North American Turbocoupe Organization



Emergency brake cable
88 Turbo Coupe Offline
Member
#1
Hi everyone,

I took the car out of storage and been driving the TC for about two weeks. Just yesterday on a drive I started smelling brakes. Check my wheels and the back left was hot. I raised the rear end and I could not turn the wheel - the caliper is not releasing 100%.

I followed the Chilton book, but they have instructions for the 87/88 Turbo rear discs but the pictures do not match our rear end, it matches the newer Mark VII with a bump stop for the cable of which ours do not have. 

I loosened it off to where there was slack and it doesn't engage the passenger wheel, even with a bit of tension it will engage the driver, not the passenger and it still won't release it 100%, i can turn it by hand but can push the cable back with screwdriver to loosen the resistance.

I did search here and google but haven't found out how to get this sorted. The TC is stored in a garage, not ever winter driver and rust checked each year, so I can't see how the cables could be seized, could they? The black plastic coating is coming off the cable where it goes inside at the front of the car, wondering if this is making it stick?
88 TC
5 Speed
Custom 2.75" stainless steel mandrel exhaust, cross drilled rotors (KVR), 245 50 ZR Eagle F1 GS-D3 (front & rear). This tire works amazing with the PRC. Wet or Dry! Lowered 1.75 inches
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88 Turbo Coupe Offline
Member
#2
No one has had to adjust the parking brake?
88 TC
5 Speed
Custom 2.75" stainless steel mandrel exhaust, cross drilled rotors (KVR), 245 50 ZR Eagle F1 GS-D3 (front & rear). This tire works amazing with the PRC. Wet or Dry! Lowered 1.75 inches
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Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#3
I had a similar issue years ago. My cables moved freely but one side wouldnt release completely. New rear calipers solved the issue in my case.
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
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88 Turbo Coupe Offline
Member
#4
Thanks Jeff,

Mine are original. With 92000 km I wouldn't think the caliper would be the issue. I guess it is possible. no one else has has this issue? There was something on the road that hit the brace bar that holds the cable. I bent it back but wonder if that has something to do with it. I think I have it in the right spot, but do not have another Thunderbird for a side by side comparison.
88 TC
5 Speed
Custom 2.75" stainless steel mandrel exhaust, cross drilled rotors (KVR), 245 50 ZR Eagle F1 GS-D3 (front & rear). This tire works amazing with the PRC. Wet or Dry! Lowered 1.75 inches
Reply

firebirdparts Offline
Member
#5
I would think adjustment was never the issue. The issue is that the caliper is getting old and the cable is getting old and the spring is not strong enough to pull the cable back. I have two TC's here, one with 50,000 miles and the brakes release completely. One with 150,000 miles and they don't. Caliper pistons sticking would be a 2nd possible problem.
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88 Turbo Coupe Offline
Member
#6
(10-02-2019, 08:18 PM)firebirdparts Wrote: I would think adjustment was never the issue.  The issue is that the caliper is getting old and the cable is getting old and the spring is not strong enough to pull the cable back. I have two TC's here, one with 50,000 miles and the brakes release completely.  One with 150,000 miles and they don't.  Caliper pistons sticking would be a 2nd possible problem.
Thanks mine has 57k miles on her. Stored each winter and rust checked each year from new. 

The caliper doesn't seem to stick, wonder if a replacement spring is available? 

I'm need to replace the pads and ordered a WAGNER PD347A {#NA347} ThermoQuiet; Ceramic set. Went to put these on and they do not fit with the upper and lower shims. The desc. said they come with shims if needed. I  called tech support and they said they have never saw that before and this part should fit. 

Has anyone else come across this? I will do some searching on here later this evening after work.
88 TC
5 Speed
Custom 2.75" stainless steel mandrel exhaust, cross drilled rotors (KVR), 245 50 ZR Eagle F1 GS-D3 (front & rear). This tire works amazing with the PRC. Wet or Dry! Lowered 1.75 inches
Reply

Tedybear315 Offline
Junior Member
#7
(04-30-2020, 04:35 PM)88 Turbo Coupe Wrote:
(10-02-2019, 08:18 PM)firebirdparts Wrote: I would think adjustment was never the issue.  The issue is that the caliper is getting old and the cable is getting old and the spring is not strong enough to pull the cable back. I have two TC's here, one with 50,000 miles and the brakes release completely.  One with 150,000 miles and they don't.  Caliper pistons sticking would be a 2nd possible problem.
Thanks mine has 57k miles on her. Stored each winter and rust checked each year from new. 

The caliper doesn't seem to stick, wonder if a replacement spring is available? 

I'm need to replace the pads and ordered a WAGNER PD347A {#NA347} ThermoQuiet; Ceramic set. Went to put these on and they do not fit with the upper and lower shims. The desc. said they come with shims if needed. I  called tech support and they said they have never saw that before and this part should fit. 

Has anyone else come across this? I will do some searching on here later this evening after work.

We ran into that with our '88.  New decent quality pads, and no spring/shims/anti rattle clips.  I purchased a set of the clips for another $20 from the local parts house.  Found our really quick you can't fit that brake pad into the receiving slots unless you leave the spring shims out.  Kick in the pants moment,  Parts house then bragged their 'budget brand' for about $30 bucks included the pads and shim kit...

At any rate,  Quick test for anyone with the parking brake issue-  Unhook the clip/cable at the caliper and take a pair of pliers and work it by hand.  If it's hanging up?  You'll need a new caliper.  We got ours from NAPA and the cost was extremely reasonable.  

S-
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Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#8
^^^^ That was the exact same issue I had years ago. Park brake levers on the calipers were extremely hard to move even with a vise grips on them. Replacement calipers, also from NAPA, fixed the problem. For the heck of it, I also replaced all the park brake cables while I could still get them.
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
Reply

88 Turbo Coupe Offline
Member
#9
Thanks Tedybear315 you guys are awesome! I must spend some more time here to give back. Been working far too many hours at work.
So what did you do? Use the quality set or the did you buy the budget brand?

The Wager tech support provided zero help. Said in his 20+ years he never came across this and there were no notes made about this and could not offer any advise except to return them. As I hung up the phone, I wondered how anyone else would know as he didn't make any notes or bother to open a case or investigate the issue. I won't be buying Wager anymore.
88 TC
5 Speed
Custom 2.75" stainless steel mandrel exhaust, cross drilled rotors (KVR), 245 50 ZR Eagle F1 GS-D3 (front & rear). This tire works amazing with the PRC. Wet or Dry! Lowered 1.75 inches
Reply

88 Turbo Coupe Offline
Member
#10
Thanks Jeff & Tedybear315,

If I have time this weekend I will remove the bolt holding the cable to the spring and check. In not this weekend, the next for sure, thanks again guys!!

There was a sticker underneath the top sticker - Top was PD347A , underneath was QC714 -these look nothing like our pads, so I guess they reused/relabeled the box?
88 TC
5 Speed
Custom 2.75" stainless steel mandrel exhaust, cross drilled rotors (KVR), 245 50 ZR Eagle F1 GS-D3 (front & rear). This tire works amazing with the PRC. Wet or Dry! Lowered 1.75 inches
Reply





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