I just purchased a 2000 Civic lx with a manual transmission. My e-brake works on flat ground but not on a slanted driveway. I have put new shoes and drums on the back and have tightened the adjuster under the arm rest and nothing. It works just enough so it doesn't roll on flat land but if me and a friend put our backs into it we can push it.. Any ideas or suggestions?

 

anybody?

 

There are so many variables. When you replaced the shoes, were the old pads wet with fluid? The only thing I can think of would be leaky wheel cylinders wetting the friction area of the shoes. The brake lever pulls tight?

 

Set up the adjusters at each brake (under the wheel cylinder) so that the drum just barely fits over the shoes. Then test drive by using the brake pedal to stop several times with the car moving backwards. That self-adjusts the rear brakes.

The cables could be jammed or broken. Does the handle stop before reaching the last notch?

 

New shoes need to be broken in. The parking brake only pushes the lower edges of the shoes against the drum. You need to wear the shoes in to get more of the shoe mated to the drum. Brakes linings also need to coat the friction surface with matching lining material for max effectiveness. Drive around with the parking brake on for a while. Then let it down to cool off. Then do it again, and let it cool off again. It should work much better afterward.