Brake Problems
 

I have a 1983 380 SEL. After sitting about 7-10 days and sudden cold weather hitting Ohio I started it up and started to go in reverse for about 5 feet and then the brakes would not allow me to go any further (parking brake?) If I gave it some gas the back end would rise; I was able to go forward.

I finally gave it a lot of gas and "broke loose" it made some rubbing noise for about 200 yards and then back to normal.

Question: What is the smartest way to get rid of my parking brake, I do not need this to happen again. Could this be a sticking caliper?

Thanks!

The parking brake is just like a regular drum brake but inside the rotor "dome". It has shoes rather than calipers and pads. It is cable rather than hydraulic. If it was freezing out perhaps the following applies........It sounds like some water sloshed in there and then froze later. No need to get rid of it; just don't set parking brake if you don't want to. Rubbing noise may have been ice, frozen shoe, etc.

The frozen parking brake theory sounds good.

I did not set the parking brake on it.

The PO told me that it was a bit "touchy" after someone who took it out for a test ride "broke"it by using too much force (?). I am worried that if I ever did set it, it would never release.

The most common problem is that very few adjust the shoe position to put them in the correct operating range of movement. The parking brake shoes adjust just like the old drum brake shoes did. There is a hole thru the wheel (don't even have to remove the wheel) where you use a screwdriver to rotate a "star wheel" adjuster. Up on one side to tighten, down on the other. When properly (or even close) adjusted you should only get three "clicks" on the parking brake pedal when applied and it won't get "forced" and "broke". ;)

Thank you Jbaj007 from Santa Monica, CA. I will have that adjusted.