealer there and buy
them for me. I paid him with a GBP check (cheque?) out of an account I
maintain in London, because remember that US Dollars are of no use to him.

He gave them to a stewardess friend to mail from NYC, and after some side
trips in her purse to Bangkok, Brisbane and Capetown, she finally did mail
them, and they arrived a few weeks later.

They do fit, and are considerably stiffer than the stock springs, but
unfortunately they will not overcome either the rusted e-brake cables or
the corroded stem on the caliper.

Alas, you will have to fix the underlying problem, as I had to, because
this particular cheat doesn't work (darn it!).


And the local Ford dealer was rude to me, too.


Sorry,

Mike Arman

86 5KS, 86 5KTQ