The parking brake pads on a Jaguar E-Type are located inside the rear subframe and work on top of the discs. While this makes access difficult, it is quite possible to change the brake pads without removing the subframe, which saves a considerable amount of time and money if you know how to do it. Most of the work is relatively straightforward and the only part where access can make things difficult is mounting the retractor plate designed to separate the calipers when the brakes are released. This too can be achieved without too much effort with the right approach. These instructions apply to all 6-cylinder models equipped with self-adjusting parking brakes, which is all but the earliest models. They are a supplement to the instructions in the Jaguar Workshop Manual.
The image shows the front side of the subframe with a rear foot brake caliper in the middle and the front of the differential case in the background at bottom left. The parking brake calipers are attached to the foot brake calipers by two pivot bolts. These bolts also hold the retractor plate in position with its two teeth that reach into the two halves of the caliper.
The process is the following:
1. Remove cotter pin and clevis pin securing operating lever to parking brake linkage.
2. Bend locking tabs down and remove 7/16″ pivot bolts, locking tab and retractor plate.
3. Push the caliper over the top of the disc towards the rear of the car. The caliper can be removed from the subframe through the center opening at the rear of the subframe.
4. Loosen the 5/16″ nuts that hold the pads to the carriers – there is enough clearance between the stiffening ribs to turn a 12-point ring wrench. In the unlikely event that the clamp bolts are not tight enough rusty ones, you can slide them off the old pads with the help of a few pokes. More likely you’ll be completely removing the bolts and replacing them at the same time.
5. Fit the new pads taking care to fit them in the correct direction: triangular edge up and chamfer towards the adjusting screw joining the two caliper halves.
6. You will now notice that there is not enough space between the disc pads and you will need to reset the auto-adjustment mechanism. Simply hold one of the caliper halves and turn the other half counterclockwise to unscrew the adjuster until the inner faces of the pads are 12mm apart.
7. You are now ready to re-insert the tweezers. Push them in and around the top of the disk the way they came out.
8. Align the retractor plate with the two mounting holes, place the locking tab on top and insert the pivot bolts into the holes, hoping to find the holes in the parking brake calipers with a bit. judicious movement. Squeeze them in gently, but not all the way, as you’ll probably pull them out again.
9. This is where the problem occurs. In all likelihood, the teeth on the retractor plate will not line up with the holes in the top of the forceps. If the subframe is outside the car this isn’t a problem, but with the subframe on there is no way you can get anything in there to bend the teeth into the holes. But don’t despair. Get an inspection mirror like the ones dentists use and look closely to see which way each tooth comes in and how far. Make a note of this, unscrew the pivot bolts and remove the retractor plate. Bend the teeth according to your estimates and then reinsert them. You may have to do this a few times, but once you get it right, you should be able to reach the teeth with a screwdriver and push them into the holes.
10. You can now properly tighten the pivot bolts and push up on the locking tabs.
11. Pull the operating lever repeatedly until the self-adjusting mechanism pawl stops clicking.
12. Refit clevis pin from operating lever to parking brake linkage and fit new cotter pin.
13. Adjust parking brake per manual as needed.
