My wedge is stuck

[daved]

Stuck in the garage. Something stops me reversing (earlier thread gave me some ideas as to why) and I can't get it out of the garage. I could get somebody to lift the back end up and tow it out, but the drive is minimum 45 degree slope and I expect this would rip the front of the car off. Anybody been in a similar predicament?

[cirks]

do you mean that you can't get the car into reverse gear? Check the reversing light switch hasn't moved or a bit broken off insite! Happened to me.

[daved]

Cheers for the reply. Goes into reverse ok, and i can reverse an inch or two but then the car stops abruptly. Moving forward is ok. The hand brake doesn't feel at all right. Used to work ok, but now there's something definately amiss. Feels like something is in the way.

[jmorgan]

Brake's locking up? Don't know anything about gear boxes.

[bobfrance]

Does it stop with a clunk?

Could it be that the handbrake is siezed on an the handbrake caliper (I believe it's a separate one) has become loose allowing a bit of travel?

A total guess, but the best I can do

[GreenV8S]

Maybe a broken brake disc or stone trapped under the caliper? Would be worth jacking the back up and seeing if you can free it by turning the wheels. Otherwise perhaps you could put a couple of bits of wood under the back wheels (to save your tyres) and winch it out by brute force?

[gf350]

I used to have the handbrake pads on a previous car stick to the disks after it was laid up for a bit, it would move back a bit as it was front wheel drive. If I gave it a bit of throtle they would unstick.
If your going to leave the car for a while I would leave the handbrake off and put a couple of bricks under a wheel to stop it going anywhere.
Gareth.

[TaSmania]

Probably the handbrake as for the Trans (Gearbox/Diff) to cause a problem whilst laid up is unusual. Suggest jack it up, put on axle stands and check the handbrake calipers (above the main calipers. If you slacken the cable you should be able to pull the pads away from the discs. Whilst underneath check discs, etc not cracked/broken. Once the pads are clear it should move (once back on the ground - of course). You'll then have the handbrake readjusted back up again - see the Steve Heath (SHPUB) book. Good luck.
GB

[danny hoffman]

You should be able to jack the rear up and find which wheel is jammed. Then you will need to remove the problem pads - you may need a big hammer is they are solid on the disk. From your previous thread it sounds like something is actually loose and jamming so I would have thought it will be obvious.

Bit late now I know - BUT DON'T REVERSE INTO YOUR GARAGE IN FUTURE (sorry, couldn't resist!!)

Danny

[kevsmev]

Dave,
Jammed handbrake probably. Atleast you have easier access with the back end facing out. My drive slopes down to my garage, but only at about 20 degs, so I always reverse in just in case I have to use the other car to pull her out.
Kev

[daved]

Good news for a change. The wedge is no longer stuck in the garage. Suggestions from you guys pointed me in the right direction. Jacked it up onto axle stands and had look last night. Noticed that one of the brake calipers was moving when I turned the wheels and took an educated guess that this wasn't right. Eventually spotted what I presume is a locating bolt at the bottom of the caliper which had worked its way out. When in reverse the whole brake ensemble would move backwards until the bolt hit an obstruction - hence the abrupt stop. Tightened the bolt up and problem solved. Not sure if there's a pin missing which allowed the bolt to work free or, whether it did it because it can. Must keep an eye on it.

[jmorgan]

If there is a hole in the bolt head's? Then lock wire it to each other. I did.

[shpub]

It is an essential safety requirement to wire them together. I also loctite them to be sure.

[daved]

Cheers. Looks like I'll be back underneath again at the weekend.