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Paul Workman · 05-07-2020

First...a truly stuck e-brake is very rare on a C4. Yours, if truly a mechanical malfunction, would be the first one I recall in my 18 years owning C4s and following this or the Corvette Forum web sites.

Safety item: I wouldn't recommend (removing) the parking brake! Example: If ever you have to stop where the car will roll back when you take your foot off the brake - even for an instant - holding the parking brake while you get your foot on the accelerator is important - especially if there is someone hugging you rear bumper!

AND, that would be a real "BUBBA mechanic" thing to do + a safety issue. During one of the Mountain Runs (2016?) one of the guys in the group I was leading, boiled his brake fluid descending a mountain (Tail of the Dragon). Down shifting and applying the emergency/parking brake was what enabled him to stop on a turn-out long enough to let his brakes cool enough to tip-toe to the bottom. (As it happened, Jim Voter had a pint of brake fluid in his emergency kit (great idea!). With a group effort, we bled his brakes in a level parking area and were able to fill them with fresh fluid on the spot.)

Now, PLEASE don't take offense, but it wouldn't be the first time (someone new to a C4) set the emergency brake and didn't know to hold the release button down as the brake handle is yanked up to release the ratchet catch before lowering the handle to the store position. More than one emissions station attendant has set the e-brake and then not knowing how to release it, powered through it to run the emissions test and burnt out the e-brake!!

It should be an easy fix. If you need parts, Jason @ Vette2Vette (Corvette dismantler) can fix you up with parts if needed.

05-07-2020	#7
Paul Workman Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Squires (near Ava MO in the Mark Twain N'tl Forest) - Missouri Posts: 6,466	Re: Releasing Parking brake on my 91 ZR1 First...a *truly* stuck e-brake is very rare on a C4. Yours, if truly a mechanical malfunction, would be the first one I recall in my 18 years owning C4s and following this or the Corvette Forum web sites. Safety item: I wouldn't recommend (removing) the parking brake! Example: If ever you have to stop where the car will roll back when you take your foot off the brake - even for an instant - holding the parking brake while you get your foot on the accelerator is important - especially if there is someone hugging you rear bumper! AND, that would be a real "BUBBA mechanic" thing to do + a safety issue. During one of the Mountain Runs (2016?) one of the guys in the group I was leading, boiled his brake fluid descending a mountain (*Tail of the Dragon). Down shifting and applying the emergency/parking brake was what enabled him to stop on a turn-out long enough to let his brakes cool enough to tip-toe to the bottom. (As it happened, Jim Voter had a pint of brake fluid in his emergency kit (great idea!). With a group effort, we bled his brakes in a level parking area and were able to fill them with fresh fluid on the spot*.) Now, PLEASE don't take offense, but it wouldn't be the first time (someone new to a C4) set the emergency brake and didn't know to hold the release button down as the brake handle is yanked up to release the ratchet catch before lowering the handle to the store position. More than one emissions station attendant has set the e-brake and then not knowing how to release it, powered through it to run the emissions test and burnt out the e-brake!! It should be an easy fix. If you need parts, Jason @ Vette2Vette (Corvette dismantler) can fix you up with parts if needed.