It sounds like a frozen caliper. I had to rebuild mine, and I replaced the cable just in case.

Unless you park on a hill, just leave the car in a stout gear (like reverse), and don't use the brake at all.

Or don't use it when it's damp out.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by spnx:
It sounds like a frozen caliper. </font>


That is it. Dam expensive to replace
If you have to. http://www.sr20deforum.com/NonCGI/frown.gif
Someone said we should be lubricating the caliper pins. Can anyone explain this a bit better? (Where and how to?)


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http://horus.bx.net/fatalbert.gif Erik, 94 Classic with goodies and a matching child car seat!
"She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid."

would changing the two rear calipers and the line be that expensive for a DIY? and would that be better than rebuilding the calipers? I think I heard that Pep Boys has rear calipers for our cars?(can anyone confirm that?) I'm really tired of having to shut the car off and park on gear everytime I get out of the car. http://www.sr20deforum.com/NonCGI/mad.gif
Horus, I read your posting from a few months ago and Im just curious how u got rid of this problem.
Nick

I'm not sure about the rear brakes but I rebuilt the front calipers and it wasn't a very difficult job at all. You can get the rebuild kit from a dealer for about 10 bucks. Otherwise just stop using the parking brake. A friend of mine never uses his because he had a car once with a broken handbrake and got in the habit of using the tranny as a parking brake.

would parking with the tranny( using gears) instead of the parking brake cause any problems on the gears? (I heard this myth from some unreliable source and I just want to make sure). what do you guys think about that?
thanks,
Nick

Hit it with a hammer. http://www.sr20deforum.com/NonCGI/cool.gif

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Greg Perry, '93 SE-R w/ 149,000 miles, a proud customer of Nitrous Oxide Systems, Inc.,
14.10@99mph 1/4 mile, 8.95@79mph 1/8 mile, 1.98 60-ft.
http://members.home.net/herdinsider/carpics/blackwheelsautox.jpg
My SE-R page, with videos (http://www.geocities.com/herdinsider/serpage.html)

Hey guys, has anybody encountered the parking brake problem I'm having? basically when ever I engage it, the only way to release it is if you crawl under the car and force it off by hand at the release point(if I just pull down the handle, it just feels real loose and the brakes still hold the car) . Okay so my question is, does this sound like a frozen caliper? or a cable problem? and how can I check for the calipers?
Thanks in advance,
Nick

One of mine could be salvaged. But the second caliper was seized beyond repair. (Dam salt) Anyway I had to buy a new one for that left rear one. Once that was taken care of my cable just need to be re-attached (re-tightened really) If I knew what to do to keep them from seizing up I’d do it. But I’m not going to start lubricating my breaks unless I know exactly where.

Lubing breaks makes me think of warnings like: Don't paint heat detectors or Don't use around open flame. http://www.sr20deforum.com/NonCGI/smile.gif

Thanks everybody for your inputs. I haven't decided on what to do yet as my finances are low at the moment, but I'll definitly let you guys know how I do if I ever find a quick fix.
Thanks again,
Nick

I retightened the e-brake cable behind the handle and wd-40 the back of rear brake calipers (by the springs and moving parts on cable) and it worked for me.

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91 SE-R,10:1 comp.pistons,balanced &blueprint rebuild.comp.4angle valve job,extrude honed heads/intake manifold,No emissions.crap,RC TB/MAF,nismo cams,UR pulleys,stillen4-1 ceram.header, ACT HDS/S clutch,PR CAI with POPchgr,2 1/2 test pipe,mandrel 2 1/4 superturbo ex., ZEX flywheel & JW 50 shot nos with 60 shot jet. and much more goodies!

My left rear froze up on my car. Since your handle is really loose, it's not the cable (unless it broke). I PB Blasted the big nut (heh heh) that the spring is mounted on, and worked the lever several times. That worked like a charm. You should check to see that your rear brakes aren't dragging, or you are going to run into higher cost quickly.

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-=Matt=- 97 SE-R 94,000smiles+, POP, custom 2.25" exhaust, ACT, Shifter, ST sways, AV22VFs (new!)

Thanks Driven 97, I'm gonna try that as soon as I get a chance.
Nick

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by redman007:
I retightened the e-brake cable behind the handle and wd-40 the back of rear brake calipers (by the springs and moving parts on cable) and it worked for me.

</font>

the wd-40 thing, didn't quite work on mine. and another thing is that the parking brake doesn't hold the right rear side at all(I suspect a snapped cable?) Anyone know where I can get the cable? I tried trak auto and pep boys and they don't have it.

On mine, the mechanical lever on the caliper stuck in the on position, then when I put the hand brake lever down, there was enough slack in the cable to simply unhook it. I thought I had a broken cable too. Make sure you check before you order one.



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-=Matt=- 97 SE-R 94,000smiles+, POP, custom 2.25" exhaust, ACT, Shifter, ST sways, AV22VFs (new!)

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Driven97:
On mine, the mechanical lever on the caliper stuck in the on position, then when I put the hand brake lever down, there was enough slack in the cable to simply unhook it. I thought I had a broken cable too. Make sure you check before you order one.

Okay thanks I'll do that, I'm just waiting on a sunny day to come by. http://www.sr20deforum.com/NonCGI/frown.gif

</font>

broken cable is definately a possibilty, i had one broken cable, and the brake would stick. $45 and 2 hours later, it worked great. http://www.sr20deforum.com/NonCGI/biggrin.gif

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Serban Gavrilescu
91 Black Metallic SE-R
146.5hp & 131.6lb-ft torque
http://www.cs.fsu.edu/~gavriles/serbanblur1.jpg
Serban's SE-R Page (http://www.geocities.com/serban91r)

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Fast91SER:
broken cable is definately a possibilty, i had one broken cable, and the brake would stick. $45 and 2 hours later, it worked great. http://www.sr20deforum.com/NonCGI/biggrin.gif

</font>

Do you know any online stores where I can get one from? I live in the middle of nowhere and all we got is NAPA around here.
Thanks,
Nick