e-brake is stuck on

John W. Kelly · Post by **John W. Kelly** » Sun Oct 06, 2002 7:25 pm

Did you try "rocking" the bus? Like if you where stuck in snow or mud?

John W. Kelly · Post by **John W. Kelly** » Mon Oct 07, 2002 1:53 am

Well, I had this happen about a year ago with my 70 bug. I tried pulling it with my truck in hopes that it would break loose. It didn't. It made a hell of a lot of noise...and got the cops called on me! Maybe it'll work for you.(without the cops) I finally used a large 3 arm puller. It worked, but it broke the wheel cylinder piece that attaches to the shoe.

Post by **Marc** » Mon Oct 07, 2002 5:12 am

Any clue as to why it stuck? Have you had any trouble in the past like a cable was hanging up, or any noise from that corner like a shoe was bad? Was it parked for very long and/or "put away wet" (a shoe could just be rusted to the drum). Usually a few good whacks with a sledgehammer on the lugbolts will break a stuck shoe loose, but this "technique" has to be used carefully on a bus or you'll smear the lugnuts/studs.

mattman · Post by **mattman** » Mon Oct 07, 2002 6:17 am

I find that if I rev the engine up and dump the clutch, it'll break the stuck brake free. It might take a try or two, but this has always worked for me.

Post by **Marc** » Mon Oct 07, 2002 7:15 am

With the wheel off, try striking the face of the drum at the outside rim (don't hit the outside curved surface, at least not very hard). You may want to try backing off the adjusting stars; it's not likely that there's any kind of hydraulic lock affecting only one wheel, but it can't hurt to open the bleeder screw.
Check for kinked/damaged e-brake cable sheath - if it looks bad and it'll need replacement anyway you may as well cut it near the backing plate to see if that helps.

TomB · Post by **TomB** » Mon Oct 07, 2002 8:03 am

Had this happen on a Vanagon once - none of the usual would break it free. Finally I pulled the rubber inspection plugs off the back of the backing plate to see the shoe lining, then took a 3/8 flat drift and hammer and tapped the shoes. Popped loose right away.