sawdust_tom

Here's my story, I'll try to keep it brief.

2000 Civic EX Coupe (daughter's car) - brakes go spongy and I figure out that the brake lines are rusting through across the bottom of car (inside the plastic grating). Dad knows best (and he's cheap) so I replace every inch of brake line on the car (I mean it, every inch) using this cool rust-proof, bendable line from AutoZone. Did all the flare fittings myself - not one leaker!

Rear drums are old and worn so I replace everything on the rear brakes from the backing plate out - new pads, wheel cylinder, springs, etc. Bleed the whole system in the proper order.

Here's the problem, the parking brake is useless. I tried adjusting according to instructions from Haynes but it didn't work. I must have done something wrong but I can't figure it out. Any suggestions for solving this problem?

xRiCeBoYx

iTrader: (22)

Did you check the physical integrity of the parking brake cables? Or if they somehow became detached at either the parking brake assembly or the rear brakes themselves?

sawdust_tom

Here's what I've done so far. Removed center console and both cables are connected to the equalizer assembly. Ran the adjusting nut in as far as it would go - that didn't help, pull up on the brake and the equalizer assembly runs into the brake lever pivot hardware - loosen the adjusting nut so I can get a full pull (about 9 or 10 clicks) and the rear wheels just spin.

Jacked it up, took off the tire and new drum and had daughter pull up on the brake. It seems like the max amount of pull isn't enough to lever the pads hard up against the drum.

Thought the brake cables might be stretched, used a simple trick to shorten the cables at the equalizer assembly. Same problem - the max amount of pull doesn't seem to be enough to lever the pads up against the drum. The cables are definitely connected to the parking brake lever inside the drums.

I used cheap, AutoZone hardware to rebuild the rear drum brakes, I wonder if I shouldn't have used better stuff?

02civicsi02

Correct me if I am wrong but shouldnt the parking brake have anywhere from 13-16 clicks.

xRiCeBoYx

iTrader: (22)

may haynes manual says 6-7 for the 7thgen coupe/sedan and 7-8 for the EP3.. I'd imagine it would be similar for the 6thgen

sawdust_tom

Haynes says "6 to 9 " clicks for a 2000 Civic. The problem is that this amount of "pull" doesn't do anything to stop the rear wheels from turning.

Wondering if anyone has experienced this problem themselves and what they did to fix it?