Emergency Break Help Needed ASAP!!!

AlfaRomeo1750 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 10:03 AM

Hey guys,

Thanks again to every one who offered assistance with my last most recent posting about State inspection woes.

Long story short, I picked up the car this morning... thankful that it was done, paid my $800.00 and walked away mumbling foul language in italian.

Any who, I started to pull out of the mechanic's drive way and give her a right italian tune up, when I noticed the car dragging a little bit... almost as if I were standing on the brake. So I started to think what the heck did these A$$ holes do to my car when a kid in a honda pulled along side and yelled your brake caliper is smoking.

SO... in a flash I pulled over and there it was... the chrome paint on my calipers was burning away from the heat. I called the mechanic and he said that his helper made an adjustment to the emergency brake.

At this point I looked at the handle... the nut was screwed down all the way so the brakes were not fully disengaging at least on the driver's side.

Going into the trunk and pulling out the emergency box of tools that I keep in there, I took the nut all the way out and drove home to the lovely odor of burning paint.

NOW... here is my problem: The emergency brake WILL NOT engage to hold the car. It will only grab with the nut all the way in.. and I am thinking that its only holding on the driver's side to begin with since that was the side fuming with paint smoke.

I am now at a loss of how to make an adjustment other than at the handbrake itself... and I need to fix this soon as I DO NOT leave my car in gear at any time.

Because of the Alfa V6's weakness for timing belts, I have never let the car rest on the belt for fear that it would skip... SO I have always relied on the emergency brake and a rubber wheel chuck I keep in the trunk when parking on hills. BUT since the brake wont grab, I cant even get out to put in the wedge.

Any and all advice is most welcome, as I would really like to get my 164 up to snuff again.. I have already blocked out my night to wash and wax away all the grubby fingerprints.

Thanks in advance.
Cheers
Martin.

lowmileage · #2 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlfaRomeo1750

I called the mechanic and he said that his helper made an adjustment to the emergency brake.

164arealalfatoo · #3 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 12:43 PM

I have had to park my 1990 12v 164 in gear for the last 2 years as the parking brake only works for 2 weeks after the MOT (ministry of transport test UK). I have never had any problems. The way the belt gets damaged is if you stall it the pressure in the tensioner does not ease off for a couple of seconds, so if you start it straight away you put excessive strain on it, I know they can go then. They should be ok, if the engine moves it all moves with it, I thought.

Get some blocks to chock the wheels? Hope you get your $800 back.

**bshorey** · #4 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlfaRomeo1750

I am now at a loss of how to make an adjustment other than at the handbrake itself... and I need to fix this soon as I DO NOT leave my car in gear at any time.

164arealalfatoo · #5 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 01:05 PM

You adjust the calipers, in theory on the old 164. In reality you take them off, wind them in and out repeatedly for an hour, lubricate and move all the cables, force the biggest spring on you can make fit. They work fine for 2 weeks, and despite everything they just will not adjust themselves like they should in use.

However the brakes when driving put a lot of much newer cars to shame, genuine dual braking system, ABS 4 x big disks all round. Designed to work at 155 mph if you ever get on a track with one!

MrT · #6 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 01:42 PM

Here in the U.S., with Martin, rebuilt brake calipers are available. Used calipers are also available. When I had this kind of brake problem on a cheap 164L I bought two years ago, I picked up miscellaneous calipers at $25 each from breakers or friends with extras. They worked. I put them on, adjusted things, cleaned up the ebrake cables, and all was well. The cables are available at decent prices. Check DiFatta. Calipers are available. Check your local auto parts house (even) or RockAuto. Smile. It shouldn't be gruesome.

**Alfisto Steve** · #7 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 07:07 PM

You need to jack up rear and with nut on cable, test parking brake and see if only one or both parlking brakes work or don't work.

Check to see that cables to both brakes tighen and loosen when lever applied and released.

Cable seizes more often on right rear side (gas filler side). Also parking levers seize in bottom of calipers.

Also apply brakes with pedal and be sure both sides work properly.

Report your findings as you can have a cable problem, piston problem or automatic adjuster problem inside caliper.

MrT · #8 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 07:43 PM

It is certainly wise to discover which is the offending part before replacing it. It's best to be conservative about which parts to replace.

AlfaRomeo1750 · #9 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 08:27 PM

Steve, and Mr T,

Ill be sure to check tomorrow since I have the day off from work. Thanks for the advice, its greatly appreciated. One thing that I didnt mention which is troubling me is that all 4 of my brakes are recent.

Last summer I replaced all 4 rotors, calipers, pads, and lines with either new or rebuilt parts from IAP. Do these parts fail like this being relatively new-ish?

Thanks again guys... my 164 and I thank you.

Cheers
Martin.

MrT · #10 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 08:33 PM

I'd say they _shouldn't_ fail so soon. Maybe your e-brake linkage is suspect? Check its mounting points and its travel. All the way through the cables. Certainly listen to the comment about only one caliper making up its e-brake contact. Othewise you'd have had _two_ brakes smoking. And you shouldn't have been able to drive without being _really_ blank about it.

PSk · #11 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 10:01 PM

Every CAR owner should park their car in gear.

Do you think all the mindless owners of these cars ever cared if their engine rotated backwards?, etc. ... and why would it anyway?, to rotate backwards the car has to move, and in 1st or reverse it is NOT going to (unless it has been hit and then you have bigger problems).

Guys these Alfa Romeos are not egg shells, they are cars and many times owned by non-enthusiasts that happily abuse them all over the world. We need to relax a little

.

Now if the handbrake calipers are like Suds and Alfettas the only place for them is the rubbish bin. They are the worst caliper ever designed, and I am serious. Replace with a Japanese design and yes you will have to redesign the car a little but it will work from then on.

I'd just leave it in gear and back the adjuster off.
Pete

elite38868 · #12 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSk

Every CAR owner should park their car in gear.

Do you think all the mindless owners of these cars ever cared if their engine rotated backwards?, etc. ... and why would it anyway?, to rotate backwards the car has to move, and in 1st or reverse it is NOT going to (unless it has been hit and then you have bigger problems)....

I'd just leave it in gear and back the adjuster off.
Pete

164arealalfatoo · #13 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007, 03:49 AM

I agree the worst calipers ever, should never have been given type approval in the UK. I didn't know you could get others to fit. As for the proper brakes, mine are still working perfectly, they are 17 years old. With good tyres I have to worry about newer cars going into the back of me in an emergency, not the other way around.

Only problem I had was with budget pads, I changed them!

**Alfisto Steve** · #14 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlfaRomeo1750

Steve, and Mr T,

Ill be sure to check tomorrow since I have the day off from work. Thanks for the advice, its greatly appreciated. One thing that I didnt mention which is troubling me is that all 4 of my brakes are recent.

Last summer I replaced all 4 rotors, calipers, pads, and lines with either new or rebuilt parts from IAP. Do these parts fail like this being relatively new-ish?

Thanks again guys... my 164 and I thank you.

Cheers
Martin.

**ChazzyD** · #15 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007, 07:42 AM

Years ago before I owned my L and it was my parents car, they had an issue with a rear caliper locking up, resulting in a smoking wheel and a melted valve stem cap. They took it to me and I just rotated the pistons back into the calipers a bit and the problem never came back. Until my recent dragging brake problem that was fixed with a new master cylinder. Just get in there and make sure everything is freed up and if you have a lot of miles on your M/C I would consider replacing it, if the symptoms occur mostly when the car is hot. Since you live in PA, it is likely a corroded caliper problem, at the parking brake pivot?
Charles