Parking Brake Stuck
 

Hi guys

I just returned home after being away for 3 months this summer. I kept my car in my parents garage while I was away. I've stored my car before but this time in my haste, I kept the parking brake engaged.

Anyways, when I was about to back up the car today, the car would not budge. I've had the "reverse pop" before when say after a rain storm or washing the car where the rotors would rust and you would get a bit of resistance then a pop and you are back in business. But this was different --> it felt like the brake pedal was engaged. The RPMs would dip down when trying to back up.

I've heard some people "rocking" the car back and forth between 1st and reverse to get the brake unstuck. I also heard some people getting out a hammer and screwdriver ... not sure what to hammer though. What are you thoughts? Thanks

I've heard of the rocking thing before but if you try it for a little bit and get nowhere I wouldnt continue rocking it.....as for the hammer thing I couldnt tell you where to hammer either

The hammer and screwdriver was probably for the caliper where the e-brake cable "hooks" onto the lever for the e-brake's shoe.
Might want to remove your rear tires and inspect it.
Have someone in the car applying the e-brake while you watch it engage behind the caliper and see if its seized.
Attachment 145197

Look to the little arm the cable hooks to at the caliper. It's in the upper right corner of Jon316's pic. In the little box. Make sure that the arm is moving when you release the parking break lever.

Thanks for the input guys --> I took off both rear wheels and determined that the cable/lever/arm all move when the e-brake is applied and disengaged. The left side rear rotor does move a bit when I took the wheel off (with ebrake disengaged) but the right side rear rotor does not move. I think it may be the left rear rotor/brake caliper that is rusted together.

What do I do now? Start the rocking and rolling to get it unstuck. Or do I need to disassemble the brake?

If the right side didn't move with the e-brake disengaged you need to focus there.
With no brakes applied (including e-brake) you should be able to spin the hub.

You can flip open the caliper as if you were changing pads and then spin the hub.
If it spins freely, it was the caliper.
If its still stuck, its the e-brake's shoe pushing against the rotor and you might need to remove the rotor to figure out why its stuck.

Just take both rear calipers off, and you will get your answer very quickly. You have already ruled out the ebrake line, so it has gatta be something with either your pad(s) sticking to your discs or your bearings and/or hubs could be rusted. Personally, I would just pop the calipers off. That will answer question by how it goes.

Yep, pull the calipers. Check that the pads are not rusted/frozen to the rotor. If they are not then you might try turning the caliper piston back in a little bit on both sides.

I see you edited after my post to incorporate my ideas... :lol2:

LOL, just joshin dude, you are a smart dude, and I like seeing you post.

Thank you for the input guys --> I like how you guys hang out on the rx8club late like I do :) I've never taken apart the brake caliper before but that's what the DIY section is for ... will update in the morning when I do it.
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-how-change-your-rear-brake-pads-172382/
Edit: Is that special caliper tool really necessary to compress the piston? Needlenose pliers seem to be a consensus as an alternative. I don't want to screw things over

LOL... I must have been editing my post while you were creating yours.
Oh well... shows that great minds think alike ;)

I always use needle-nose pliers on the rear caliper and a c-clamp on the fronts.
I've never used the "special tool" before, but laughed watching others try to use it :)

Appreciate the assist guys. The car is rolling again. Ended up taking apart the rear brake, then using a screwdriver to separate the brake pads from the rotor --> seriously not fun. Was a little worried about putting back together the brake because of the piston and such, but with a bit of elbow grease, it slid back into place.

MORAL OF THE STORY: WHEN STORING YOUR CAR, DO NOT ENGAGE PARKING BRAKE AND ENSURE YOUR ROTORS/BRAKES ARE DRY BEFORE STORING

^..............good tip! Not sure the parking brake had anything to do with it from all you described and the fact that you had to pry the pads off the rotors. Yikes!

Blah.

Oops.

Hi guys, I cannot find the issue I'm having with my rx anywhere on here and this thread is the closest, so here goes:
2004 automatic, daily driver, did the same exact thing in reverse from a parking spot but e brake was not engaged, checked multiple times, felt like the rear tires were locked up. Got it home, drove fine. Next day while in drive doing less than 30mph, rear brakes seize up, release for a few seconds then seize up again, time after time. Got car home, husband disconnected e brake cable to take that out of the equation, and removed rear tires and inspected all the brakes and under the car. Cannot see what the problem could be. The only warning light I've ever gotten in the car is the tire pressure light. No brake warning lights have ever come on. He's checked all the usual suspects like the brake fluid also. Anyone have any ideas on this? Anyone have this happen to them? Any insight would be much appreciated. Thanks so much