Adjusting Your Parking Brake
*EASY*
Your parking brake should not require periodic adjustment. However, if you observe that increased movement of parking brake lever is necessary to set the brake, the parking brake cable needs tightening. Adjust the parking brake cable tension according to the following procedure:
- Park the vehicle on level ground in a well-ventilated area with the engine OFF, the parking brake engaged just two "clicks" of the ratchet pawl, and the transmission in NEUTRAL. Block the front wheels and elevate the vehicle rear end on safety stands.
- Crawl underneath your car and look for two small metal cables attached to
the rear brakes. Follow the cable loop to the center of the underbody to find
the parking brake cable adjusting nut on its U-shaped equalizer bracket.
- Use an open-end wrench to tighten the adjusting nut until the rear wheel brakes drag and the rear tires cannot spin freely. Then loosen the adjusting nut slightly until the rear brakes no longer drag and the rear tires can spin freely. If the adjusting nut is seized due to exposure to the elements, soak it with penetrating oil first. Coat the threads with anti-seize compound when the adjustment is complete.
- Remove the safety stands and front wheel blocks. Shift the transmission into PARK.
- Start your vehicle, depress the foot brake, and engage the parking brake fully. Let the vehicle idle and shift the transmission into DRIVE (for automatic) or 1st gear (for manual); slowly release the foot brake. The parking brake should hold the vehicle in place. If it does not, readjust the equalizer.
