Coupe Quattro Parking Brake Return Spring

[Torbjorn Bergstrom]

I remember asking about this a year or so ago and found that there is a
part number from Ford in Europe for a stronger return spring...

If you search the archives (are they working?) you can probably find it. I
even had a lister in England offer to pick some up and ship them to me... I
to just get new rear calipers so didn't take him up on the offer.

Recently though on a friends car I made a temporary fix to the problem that
has been left in place (Trying to get it to pass inspection cheaply without
the brakes staying on after tested.)

I liberally sprayed with penetrating oil and worked the lever manually with
a pair of pliers. (still on the car...)

then I go the bright idea to take some strong bungee cords (the black
rubber ones) put one hook through the hole in the lever where the spring
attaches and attached the other end to the rear bumper strut which allowed
me to work the brakes with the lever in the car... (much easier than with
the pliers slipping off and banging the knuckles...)

This seemed to work I kept spraying the oil and working the lever.  I
thought it must be good enough so I disconnected the bungee cords and tried
it.  Well they still stuck on sometimes so I reconnected the bungee cords
and brought the car to be  inspected.

I saw the guy look under the back of the car during the inspection he never
said a word about it and gave me the sticker...  I decided to leave the
cords in place for good, or until the calipers come off to get rebuilt or
replaced...

This might be a cheap/easy "temporary" fix for you bout the only real fix
as you know is taking the caliper apart and cleaning and lubricating...

Toby  '90 90 (I call it a 180...)


At 12:11 PM 7/10/2002, you wrote:
>From: PrschRS911 at aol.com
>Date: Wed, 10 Jul 2002 10:29:23 EDT
>Subject: Coupe Quattro Parking Brake Return Spring
>To: quattro at audifans.com
>
>Hi all,
>My parking brake is sticking again, the return spring is not able to release
>it on both calipers.  I have tried lube and working it back and forth with
>pliers, but I am not able to get it completely free again.  On one caliper it
>slowly releases, and on the other it stays on and the spring will not release
>it.
>
>I rebuilt my calipers three years ago, at which time I pulled out the shaft
>that the cable and return spring is attached to, and sandblasted off all of
>the built up corrosion (rust) which was causing it to cease up at the time.
>I treated the rust and lubricated it well and it worked great for at least
>two years (including one salt-filled Minnesota winter).
>
>This is a seemingly common problem with these brakes, and as I can get mine
>to move somewhat again, it seems a stronger return spring would help.  Has
>anyone found a good fix for this?
>
>Thanks, Tim
>
>91 Coupe Quattro
>92 Carrera RS
>94 BMW 530i