How to know if you need to adjust ebrake? (Page 1/2)
Squall86GT OCT 23, 10:00 PM
I just got a Fiero about a month ago. It seems to be in pretty good shape. When I pull up on the ebrake it gets firm and seems to work. Brakes seem OK but nothing like my 350 Z. So I wondered if they needed an adjustment. I read the information on how to adjust the E brake. But how do you know if you need to adjust the E brake?
Patrick OCT 24, 12:23 AM

How many "clicks" until your parking brake is tight?

Off the top of my head I don't remember the number, but over a certain number of clicks (5?), the brake needs to be adjusted.
oneinch OCT 24, 12:51 AM
Parking brake should be set with 3 to 6 clicks. The car should not roll once set. If your car doesn't fit within these parameters you should inspect the parking brake.

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Stanton
'88 Formula, red on gray

Gall757 OCT 24, 10:00 AM
............But don't expect it to ever be as good as your Nissan.
wftb OCT 24, 11:06 AM
My rear brakes(86gt) are fairly new, and I try to use the PB once every time I drive it to keep all the parts moving. With 3 clicks it will hold the car in neutral on a steep hill. And releases completely after.

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86 GT built 2.2 ecotec turbo
rear SLA suspension
QA1 coilovers on tube arms

edfiero OCT 27, 05:29 PM
The handle should max out after about 8 clicks. But if the ebrake isn't holding the car, Id suggest trying to shorten up the cable a bit.
theogre OCT 27, 08:19 PM
The Handle has ~ 11 clicks.
But The FSM allows 9 clicks Max to apply them.

Ideally you want to adjust so you're w/in the middle ⅓ of total movement of whatever use to apply... extra Pedal for some, Hand lever for Fiero and others, etc. (70's Ford Maverick and some others had a handle on the dash that you pull out to apply. Fun. Not.)
If possible for Fiero try to adjust so you only pull ⅓ to ½ of total travel of the hand lever. More and many have problems for ergonomic reasons even tho FSM says is right to pull 9 clicks.

3 click to apply is low. Maybe is a problem or not...
Make Sure Both levers on the rear calipers return to the builtin stops there or likely have problems now or soon. Don't go by feel. Release the hand brake and look at both rear calipers. Cable tension must Not keep the levels returning to their stops on the calipers.

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 10-28-2020).]

FX NOV 01, 12:42 PM
Here
Here's another step you can do to self-adjust the e brake, if you don't already know, as long as the cables are adjusted right: Release e brake, press down on the foot brake, and hold, now pull the e brake handle up tight, then release the foot brake, then the e brake...This worked very well on my 86 GT...
wftb NOV 01, 12:59 PM
I never counted the clicks till the other day. I just pulled it till it would not move on the slope of my driveway. When I just pull on it normally it probably goes about 5 clicks. The cables are almost new and the calipers are newer rebuilds. I have yet to find a hill it will not hold on. Admittedly, where I live is not the hilliest in Ontario, I refer to it as Flatario. When I release the brake it moves right away so there is no binding, no heat build up. The only thing I do not like about my stock rear brakes is the lack of pad selection.
theogre NOV 01, 01:32 PM

quote
Originally posted by FX:
Here's another step you can do to self-adjust the e brake, if you don't already know, as long as the cables are adjusted right: Release e brake, press down on the foot brake, and hold, now pull the e brake handle up tight, then release the foot brake, then the e brake...This worked very well on my 86 GT...

Is How to Apply, not to how to adjust.
Just read OM... Or See http://www.fiero.nl/forum/F...HTML/143201.html#p17

For Parking brakes, the rear piston will self-adjust w/o you doing anything. All vehicles w/ hydro brakes are same way per FMVSS and related Rules worldwide. GM and NHTSA made a "backdoor deal" to allow GM blaming Fiero and other owners for not using the P-brake in a Recall that strangely only applies to Manual Trans cars...

The Rear brakes have problems likely because GM Bean Counters made "Engineering" changes etc to cut cost.

When P-brake stop self-adjusting then you start problems w/ service/hydro brake like low pedal because too much rear pad clearance. When that is ignored, the piston can blow out the back and drag the pads... That can wear out pads fast, warp a rotor, boil the fluid or even cause a fire.