# Too much play in the e-brake

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/too-much-play-in-the-e-brake/114169>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** prizm, chevrolet\
**Created:** [March 22, 2018, 2:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/too-much-play-in-the-e-brake/114169 "2018-03-22T02:13:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![bluekryptonite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9f8e36/32.png) [@bluekryptonite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bluekryptonite)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 3:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/too-much-play-in-the-e-brake/114169/21 "2018-04-26T03:07:08Z")

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For me, putting this spring was the hardest part of the job, as it keeps slipping. Due to the tension of the spring, I couldn’t get the gap for vice grip pliers to hold the spring. Instead, I used the cutter part of the pliers to hold the spring while i attached the spring back. Anyways, i am glad that job is done

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**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2018, 12:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/too-much-play-in-the-e-brake/114169/22 "2018-04-27T00:59:52Z")

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> [@bluekryptonite](#):
>
> I used the cutter part of the pliers to hold the spring

It’s good that method worked out ok for you, but for others reading this thread, holding onto a spring with the hardened steel edges of cutters could nick the cable and cause it to break under load.

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**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 2:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/too-much-play-in-the-e-brake/114169/23 "2018-12-01T02:35:40Z")

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> [@bluekryptonite](#):
>
> For me, putting [the emergency brake cable/spring into the shoe slot] was the hardest part of the job,

I had to do this same job last month on my Corolla, and indeed installing the e-brake cable into the e-brake lever slot is a little frustrating. What worked best for me was a very small vice grip style needle-nose pliers (about the size of a pair of elementary school scissors), and using the two jaws to push the spring up the cable about 3 inches, then clamping the cable with the end of the jaws to hold it fast, which left be both hands free to insert the cable into the slot in the screw. I think an even better tool might be a small hemostat clamp. If I ever have to do it again, I’ll try that. Another thing, the order you do it is important: installing the E-brake cable into the slot first, then afterward installing the spring that holds the e-brake lever and adjuster gadget to the shoe is helpful.

[Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/too-much-play-in-the-e-brake/114169.md?page=1)