What is the common fix for parking brake not working? 355

Generally the adjustment is made at the rear left rotor.

When I had mine adjusted recently, I was told one of the components in the cable system between the handle and the rotor had worn down, so that was where the adjustment was.

 

Mine didn't work when I did it. Dealer/shop said they had it adjusted. It worked for about a week (ie two drives).

At least it "slows" the roll a little bit...

 

The common fix is to remember that 1st gear is where the transmission is placed when the motor is off. It has a higher ratio than reverse.

 

This is a good point. I always leave my car in first when off, regardless of the parking brake being set.

 

Agreed, but sometimes you need to be outside of the car with the engine running... for example, when mine was running rough (cat came unbolted), a friend and I were trying to take a look to identify the problem but had trouble finding a flat spot in the parking lot (awkward).

 

I've just stripped down my rear brakes and replaced the shoes etc - took quite a few pics - have a look here:

http://www.clubscuderia.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?45388-348-DIY-quot-Restoration-quot/page45

 

In my case, shoes were worn down....Put new ones in, brake works fine....

 

Here's another good thread.


http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?p=138350231#post138350231

 

My parking brake held strong unless I parked on a hill and then it would disengage itself. I would actually hear it come unlocked.


Here is a story of how I discovered this problem:

When I first got my 355 I had it parked in my driveway which has a pretty good slope. Parked it with the engine running in neutral and parking brake on. I got about 10 feet away from the car and I heard the parking brake release then car started to roll backwards down my drive. HollyCrap!!! I run for the car "thank goodness I had left the drivers door open" jump in the drivers’ seat and slam on the brakes.

I still haven't discovered why it does this; it only happens if there is a load placed on the parking brake such as the car sitting on a hill. It won't disengage itself on level ground.

 

I adjust my parking brake every spring using the details listed above. My driveway is atr an angle and it needs to work.....everytime.

 

I imagine it is a problem with the e-brake handle, which has the ratchet and pawl in it. I've messed with mine and figure I just need to buy a new e-brake handle assembly. They are not cheap!

 

pic for you so eveyone knows what your on about!

NB The two adjuster nuts should be tight up against each other - I was just in the middle of adjusting handbrake so had loosened the 2nd locking nut off
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I love the UK cars being pictured, corrosion, oil leaks, good old driven year round cars. Over here that last picture would spark a "handbrake correction" thread! Supposed to look like it just left the factory..............I have a Lambo customer drives his year round, gets quite the looks going down the freeway in the snow at 70-80mph.

 

It's not just UK cars Brian, it's Most Europe. France, Italy, Germany ect.

 

Hello

does anybody know how many variations of the cable was produced…the one I just bought is different from one I took out.. my 355 is early ‘95… thanks

 

It looks like 1 front cable number for all cars and one rear cable number for all cars. By this point its very possible we are getting reproduction cables and they are being made wrong. Thats just a guess.


For everyone else, the brake will never work correctly until it is adjusted properly. The factory never adjusted the shoes and 28 years later I still see cars whose shoes have never been adjusted. I have never had one not work well.

 

Did you get the handbrake cable from Superformance UK?

I ordered one from them and it did not fit. The hooks on the end do not fit the early 95 cars as the connection at the hub is different.