1982 CHEVROLET CAMARO parking brake

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 116

Fig. 4: Installing the boot

Fig. 5: Installing the damper spring
1. Remove the shoe dampening spring from the end of the piston.
2. Place the caliper in a vise. Move the parking brake lever back and forth to
work the piston out of the caliper.
If the piston will not come out, remove the lever and use a wrench to rotate the
adjusting screw. Rotate the screw in t he direction of brake application. Remove
the balance spring.
3. Remove the nut, lever, lever seal, and anti-friction washer.
4. Press on the threaded end of the act uator screw to remove it from the
housing.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 117
5. Remove the shaft seal and washer.
6. Remove the dust boot. Be careful not to scratch the housing bore.
7. Remove the locator retainer if so
equipped. Remove the piston locator if so
equipped.
8. Remove the piston seal usi ng a wooden or plastic tool.
9. Remove the bleeder screw, bolt, fi tting, and copper washer. Remove the
bracket only if it is damaged.
10. Inspect caliper bore for scoring, nicks, corrosion, and wear. Use crocus cloth
for light corrosion. Replace caliper if bore will not clean up.
To install:
11. Replace the bleeder screw, bolt, fitting, and copper washer.
12. Install the piston. Lubricate seal s and piston with brake fluid prior to
reinstallation.
13. Install the locator retainer if so equi pped. Install the piston locator if so
equipped.
14. Install the dust boot.
15. Install the shaft seal and washer.
16. Install actuator scr ew to the housing.
17. Install the nut, lever, lever seal, and anti-friction washer. It may be necessary
to rotate the parking brake lever away from the stop to install the nut. Torque
the nut 30-40 ft. lbs. (41-54 Nm) and ro tate the lever back to the stop.
18. Install the shoe dampening spri ng to the end of the piston.
It may be necessary to move the parking brake lever off the stop, extending the
piston slightly, making the dampening spring groove acce ssible. If the piston is
extended, push it back into the caliper before installing the caliper on the car.
1989-92 MODELS
1. Remove the caliper assembly. Remove the 2 collar return springs from the
actuating collar. Remove the actuator collar assembly with parts attached
out of the housing.
2. Remove the clamp rod and compliance bushing.
3. Remove the boot retainers, 2 boots and pushrod from the compliance
bushing. Discard the retainers and boots.
4. Remove the preload spring from the retainer.
5. Using compressed air directed into the brake hose port, carefully extract
piston.
CAUTION - Do not place fingers between piston and brake shoe flange, or
personal injury may occur when piston breaks free from bore. Cover caliper
assembly with a rag to prevent brake fluid from spraying when piston is
extracted
6. Inspect and clean piston and bore a ssembly for cracks or scoring.
7. Remove the piston seal.
8. Remove the bleeder valve.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 118
9. Remove the caliper lever pivot pin s
eal, sprag clip, spring and lever. Discard
the clip.
10. Inspect the caliper lever for worn spots, replace as necessary.
11. Remove the 2 guide pins from the mounting bracket.
12. Clean all parts not included in the r ebuild kit in denatured alcohol. Use only
