StageLeft
No Lifer
Like many I never use the e-brake on my van but it's needed to pass inspection. Mazda wants at least $400 to repair it, blaming it on a stretched cable (I'm not convinced at all that's it). The ebrake does not grab enough to stop the wheels unless it's adjusted so much at the front that, when released, it actually rubs.
I'm trying to think of a way to pass inspection without paying $400 or more on something I will never use and I have some ideas, but when mechanics generally check these, how do they do it? Do they simply pull up to ensure there is tension or do they raise the vehicle, make sure the wheels are turning nicely, then crank up the e-brake 6 clicks, then make sure they're not turning? The specifics are of relevance here 🙂
Further, the mechanic at Mazda hinted that there may be an insert I can get for the ebrake lever to increase the travel for the same distance pulled. Basically something sits between the cable and the semi-circular guide it's in to increase leverage on it, thus pulling more cable for the same distance of lever. Do such things exist? I could not find one in autozone.
*UPDATE 8/5/2010*
I wanted to give these brakes one more shot. I still did not readily agree that $400 to replace cables on an ebrake that is never used made sense. I took the wheels off both sides, adjusted further, and now my ebrake works! Instead of $400 to not even fix the problem I spent 90 minutes. I cannot adjust the right side properly; it does sound bad if I adjust it enough for complete engagement as grippy as the left, but I do have an ebrake again and I think it would pass inspection. I still don't know why these brakes by themselves started squeaking but it's been several days now and no problems.
So basically Skoorb + AT Garage > Mazda.
I'm trying to think of a way to pass inspection without paying $400 or more on something I will never use and I have some ideas, but when mechanics generally check these, how do they do it? Do they simply pull up to ensure there is tension or do they raise the vehicle, make sure the wheels are turning nicely, then crank up the e-brake 6 clicks, then make sure they're not turning? The specifics are of relevance here 🙂
Further, the mechanic at Mazda hinted that there may be an insert I can get for the ebrake lever to increase the travel for the same distance pulled. Basically something sits between the cable and the semi-circular guide it's in to increase leverage on it, thus pulling more cable for the same distance of lever. Do such things exist? I could not find one in autozone.
*UPDATE 8/5/2010*
I wanted to give these brakes one more shot. I still did not readily agree that $400 to replace cables on an ebrake that is never used made sense. I took the wheels off both sides, adjusted further, and now my ebrake works! Instead of $400 to not even fix the problem I spent 90 minutes. I cannot adjust the right side properly; it does sound bad if I adjust it enough for complete engagement as grippy as the left, but I do have an ebrake again and I think it would pass inspection. I still don't know why these brakes by themselves started squeaking but it's been several days now and no problems.
So basically Skoorb + AT Garage > Mazda.
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