Parking brake sticking

[heffernan]

Having issues with both rear brakes sticking on with e-brake released. There is also slack in the handbrake itself so it seems
Cable is stuck. I haven't found much info on this.

Is there a diagram somewhere for the park brake system? Anyone else have similar problems and what was the fix?

[james 408]

so you're basically dealing with a lever pulling on cables. if you pull apart the center console, you might find the problem. I'd suspect it's there because you're saying both brakes are sticking -- and this is the only place both are affected. you can pull the ash tray in the rear seat area to watch the cables as you use the lever, and adjust it if necessary, but i suspect there's something hanging up near the lever part.

[Bordom]

More than likely both e-brake mechanisms on the rear calipers are seizing. Very common problem on the A4. Nothing ever goes wrong with the mechanism in car.

Have a buddy pull the parking brake for you while you look at the e-brake levers on each caliper. A dollar says those mechanisms don't move very much and you need rear calipers

Everything graciously mispelled by Android

[f4m0u5]

Mine started doing this at end of winter. I had yo put car in 1st with e brake down. Then go tap the e brake lever on caliper with a hammer back the way its supposed to move. It only did this while sittting over night

[wbrunner23]

There are a few possible causes:

1. check the lever under center console - I doubt this is the issue, it rarely gets jammed up.
2. Rear calipers could need a rebuild or be replaced. Rebuild kits are a few bucks off rock auto and it's not too hard of a job if you know your way around a wrench or 2
3. Your cables may be sticking. Debris get in-between the cable and its sheathing right in front of the rear axle. This cable is adjustable, so worth getting under there and tinkering with it.

I went through this last fall. Rebuilding my rear caliper didn't fix it, so I grabbed a replacement cable from a part out - they are expensive new. While waiting for the cable to arrive, I got under there and tinkered with the adjustment/cleaned as best I could and my e-brake stopped sticking. I still haven't installed the replacement cable I got.