dry filtered compressed air to dry parts . Replace the caliper housing if badly
scored or corroded.
To install:
13. Lubricate the new piston s eal with clean brake fluid. Place the seal into the
caliper groove, making sure t he seal is not twisted.
14. Install the piston. Lubricate seal s and piston with brake fluid prior to
reinstallation.
15. Assemble the pushrod, 2 new boots and new retainers to the actuating
collar.
16. Lightly coat the actuat ing collar with the lubricant provided in the rebuild kit.
Do not use any other type of lubricant.
17. Install the clamp retainers firmly agains t the actuating collar. Bend the tabs
on the retainer to hold the assembly together.
18. Install the preload spring into the boot retainers.
19. Install the clamp rod to the actuati ng collar and boot. Lubricate the clamp rod
with the lubricant supplied in the kit.
20. Slide the clamp rod th rough the holes in the boot and actuating collar. The
boot must be against the reacti on plate on the clamp rod.
21. Lubricate and install t he new compliance bushing with the lubricant supplied
in the kit.
22. Install the clamp rod with assembled parts into the connecting hole in the
caliper piston.
23. Install a new bleeder valve.
24. Install the pivot pin and new nut into the housing, if removed.
25. Install the caliper pivot pin seal, parking brake lever, new sprag clip and
spring, in that order. The teeth of the sprag clip mu st face away from the
lever.
26. Install the 2 collar return springs to the retainer. The retainer must enter the
return springs at the end of the second coil.
27. Install the adjuster screw into the cali per housing until the actuating collar is
parallel to the piston bore face of the caliper housing.
28. Lubricate and then install the guide pi ns and boots. Install the pads and
caliper assembly.
29. Bleed the brake system.
BRAKE DISC (ROTOR)
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
CAUTION - Brake pads contain asbestos, which has been determined to be a
cancer causing agent. Never clean the brake surfaces with compressed air!
Avoid inhaling any dust from any brake surface! When cleaning brake surfaces,
use a commercially available brake cleaning fluid.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 119
1. Raise and support the car. Remove the wheel.
2. Remove the caliper by referring to
the Rear Caliper Removal procedure. Pull
the brake disc from the axle.
3. To install, place the rotor ont o the spindle and install caliper.
4. Install the wheel and lower the car.
INSPECTION
1. Raise and support the car. Remove the wheel. Replace wheel nuts to hold rotor in place.
2. Check the rotor surface for wear, sco ring, grooves or rust pitting. Rotor
damage can be corrected by refacing, cons ult your local garage or machine
shop. If the damage exceeds the minimu m thickness, which is stamped on
the rotor, replace the rotor.
3. Using a dial indicator, check the ro tor parallelism at several points around
the circumference. The difference must not vary more than 0.0005 in.
(0.013mm). Make all measur ements at the same distance in from the edge
of the rotor.
4. Using the same dial indicator, meas ure the rotor runout. The runout should
not exceed 0.004 in. (0.10mm).
5. If any of these conditions are not me t, reface or replace the rotor.
PARKING BRAKES

