Things You'll Need:
- Car lift
- Hand wrench set
- Impact gun
- impact sockets
- Ratchet and socket set
- Anti-seize lubricant compound
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Step 1
Apply the parking brake handle or pedal inside the vehicle. Count how many clicks in the ratcheting system of the parking brake handle or pedal occur before you can no longer pull or step on the parking brake activator. Four to five clicks would be ideal. Any less would indicate the parking brake is over-adjusted, and this can cause the rear brakes to drag. Anything over four to five clicks would indicate the parking brake is unadjusted and may not hold the vehicle properly in gear.
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Step 2
Lift the vehicle on a car lift to inspect the parking brake cables, equalizer, self adjusting levers and cables, and the cams or screw mechanisms that comprise the parking brake system.
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Step 3
Check the cables and equalizer. Some equalizers, especially on imports, are located under the center console inside the car, but many vehicles will have a visible equalizer connecting the front parking brake cable to the two rear cables. Look for slack or low hanging parking brake cables or a cocked equalizer. This would indicate the cable is not activating the parking brake mechanisms connected to the rear brake. Most equalizers can be adjusted by tightening or loosening an adjusted nut to equalize the amount of pressure to the parking brake system. Applying a coat of anti-seize lubricant after adjusting the equalizer is recommended.
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Step 4
Lower the vehicle on the lift so the wheels of the vehicle are at waist-level. Remove the rear wheels and wheel nuts using the impact gun and an impact socket.
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Step 5
Determine which type of rear brakes the vehicle uses. Rear drum brakes and rear disc brakes use different parking brake mechanisms to activate the rear brakes. Rear drum requires the removal of the drum. The parking brake cable connects to the rear brakes through a porthole in the backing plate. Often the cable is integrated to one of the brake shoes and a self-adjuster cable activates the self-adjuster system. Making sure the cable is intact and the star wheel on the self-adjusting system is operable is crucial for the parking brake system to work. If not, removal of the self-adjuster would be required.
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Step 6
Inspect the rear cams or remove the rear rotors for rear disc brakes. Rear disc brakes may use a few different parking brake systems. One is an obvious cam attached to the exterior of the rear caliper. The parking brake cable would pull the cam and cause the rear pads to contact the rotor. Some may use a screw mechanism inside the bore of the caliper. This type was practically famous for seizing the caliper pistons if not used regularly. Another parking brake system, for larger vehicles, is a small brake shoe system set inside the hub of the rotor. This system works much like rear drum brakes, but instead of a drum, the shoes sit against the inside hub of the rotor. The rotor must be removed to replace or repair brakes.
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Step 7
Put the rear brakes back. Replace the wheels and wheel nuts when finished.
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Step 8
Adjust the parking brake handle on certain imports from inside the vehicle. The adjusting screw to the equalizer will be located inside the center console. This can be tightened or loosened by using a ratchet and socket set. Again, adjust the screw so that four to five clicks emit from the ratcheting device of the pull handle.
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Step 9
Use the parking brake in the vehicle every time you park the vehicle (regardless what type of transmission it uses) once you're finished adjusting or checking it. This will ensure longevity in the parking brake system when you really need it. The parking brake is also the emergency brake. It is to be used as a last resort in the event that the hydraulic brakes in the vehicle fail at any time. Remember the parking brake will only activate the rear brakes--which is equivalent to 25 percent braking capacity. If the rear brakes are not adjusted or the systems seizes, the percentage may go down even further. Then, you have a real emergency.
