F3 parking brake stuck after installing new pads - release ideas?

[Tucker01]

Can anyone please tell me how to clear the parking brake - it's stuck on after replacing the pads; brake fluid's ok, new battery, on a 2018 F3 Ltd. If you can, call me 719-459-9672 T Y

 

[BertRemington]

it's stuck on after replacing the pads

I'm confused. You put chocks on your front wheels; released the parking brake; removed the rear caliper; removed the old pads; fully retracted the piston; installed the new pads; installed the rear caliper; stepped on the brake pedal several times to seat the new pads against the rotor (you need to remove hydro-mechanical slack in the system); engaged the parking brake; and removed the chocks on the front wheels.

Is that correct?. Did you follow each of those steps in that sequence? Did you skip any steps?

And now your parking brake won't release -- is that correct?

 

[BertRemington]

brake fluid's ok

I might have made an incorrect assumption. Retracting the piston pushes brake fluid back into the reservoir which might result in an excessively high level which the Spyder self-check doesn't like. Is the fluid level correct -- not too low and not too high?

And does your Spyder start and idle properly before you try to release the parking brake?

 

[Tucker01]

I'm confused. You put chocks on your front wheels; released the parking brake; removed the rear caliper; removed the old pads; fully retracted the piston; installed the new pads; installed the rear caliper; stepped on the brake pedal several times to seat the new pads against the rotor (you need to remove hydro-mechanical slack in the system); engaged the parking brake; and removed the chocks on the front wheels.

Is that correct?. Did you follow each of those steps in that sequence? Did you skip any steps?

And now your parking brake won't release -- is that correct?

That’s exactly what I did.

 

[Tucker01]

I might have made an incorrect assumption. Retracting the piston pushes brake fluid back into the reservoir which might result in an excessively high level which the Spyder self-check doesn't like. Is the fluid level correct -- not too low and not too high?

And does your Spyder start and idle properly before you try to release the parking brake?

Yes it does start, idles fine, changes gears, I disconnected the park brake cable, but I need parking brake to work. I saw some posts about what buttons to push and sequence, but I can’t find it now. Thank you.

 

[Tucker01]

Yes, that’s exactly what I did. Do you recall the button pushing sequence to clear brake fault?

 

[BertRemington]

Okay then the only suggestion I can offer is over time the parking brake cable stretched but stayed within the range of the limit switches. Then when the new pads were installed which returned the stretched cable to it's 'new" position which really wasn't new, the parking brake switches are signalling the brake was released so the motor doesn't operate. Does the light go out on the console?

From my 2014 Service Manual

PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK

1. Faulty WPM module or wiring.
- Check if windshield works properly.
- Carry out a WPM MODULE SIGNAL CIRCUIT CONTINUITY TEST.
2. Faulty PBS switch or wiring.
- Carry out a PARKING BRAKE SWITCH TEST.
3. Faulty HBS switch or wiring.
- Carry out a PARKING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH TEST.
4. Faulty parking brake motor or wiring.
- Carry out a PARKING BRAKE MOTOR OPERATION TEST.
5. Wrong parking brake cable adjustment.
- Carry out a PARKING BRAKE CABLE ADJUSTMENT.

Hopefully #5 fixes your problem.

 

[Tucker01]

I adjusted the park brake cable. It was tight when I was finished, so I adjusted the cable. I can’t hear or feel the park brake motor anymore.

 

[BertRemington]

At this point I think you are in BUDS territory. Apologies I can't help any more.

 

[Peter Aawen]

I'm not sure I can add anything more, but just out of interest at this stage:

I assume that earlier, before you started all this you could hear the Parking Brake Motor - Yes? No?
At that stage, did you happen to notice if your Parking Brake Light on the dash was working correctly?
And what is it showing now that your Parking Brake is stuck on, but you can't hear the PB motor anymore? :dontknow:

Going a little beyond 'just out of interest', cos I'm really just thinking about & tossing around any potential issues here .... but is there any chance your Parking Brake Motor &/or the activation disc & micro-switch/sensor under the tupperware up near the brake pedal may have failed or been compromised during your pad change & subsequent attempts to free the Park Brake?? :dontknow: If the Park Brake was activated at any time without pads in the caliper, then that may have bent the arm on the micro-switch so that the sensor now thinks the PBrake is off when it isn't... or vice versa?? Just a thought...

 

[Tucker01]

Parking brake was working fine, I could feel the brake pedal move when engaging p brake, park brake light was working like normal. Brake pedal was not touched while I replaced pads. I cannot hear the park brake motor anymore �� I’m getting a flashing park brake warning light for 30 seconds or so!

 

[BertRemington]

I adjusted the park brake cable. It was tight when I was finished, so I adjusted the cable.

I'm not understanding this. If the parking brake cable changed at all it would get longer (stretched due to tension). So it should have not been tighter with new pads than it was when your Spyder was new. After installing the rear caliper, you pump the brake pedal to seat the pads against the rotor thereby removing slack in the brake pedal system. Then you operate the parking brake which also pushes the pads against the rotor but only by a small amount (the parking brake mechanism has a limited range of motion which is why brake pedal slack must be removed first). The cable should not have been any tighter than it was when your Spyder was new and adjustment would not be needed. Do you check if the rear wheel rotated freely before adjusting the cable?

I’m getting a flashing park brake warning light for 30 seconds or so !

I'm not understanding this either. If the Spyder thinks the parking brake is engaged, the light will flash continuously and if it thinks the parking brake is released it will stop flashing. "30 seconds or so" is not part of that protocol. Unless of course the ignition is turned off while the parking brake is released in which case the flashing light will be accompanied by beeping.

Like I said before it's BUDS time.

 

[fatboy]

ride it it should clear

 

[Isopedella]

I had a code after some front pulley and rear wheel work when my Spyder was new to me.

It was suggested a short ride may clear it, others said BUDS trip was necessary.

So I got all dressed up in my ATGATT gear. Rode out of the shed and the code was gone before I got to the gate.

 

[Ex-Rocket]

If you don't hear the parking brake motor run maybe a blown fuse?

 

[Tucker01]

Checked all fuses. . Put a meter on wires going to brake motor , switch works ! There is a warranty bulletin on this issue .I will take it to dealer and see what they say .

 

[Tucker01]

Can anyone tell me how to replace park brake motor on 2018 f3 l?

 

[BertRemington]

Tucker -- hoping you don't have to go down this path but here is a used motor on eBay https://www.ebay.com/itm/285167579754

But Step 1 is a service manual. I like paper so I bought a supplement as well as the PDF on a CD https://www.ebay.com/itm/234210035945

Best wishes.

 

[Isopedella]

I printed my service manual out from a PDF file.
It fills 2 large folders folders.



Being the computer Luddite that I am I messed up the photos and managed to duplicate, delete and totally stuff things up.

I think with Peters help I may have been able to pop them back in.

HOWZATT! Are they showing?

 

[Mikey]

I had a bolt fall out of my brake motor mount, what a bugga of a time I had to put it back on, good luck!!!