How to Replace the Emergency Brakes in a Chevy Corvette

Emergency brakes were originally used to stop a vehicle during a failure of the regular brakes. However, emergency brakes are now used primarily to keep the vehicle from moving while parked because the regular brakes on a Chevy Corvette rarely fail. Emergency brakes most often need to be replaced as a result of disuse which causes the components to rust and seize.

Instructions

1

Determine which type of emergency brakes your Chevy Corvette will need. Emergency brakes typically function by activating the regular braking system on the driving wheels. The emergency brakes on the Chevy Corvette use the rear wheel brakes, which have been discs since 1965.

2

Raise and support the vehicle. Remove the rear wheels, brake rotor, wheel bearing and hub with a socket wrench. Loosen the parking brake adjusting nut to completely remove the parking brake shoe adjustment. Detach the parking brake shoe retaining spring.

3

Grasp the shoe and spread it apart slightly while pulling the shoe from the actuator assembly. This will allow you to remove the parking brake shoe assembly.

4

Install the new parking brake shoe assembly by holding it while spreading it apart slightly to pull it over the actuator assembly. Connect the parking brake shoe retaining spring.

5

Place the inside measurement contacts of shoe clearance gauge J-21177-A at the widest point of the drum portion of the brake rotor. Adjust the parking brake shoe clearance to 0.015 in. Install the wheel bearing, wheel hub, brake rotor and wheels. Lower the vehicle.