I was experiencing a godawful "klunk" after my car had been sitting and the e-brake released, but I figured it was just something sticking in the e-brake and could wait until my next brake service. Based on a thread elsewhere, I brought it in.

As it turned out, the brake shoes had delaminated and fallen apart. As I understand the failure process the entire brake can lock up, making the car completely immobile, and then the entire e-brake mechanism can rotate within the drum, making removing it a challenge.

There is no recall on this, but the replacement e-brake shoes are properly riveted.

The reason I am particularly happy to have discovered this is because since 9/11 my lower-Manhattan-based co. has had me working out in the middle of nowhere near Cheney's "Site R" Raven Rock Mountain hideaway.

My car's a stick, so I always use the e-brake.

Having my e-brake freeze up 100+ miles away from home would have made for a very bad day.

-BTC

'98 V70T5M, 146k mi.