I put in the new brakes and rotors. I used the rear tool. I turned in them all way on both sides but seems to not hold on my drive way. how do I reset my hand brake? not 100 sure but seems that my fronts doing all work?

left driver did smoke a bit after a hard break. also though heard clunk? maybe pads move?

 

I also noted that the new pads have no shims on the backing. possible little to small? they wagner thermoquiets. semi in front and ceramic in rear.

 

The e-brake works by using kind of a screw in the center of the caliper piston which is why you have to screw the piston back in. You hit the pedal and the screw turns and makes the pistion come out. You should be able to see it move if someone else hits the pedal. Could have bad calipers

 

tizzy thanks but does the calipers need to be pushed in as per instructions ive read? or enough to clear the new pads? I used the tool to push them all in. I also believe ya caint turn them the opposite way now? so what should I try? remove the inner pad and hit the brakes so it comes out? then adjust to pad thickness? cause parking brake aint holding vehicle on a incline

 

You can turn them back out. I only turn the piston in far enough to get it on with the new pads. A lot of times if you turn it all the way in you get issues.

 

On other vehicles with the screw parking brake caliper the rear brakes are adjusted by operating the parking brake. I used to turn the piston all the way in and then adjust them. Until adjusted the rear brakes had limited performance.

As the rear brake pads wear the parking brake operation keeps them adjusted. Some also adjust when stopping in reverse, but that takes a long time.

 

took it to a mechanic, I worked all day so I could not see what he actually did. said he test rode the vehicle and front noise is from pad material. which I think he wanted to exchange. the rear he said would brake normal but the hand e-brake was not working. said it would not turn. although he said he took the one side apart to look at lr tire. so back to square one other than replacing the calipers . I saw in the instructions that there was a little dimple in the brake pad that supposed to match to the calipers grove but the new or old pads don't have them so leads me to think not needed? what could I do tizzy to actually see if the caliper works?

 

tizzy1 if I remove the inner pad and press it out then retry? wounder if it fix. heard by hitting it with a hammer and using a wrench on the ebrake handle.

 

You should be able to see the piston move just from laying under it and having someone hit the pedal. I would first try turning the piston out and see if you get anything.