Re: Parking brake, rear caliper

[paul.heneghan@bbc.co.uk (Paul Heneghan)]

From: FMARTIN <fmartin@ithaca.edu>
>The parking brakes on my 100Q haven't been working for a while,
>I've traced the problem to the right rear caliper (Girling, I
>believe). The p-cable is working on the actuating lever alright,
>but the lever moves about 1/2" and stops solid, with no effect on
>the piston at all. I've used vice grips on the lever, same
>effect.

>I assume something is wrong inside the caliper assembly. Anyone
>have experience with the innards?  Can one fix it, or does one
>end up buying a new or used complete caliper assembly?  I just
>called SHOKAN, and was quoted $145 +shipping.

Hello Frank,

I have rebuilt two parking brake mechanisms (pbms), one on an '84 80q and 
one on an '83 Avant.  The problem on both of these was a large build up of 
rust and crap around the top of the pbm shaft.  If your calipers has the pbm 
held on by three bolts, then it is easy to dismantle and rebuild.  If it has 
rusted, you will almost certainly shear the bolt holding the return spring, 
but you can remove the remainder of the bolt with a vice grips.

Rotate the shaft until the retaining stud (with the hemispherical head) is 
next to the cutout.  Remove the cup and the small rod that pokes the back of 
the piston and prise the shaft of the pbm upwards out of the body of the 
pbm.

If however, you have a one piece calliper, then I don't know if the pbm can 
be removed or not.

$145 sounds like a reasonable price - I had to pay GBP75 for a used one once 
(I sheared a bleed nipple).

Best of luck.

Paul