How to Adjust a Mustang Emergency Brake

by KateboUpdated August 14, 2023
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Adjust the emergency brake on your Mustang right from your home garage and save money. You can adjust it from inside the car so you don’t have to get yourself dirty by working under the car. I’s time to adjust the parking brake when you park downhill and the parking brake starts to slip. This means that the parking brake cable has slackened inside the cable rod and needs to be tightened with the adjuster nut. Tension put on the emergency brake over time causes the parking brake to slip.

1. Locate the parking brake in the front center of the inside of the vehicle

Locate the parking brake in the front center of the inside of the vehicle. Remove the console cover that houses it.

2. Lift up the emergency brake lever four notches

Lift up the emergency brake lever four notches.

3. Look for the parking brake cable rod

Look for the parking brake cable rod. On this rod is an adjuster nut. Turn that nut with the pliers until it is loose but make sure it doesn’t fall off all the way.

4. Release the parking brake and tighten the nut

Release the parking brake and tighten the nut.

5. Raise and lower the emergency brake lever four times

Raise and lower the emergency brake lever four times. This will set the adjustment of the parking brake.

6. Park the Mustang on a downhill slant and engage the parking brake only

Park the Mustang on a downhill slant and engage the parking brake only. It should hold the vehicle in place. If it doesn’t, repeat the adjustment.

Video: HOW TO ADJUST E-BRAKE/PARKING BRAKE/HANDBRAKE 2015-2018 MUSTANG S550!

Helpful comments on this video:

  • The 2017 GT has a mechanism much like the rest of them, probably. There is a nut towards the rear of the vehicle on mechanism. This is the adjustment nut. It tightens if you turn wrench CW, as looking from rear of vehicle. The problem is that there is no backer nut or anything else so this nut vibrates loose. I had to drop the exhaust on mine. That takes a 13mm, a 6" ratchet, 3" and 6" extensions. 6 bolts for the hangers come out. It's nice though because the hangers hook so they stay in place when you put the bolts back. I tightened the adjustment nut down pretty far. I have little to no movement. There is very little play before it starts to click, as it should be. The adjustment nut is 10mm. I think it's probably standard M6x1 metric threads. Go to ACE and get a few M6 nuts with other thread pitches, 1.25, etc. When you get the nut adjusted where you want it, run the other up against it. I'm annoyed because had I known this was so cheaply designed and designed the way it is, I would have gone in prepared. Good video. I hope I've helped someone else.
  • Thanks for the video it help out a lot — One thing I would say it's much easier to use a deep socket and extension.

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