How does a parking brake work ?

[WhiteFinish]

Like it says, how does it work ?

Does the braking system needs to be filled with brake fluid ?

I know you pull the e-brake handle, the cable will pull a lever on the brake caliper.... and than ?

[Josh]

[benyandthejets]

Like it says, how does it work ?

Does the braking system needs to be filled with brake fluid ?

I know you pull the e-brake handle, the cable will pull a lever on the brake caliper.... and than ?

And then it holds in place until you release the handle. Unfortunately it doesn't seems to be very strong, at least on my car. I guess I could tighten up the ebrake cable a bit more though.

[WhiteFinish]

Do I need fluid in the lines for the brake to work?

[benyandthejets]

Do I need fluid in the lines for the brake to work?

I'm pretty sure parking brakes don't utilize the hydralic system(so no, you wouldn't need fluid) and a quick google search seems to support that. Someone with more knowledge of the MX-3's brakes should chime in though.

this should help:
http://mx-3.com/manuals/showimg.php?fil ... /P-045.gif

[kulluminati777]

i expect a new member to ask a Q like this but whitefinish? come on....

[mitmaks]

Ebrake doesnt need fluid, that's why it's Emergency brake, in case your fluid leaks out, ebrake is your last resort.

[MrMazda92]

No fluid required.

Serviced a '90 Camry once, replaced the rear struts... The owner mistook carb cleaner for brake fluid. *facepalm*

I ended up engine braking and using the handbrake to drive 35 miles into town, so I could bleed the entire system and start fresh with proper tools and a crapload of new fluid.

[WhiteFinish]

Ok, than I need to find something else to make my e-brake work with the Mx5 rear brakes.

[kulluminati777]

wasnt there something about just turning the cable around so its a at a different angle for it to work??

[Mooneggs]

Wow Robert, posts like these should be saved for April Fool's day LOL

You should post some pics up of the specific dilemma...

[Josh]

The MX-5 calipers should hook up with the same method. If not, you should be able to swap the bracket from your MX3 calipers to the MX-5. What MX-5 calipers are you using? the Sport?


Although our rear calipers are cable operated, some are hydraulic.

[WhiteFinish]

I'll take some pictures...

But come on !! It's not such a big NOOB question...


It's the mx5 nb sport rear brakes.

[Sleeper6]

I'll take some pictures...

But come on !! It's not such a big NOOB question...


It's the mx5 nb sport rear brakes.

I respect you for asking before you screwed something up instead of pretending to know what you were doing with something as important as brakes. Well done 'sah!

When the vehicle has rear disc brakes without an auxiliary drum brake, a caliper-actuated parking brake system is used. With this system, an additional lever and corkscrew is added to the existing caliper piston. When the emergency brake is pulled, the lever forces the corkscrew against caliper piston, and applies the brakes, again bypassing the hydraulic braking system. -howstuffworks

[WhiteFinish]

So I took a vid of my rear parking caliper.

It seems my E-brake just doesn't work when I pull the leaver.



What can I do / check to make this thing work again?