A parking brake is both a safety feature and a necessity in many parts of the world. Parking brakes are used to secure the vehicle, preventing it from moving or rolling away when the car is parked. Many different things can cause the parking brake to loose its grip or fail completely.
If you notice that the brake lever needs to be pulled up many times or clicked many times before it engages, you may need to adjust the parking brake cable in your vehicle. If your parking brake is in good working order but does not hold like it used to, follow the steps given in this article to adjust your parking brake.
- Note: This article covers the adjustment method for parking brakes with a lever type engagement. Your vehicle may have a different style brake and the parts involved may just be in different positions, but the adjustment procedure will be similar.
Part 1 of 3: Locate the parking brake cable adjuster
Materials Needed
- Interior plastic pry tool
- Owner's manual
- Screwdriver
- Socket and ratchet set
Step 1: Check the parking brake clicks. Slowly pull up on the parking brake and feel the engagement point.
Count the number of clicks it takes before the brake becomes tight.
Compare the number of clicks to the number recommended by the owner’s manual.
Step 2: Locate the parking brake lever boot. The parking brake lever mounted on the center console contains a boot around the brake lever.
Under this boot you will find the workings of the parking brake.
- Note: Some cars may have a different procedure to access the adjuster and additional components in the console may need to be removed on your specific vehicle.
Use a plastic pry tool to gently pry around the edges of the boot. Raise the boot up until you can view the adjustment bolt.
Park 2 of 3: Adjust the parking brake
Step 1: Adjusting the parking brake. The adjustment bolt will be located on the parking brake lever. This bolt tightens the cable leading to the rear brakes.
Tighten the bolt by a few turns and then check the parking brake cable. Check the brake by pulling the lever up and feel for tightness. Keep tightening the bolt until the proper tightness is achieved.
Part 3 of 3: Check the final operation
Step 1: Put the brake lever boot back. Once the parking brake cable is adjusted to a satisfactory level, put the parking brake lever boot back into its original location.
Reinstall any other parts that were removed to access the parking brake assembly, if needed.
Step 2: Check the operation of the parking brake. To check the parking brake operation engage the parking brake and place the transmission in neutral. It should be tight at this point.
Exit the vehicle and go to the front of the vehicle. Gently push back on the car, it should not move at all with the brake engaged.
Now that your parking brake is adjusted, you can safely park on hills with the knowledge that your vehicle will not roll down hill when you leave it.
If you find that your parking brake is stuck or if it does not release, get a certified mechanic from YourMechanic to inspect it for you.
