How to tighten the emergency brake

[cibon1]

How do you tighten the emergency brake?

[ORFORD2004]

From under the car

[njoconnor]

From under the car

Well, that's a start...

Jack up the car, and place jack stands under the rear axle (I used the jack points once, and found the jack stand was kinda in the way). The e-brake cables are tensioned by a V shaped wire, which in turn, fastens to a threaded adjusting rod connected to the e-brake lever inside the car. Note: mine was missing the v shaped wire AND the return springs, and it took a while to find replacements. On the threaded rod, there are two nuts, 13mm IIRC. Loosen and remove the outer one first; that will make adjusting the inner nut easier. Raise the interior brake lever 4 clicks (read this somewhere, forget where, but it works for me). Back under the car, slowly tighten the remaining nut on the adjusting rod until the rear wheels can't be turned by hand (and I usually add a turn or two past that on the nut). Replace and snug down the outer nut, put the car back down on the ground, and check for operation. I check it again every spring when putting the car back on the road.

Hope this helps.

Neil

[TXWarthog]

I read that the e-brake handle should be raised only two clicks. I think I read it in the Haynes Manual. I could be wrong, but I seem to remember that the handle should be raised two clicks.

I'd adjust mine right now, except that a PO decided to use the brake cable to help support the exhaust system that's hanging out in the breeze.

[lglade]

Two, three, or four clicks...it doesn't really matter as long as you can comfortably pull the handle high enough to engage the brake once you're sitting in the car. And you have to be able to fully disengage the brakes once you lower the handle as well. If you start with the handle too high, then you may not get the cable tight enough for the limited amount of handle travel that's left. And obviously if you started with no clicks, the brakes would drag all the time. I used three clicks when I adjusted mine and was happy with the result. If you follow the logic, then the worst thing that can happen to you is that you have to tweak it a bit after you initially tighten the cable.

[Shadoobie]

Actually, I just read my Hayne's manual for the same operation and it said three clicks

[cibon1]

Thanks Neil and Lloyd!