getting close to swapping it in favor of a drum setup so I can actually be comfortable that the parking brake WILL hold the car..

Before anyone asks, I have done the following to try and remedy the parking brake on my 1990:


-Replaced Master Cylinder
-two sets of pads
-three sets of calipers
-three sets of rotors
-new parking brake level
-new parking brake cables
-braided brake lines


The brake will not hold the car. I have talked to the techs at Muskegon brake too. I am now on the path to converting.

I am using a modded 87 adapter and shoe assembly. it has been machined to fit my 90 knuckle. I have an extra spacer that will get me VERY close to the OEM adapter thickness.

here is my dilemma:
I don't want to use the 87 caliper, I would prefer a c5 caliper, will it work with the 87 abutment bracket? I don't have one to test.. I have enough parts to make something work, but i think it will be too much brake

Here are the options I am looking at (in no particular order)

Option 1: buy custom shoes, C6 z51 rear rotors, adapter brackets, pads and use C5/C6 rear calipers.. I have the calipers

Option 2: Buy a wilwood kit for an 87 (I actually might have rotors that may work with the wilwood kit) need the kit plus 87 shoes

Option 3: Use the Brembo Calipers and rotors I have, my concern is the caliper is too big (40mm/36mm Pistons) approx 3.5 piston area ( I need the 87 Shoes for this only)

Option 4: See If I can use the adapeter brackets form option 1 with C5 calipers and my 2 piece rotors

If I do option 3 how do I handle it? I have Wilwood 6 pistons in the front (4.04" piston area)

I will upgrade to the 95 style master (it has a DRM Bias Spring) I could also go to the F-body master, but the 95 master is basically new..

Thoughts?

what constitutes "not holding"?

Are the rear calipers still in their OEM location? There is an adjustment, IIRC...

Quote:

set brake on slight incline.. car rolls down the incline ( my 89 NEVER did that)

Quote:

Yes, currently still OEM. there is no adjustment other that the free play adjustment, which I was told is NOT for the Parking Brake..

Example, I kept my 89 and my 90 both on my Kwiklift, they both sit at an incline, I chock the wheels and leave it in gear and set the brake,.. my 89 with the chocks gone and clutch depressed, car sat still. my 90 starts rolling off the lift. I want the brake to hold some of the weight too, it doesn't.. Parking brake is a crap design, they went back to the drum brake in 1997

Oh,

Option 5. buy the adapter from Street Shops and use C5/C6 parts. my issue with the Street shop piece is it needs to be modded to make it work. I know he uses them for his street rods, but it really shouldn't have to be modded for the c4.. maybe slightly.. but not as much as I heard needs to be

Still sucks..

I have one more set of 90 calipers to try.. if it works GREAT.. if not, I need to figure out the best avenue to get something working.

Not sure this will help, but something to check..

Did the brake hold prior to replacing the cables?

I replaced the parking brake cables on my 89 with aftemarkets. Parking brake didn't hold. Troubleshooting finally led me to compare length of the new cables against the old (factory originals). Replacements were slightly longer than the originals...parking brake wasn't engaging completely. Re-installed the originals; at least gets me an annual inspection sticker

Quote:

no, parking brake has never held since I owned the car. the aftermarket cable actually (the 2 sides) were an improvement..

the issue is in the caliper from what I can tell. I have another set of calipers I know came from a car that the brake worked on. I might swap those next just to see if they work