Spent a pleasant hour or so changing out the cables on Friday. The one side was a little stiff, and the other was totally free. Cables went in pretty good. The two guide tubes are pretty rusty. I will have to check into getting new ones. Thank you all for the information.
The bad news is that the caliper is not functioning correctly. The parking brake arm will move to actuate it, but will not return. The caliper only slightly actuates when applying the main brakes. I disconnected the parking brake cable until I can replace the caliper and plan to order the new caliper today. I had said I might think about MK4 calipers, but now seems like a lot of work (and $) for little results. It would be cool to have lighter calipers back there. Does anyone know what the weight difference is between them? Jesse Jesse T Walz wrote: > > I replaced this a few years ago. Upstate NY uses more salt on > the roads then just about anywhere in the county. The main > reason the car is no longer winter driven. I got a new bias > controller from someone on this list for a great price, I think > $35. It seems to me the original one was steel (and a total > block of rust) and and the new one was aluminum. I checked it > when I was checking the cable and it was moving freely. Now that > I think about it I will start greasing the hinges on it > regularly. PM, PM, PM. > > Jesse > > Mark Reda wrote: > > > > While you're under the car check to see if the Brake Bias-Control works. > > If it's jammed break out the penetrating oil and vice grips and try to free > > it up. > > After you free it up spray it down with silicone grease. > > > > Mark. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Jesse T Walz" <[email protected]> > > To: "a2list" <[email protected]> > > Sent: Friday, June 06, 2003 9:45 AM > > Subject: Re: [a2-16v-list] Replacing parking brake cables > > > > > Thank you Mark and Francois. > > > I just got the car out of winter storage a couple of weeks ago. > > > When I got it home I noticed a little bit of my pad material on > > > the left rear rotor. I investigated and saw the one cable was > > > stuck. The other side still works. I hope it is not also the > > > caliper. When I apply the normal brakes that wheel only brakes > > > slightly, but I am hoping that is only because of the hung up > > > cable and infighting between the hydraulic and mechanical > > > systems. I didn't get a chance to pop off the frozen cable from > > > the caliper like I should have. If the caliper is bad then it > > > will suck since I have lacquered them. If it is bad then perhaps > > > I will get a set of Mk4 aluminum calipers. They are cheaper than > > > Mk2 ones. The only problem there is I can't use my SS lines with > > > them. Chances are the caliper is fine. Again, thanks guys. > > > > > > Regards, > > > Jesse > > > > > > Mark Reda wrote: > > > > > > > > Hey Jesse, > > > > It was me who changed the e-brake cables and wrote a post. > > > > Its a pretty easy job. > > > > -From inside the car disconnect the cables from the e-brake handle > > assembly > > > > -Jack the car up and snip the metal cable where it meets the caliper > > with > > > > metal snips or bolt cutters > > > > -Unhook the cable from the hooks that hold it to the chassis, be careful > > not > > > > to break them. > > > > -You will need to pull the cable out from the inlet under the center of > > the > > > > car, be very careful not to break the plastic grommet on the end. Use > > Vice > > > > grips and twist carefully. If it breaks then you will need a drill and > > a > > > > drill bit to get the remaining plastic out of the cable inlet tubes. > > > > > > > > When installing new cables grease them up thoroughly using any kind of > > > > grease (silicone, moly, bearing grease). I used moly grease. > > > > I spent 10 minutes on each cable adding grease and moving the cable > > around. > > > > It might be a good idea to pack a little bit of grease in the cable's > > end > > > > boot. > > > > > > > > Don't over-tighten the cables, I think 4 or 5 clicks is tight enough. > > > > > > > > It'll probably take you an hour and a half at the most to repalce the > > > > cables. > > > > > > > > Mark Reda. > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > From: "Jesse T Walz" <[email protected]> > > > > To: "a2list" <[email protected]> > > > > Sent: Friday, June 06, 2003 8:24 AM > > > > Subject: [a2-16v-list] Replacing parking brake cables > > > > > > > > > Hi all, > > > > > > > > > > Could one of you nice folks, who is smarter than myself and saves > > > > > post, please send me the write up on replacing parking brake > > > > > cables. I believe Mark Reda posted it a few weeks ago and > > > > > included a few good tips. If someone could do it before 10:30 > > > > > this morning that would be great. I have a half day at work > > > > > today and plan on changing these after I get out. Thanks in > > > > > advance. > > > > > > > > > > Jesse Walz > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > a2-16v-list mailing list > > > > > [email protected] > > > > > http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > > > > > For list archives, see listinfo link above. > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > a2-16v-list mailing list > > > [email protected] > > > http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > > > For list archives, see listinfo link above. > > > > _______________________________________________ > > a2-16v-list mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > > For list archives, see listinfo link above. > _______________________________________________ > a2-16v-list mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > For list archives, see listinfo link above.
