Brakes will not release

[Tim Eason]

Trying to get a PA-30 going that has been sitting for a while. The right brake will not release. Has anyone had problems with the parking brake staying engaged after release? Have done the calipers and had new rotors installed but my mechanic has not opened not opened up the master cylinders yet. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Kristin Winter]

Did you replace the pads too? Loosen the bolts holding the back plates (2) to the calipers. Does the wheel turn now? If so, torque those bolts to the proper 60 inch pounds and see if the wheel still binds. If so, remove the bolts and back plates. Check that you have a thick spacer made of aluminum and a thin phenolic spacer. Examine the thick spacer for shallow indentations in the thick spacer in the area of the bolt holes. If you find them, replace the thick spacer and see if that doesn't cure your problem. If no indentations and it still binds, are you using the Cleveland 66-62 and 66-65 pads or the old 66-15 and 66-19. The -15 is a one piece pad while the newer ones are two pieces both sides. I have had trouble with the old ones and some of the Rapco and no only use the new Cleveland pads. If you have new Cleveland pads, the thick spacer is flawless, and it still drags, add a second phenolic spacer and then remove it at the next annual if you can do so without the brakes dragging.

[Tim Eason]

Kristin,
Thanks for the reply. I will check on the type of pads that are installed, but I think the problem is farther up the line at the master cylinder/parking brake. Once the brakes are applied the right side will not release and it will not take fluid when trying to bleed the system. Just wondering if anybody else has seen this problem. On a different note, do you have oil filters on your PA-30 instead of screens and if so where did you get them?

[9089P]

It seems to me that this has been mentioned in the past. As I recall, the problem was at the master cylinder, something in the way it works. Sorry, just don't remember more.

Don

[Kristin Winter]

If you are sure it is in the master cylinder, then you will need to disassemble. The parking brake is a valve that is part of the master cylinder.

[MULEFLY]

Agree with KW... but fair warning... getting the master cylinder is about as difficult as visiting North Korea... very, very, very difficult...

Jim