CABLES
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
FRONT CABLE

Fig. 1: Lever and front cable

1. Raise the car and support it with jackstands.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 120
2. Remove the adjusting
nut at the equalizer.
3. Remove the spring retainer clip from the bracket.
4. Lower the car. Remove the upper console cover and lower console rear
screws.
5. Lift the rear of the lower console for access to the cable retainer at the hand
lever.
6. Remove the cable retainer pin, cable retainer, then the cable.
To install:
7. Position the cable retainer pin, cable retainer, then the cable.
8. Install the upper console cover and lo wer console rear screws. Raise the car
and support it with jackstands.
9. Install the spring retainer clip from the bracket.
10. Install the adjusting nut at the equalizer.
11. Adjust the parking br ake. Lower the car.
REAR CABLE
DRUM BRAKES

Fig. 2: Rear cables
CAUTION - Brake shoes may contain asbest os, which has been determined to
be a cancer causing agent. Never clean the brake surfaces with compressed

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 121
air! Avoid inhaling any dust from any
brake surface! When cleaning brake
surfaces, use a commercially available brake cleaning fluid.
1. Raise the car and support it with jackstands.
2. Loosen the adjusting nut at the equalizer.
3. Disengage the rear cabl e at the connector.
4. Remove the wheel assembly and brake drum.
5. Bend the retainer fingers.
6. Disengage the cable at the brake shoe operating lever.
To install:
7. Engage the cable at the brake shoe operating lever.
8. Bend the retainer fingers.
9. Install the wheel a ssembly and brake drum.
10. Engage the rear cabl e at the connector.
11. Adjust the parking brake by t he adjusting nut at the equalizer.
12. Lower the car.
DISC BRAKES
1. Raise the car and support it with jackstands.
2. Loosen the adjusting nut at the equalizer.
3. Disengage the cable at the connector.
4. Push forward on the caliper parking brak e apply lever. This allows the cable
to be removed from the tang. Then, release the lever.
5. Pull on the caliper parki ng brake apply lever to engage the cable to the tang.
6. Engage the cable at the connector.
7. Adjust the parking brake cable by the adjusting nut at the equalizer.
8. Apply the parking brake 3 times with heavy pressure and repeat adjustment.
9. Lower the car.
ADJUSTMENT
The parking brake cable is adjustable only on 1982-89 vehicles. All 1990-92
vehicles feature a self- adjusting parking brake.
REAR DRUM BRAKES
1. Depress the parking brake leve r exactly two ratchet clicks.
2. Raise the rear of the vehicl e and support safely with jackstands.
3. Tighten the brake cable adjusting nut until the left rear wheel can be turned
rearward with both hands, but locks when forward rotation is attempted. \

4. Release the parking brake le ver; both rear wheels must turn freely in either
direction without brake drag.
5. Lower the vehicle.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 122
REAR DISC BRAKES

Fig. 3: Free trav el adjustment; 1990-92

Fig. 4: Fabricated cable retainer compressing tool
1. Apply the brake pedal 3 times with a pedal force of approximately 175 lbs.
(778 N). Apply and release t he parking brake 3 times.
2. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
3. Check the parking brake lever for full release: a. Turn the ignition ON.
b. The brake warning light should be OFF. If the brake warning light is still
ON and the parking brake lever is comple tely released, pull downward on
the front parking brake cable to remove slack from the lever assembly.
c. Turn the ignition switch OFF.
4. Remove the rear wheels and tires. Reinstall 2 wheel nuts on each side to
retain the brake rotors.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 123
5. Pull the parking lever 4 clicks. T
he parking brake levers on both calipers
should be against the lever stops on the caliper housings. If the levers are
not against the stops, check for binding in the rear cables and/or loosen the
cables at the equalizer nut until both left and right levers are against their
stops.
6. Adjust the equalizer adjusting nut unt il the parking brake levers on both
calipers just begin to mo ve off their stops.
7. Back off the adjuster nut until the le vers move back, barely touching their
stops.
8. Operate the parking brak e lever several times to check adjustment. After
cable adjustment, the parking brake le ver should travel no more than 14
ratchet clicks. The rear wheels shoul d not turn forward when the parking
brake lever is applied 8-16 ratchet clicks.
9. Release the parking brake lever. Both rear whee ls must turn freely in both
directions. The parking brake levers on both calipers should be resting on
their stops.
10. Remove the wheel nuts retaining t he rotors. Install the wheel and tire
assemblies.
11. Lower the vehicle.
PARKING BRAKE FREE-TRAVEL
ADJUSTMENT
1989-92 MODELS
REAR DISC BRAKES
Disc brake pads must be new or parallel to within 0.006 in. (0.15mm). Parking
brake adjustment is not valid wit h heavily tapered pads and may cause
caliper/parking brake binding. Replace tapered brak e pads. Parking brake free-
travel should only be made if the caliper has been taken apart. This adjustment
will not correct a condition where the caliper levers will not return to their stops.
1. Have an assistant apply a light brake pedal load, enough to stop the rotor
from turning by hand. This takes up all clearances and ensures that
components are correctly aligned.
2. Apply light pressure to the caliper lever.
3. Measure the free-travel between t he caliper lever and the caliper housing.
The free-travel must be 0.0024-0.028 in. (0.6-0.7mm).
4. If the free-travel is incorrect, do the following: a. Remove the adjuster screw.
b. Clean the thread adhesive re sidue from the threads.
c. Coat the threads with adhesive.
d. Screw in the adjuster screw far enough to obtain 0.024-0.028 in. (0.6-
0.7mm) free-travel between the caliper lever and the caliper housing.
5. Have an assistant release the brak e pedal, then apply the brake pedal firmly
3 times. Recheck the free-travel and adjust as necessary.