Parking brake adjustment
#2
Burning Brakes
The parking brake should not need adjustment very often unless something breaks or slips out of position. You have to first ensure that all is well at the brake assembly at each rear wheel. Remove the brake rotors and inspect. There is an adjustment "star wheel" within the mechanism on each side that will allow tightening or loosening of the emergency brake shoes. You need to set the shoes so that there is only a small clearance between the shoes and the rotor. If you adjust the shoes make sure there is no drag. Also, if the shoe material is glazed, you have to sand the shoes with sandpaper or emery cloth. This is all pretty simple, not as hard as it sounds if you know how to remove the rotors. The emergency brake shoes should last the life of the vehicle unless someone unwittingly drives a great distance with the brake applied.
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vinnier6 (08-06-2013)
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bigwavedave25 (10-28-2019)
#5
Burning Brakes
Theoretically there should not be any wear on the emergency brake shoes or the "drum" part of the rotor where they operate since nothing moves when the brake is on. I think the adjustment that Justn mentioned is a fine tuning thing for cases where the cable may stretch. It's conceivable that if you use it all the time and pull hard on it that the cable could stretch a little although I think that's rather unlikely. The emergency brake setup on newer vehicles is pretty well designed for the life of the vehicle although they used to be a complete PITA on older vehicles. BTW, as you probably know, the emergency brake usually works better to prevent the car from moving forward and is not quite as effective to prevent backwards movement. Different vehicles have a variety of emergency brake designs. Some have separate "shoes" or pads for the emergency brake, like TL, some just operate the regular brake shoes (e.g. Integra, etc.)
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#7
Senior Moderator
don't adjust only from the center console! That is the fine adjustment! You need to click the brake up 5-7 clicks and then adjust the brake from the rear hub. Take off the rim and turn the gear up or down to adjust. Adjust until the wheel can not move. Release the brake and verify that the wheel can freely spin. If not, back off the adjuster gear.
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91lgndsdn (12-16-2015)
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#8
Acura Member
don't adjust only from the center console! That is the fine adjustment! You need to click the brake up 5-7 clicks and then adjust the brake from the rear hub. Take off the rim and turn the gear up or down to adjust. Adjust until the wheel can not move. Release the brake and verify that the wheel can freely spin. If not, back off the adjuster gear.
#9
Burning Brakes
New rotors (SHOULD) have the same inside diameter service brake drum, as the OEM drum. Some, DON"T! After you installed the new rotors, did you notice, if, when applying the service brake, it required MORE travel, to fully engage? If so, there could be MORE free travel, in the service brake mechanism, which may account for the noise, you hear now. If, the service brake requires the same amount of travel, as before installing the replacement rotors, than, perhaps the noise, the springs are making, was there before, but now, your just more aware of it. Applying the service brake, a little past half way, should fully lock the rear wheels. If the service brake has to be applied, almost all the way to the limit of it's travel, than, the shoes need to be adjusted/tightened. If, the service brake, fully engages, after only two, or three (CLICKS), the shoes, probably need to be loosened.
#10
Instructor
#11
Instructor
Go through the inside of the center console storage area (armrest), pull up a small rubber mat that lines the bottom (there's a tab to help you pull it up), and there's a plastic cover under that that pops out with a flathead screwdriver.
Adjustment nut is just in front of the opening, you won't easily see it looking straight down.
Adjustment nut is just in front of the opening, you won't easily see it looking straight down.
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SkN012 (08-11-2018)
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SkN012 (08-27-2018)
#13
don't adjust only from the center console! That is the fine adjustment! You need to click the brake up 5-7 clicks and then adjust the brake from the rear hub. Take off the rim and turn the gear up or down to adjust. Adjust until the wheel can not move. Release the brake and verify that the wheel can freely spin. If not, back off the adjuster gear.
#14
Brake or Bearing?
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rockyboy
2G RDX (2013-2018)
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12-06-2022 02:29 PM