Hand Brake Adjustment

GreeNeons03 · Post by **GreeNeons03** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 11:00 am

So the other day, I noticed that my hand brake doesn't grab on as hard as it used to, even when I pull the handle all the way up. Is there anyway to adjust the grip of the hand brake on the wheels? It keeps the car still if I'm stopped, but if I'm rolling slowly, it's like it's not even there.

Hudson_Neon · Post by **Hudson_Neon** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 12:05 pm

if you go back to the parking brake shoes there's a star wheel in there that you can turn to adjust the shoes outwards. this will make the parking brake bite sooner and you wont be ripping it through the arm rest

GreeNeons03 · Post by **GreeNeons03** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 12:17 pm

Alright. Now how do I get to the parking brake shoes? And I have rear drums if that make a difference.

Hudson_Neon · Post by **Hudson_Neon** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 12:41 pm

the parking brake shoes are the same as the rear shoes. take a look at the rear shoes to make sure they're not too worn. to adjust them while the drum is on... there's a little rubber plug on the back side of the drum that pulls out and the star wheel is right inside there. you should adjust it out till there's just a TINY bit of drag

GreeNeons03 · Post by **GreeNeons03** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 6:45 pm

I'm having a tough time moving that star wheel. It won't turn at all. Is that normal or am I just not doing something right?

Edit: Got it, I guess I wasn't going at it in the right angle.

Hudson_Neon · Post by **Hudson_Neon** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:15 pm

cool. sorry i didn't get back to you faster. how does it feel now?

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 10:43 pm

The uber correct method...

occasional demons wrote:
Proper parking brake system adjustment is
obtained by proper drum brake or drum-in-hat brake
shoe adjustment. When service is needed, the lever
auto-adjust mechanism must be reloaded and locked
out before service can be performed.

STANDARD PROCEDURE
STANDARD PROCEDURE - AUTOMATIC
ADJUSTER LOCKING OUT
WARNING: THE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTING FEATURE
OF THIS PARKING BRAKE LEVER CONTAINS A
CLOCK SPRING LOADED TO APPROXIMATELY 25
POUNDS. DO NOT RELEASE THE AUTOMATIC
ADJUSTER LOCKOUT DEVICE UNLESS THE REAR
PARKING BRAKE CABLES AND EQUALIZER ARE
CONNECTED TO THE LEVER OUTPUT CABLE.
KEEP HANDS OUT OF AUTOMATIC ADJUSTER
SECTOR AND PAWL AREA. FAILURE TO OBSERVE
CAUTION IN HANDLING THIS MECHANISM COULD
LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY.
WARNING: WHEN REPAIRS TO THE PARKING
BRAKE LEVER OR CABLES ARE REQUIRED, THE
AUTOMATIC ADJUSTER MUST BE LOADED AND
LOCKED OUT TO AVOID POSSIBLE INJURY.
(1) Block the tire and wheels so the vehicle does
not move once the vehicle parking brake lever is
released.
(2) Fully apply the parking brake lever, then shift
the transmission into neutral.
(3) Remove the screws attaching the center console,
then remove the center console.
(4) Lower the parking brake lever handle to the
released position.
(5) Grasp the parking brake lever output cable by
hand and pull upward. Continue pulling on the cable
until a pin punch can be inserted through the hole in
the lever mechanism sector gear and the hole in the
right side of its mounting bracket (Fig. 140). This
will lock the parking brake automatic adjustment
mechanism in place and take tension off the parking
brake cables.

SC62391 · Post by **SC62391** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 9:32 pm

Mine doesn't work at all. Maybe pictures or a video would help

GreeNeons03 · Post by **GreeNeons03** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 10:19 pm

Hudson_Neon wrote:cool. sorry i didn't get back to you faster. how does it feel now?

Well first I set it too loose that the car would roll down the driveway in neutral with the hand brake pulled all the way up. So I tried again and it feels the same, the wheels don't lock up even at low speed, they just keep turning. I don't know if something's worn and needs to be replaced or what.

Hudson_Neon · Post by **Hudson_Neon** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 12:29 am

well pull the drums off and see how much lining is left on the shoes

GreeNeons03 · Post by **GreeNeons03** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 12:58 am

If I have to ask, I probably shouldn't do it, but how do you pull off the drums?

Post by **occasional demons** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 8:25 am

Remove the wheel, and after some effort*, they should slide off.

"Effort" depends on if the shoes need adjusted in, and how rusted they are to the hub. The shoe adjustment might not be an issue here tho, since they won't hold too well.

GreeNeons03 · Post by **GreeNeons03** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 4:07 pm

So I got my brakes checked out. They said that everything's fine and that the problem might just be that the cables have stretched. If that's the case, how can I adjust them to compensate.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 4:18 pm

Replace them. There is no adjustment if they are that stretched.

Make sure first...when you adjust the parking brake at the drum, when you spin the wheel it should be dragging on the shoes slightly.

GreeNeons03 · Post by **GreeNeons03** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 9:28 pm

I did the star wheel adjustment thing and got the wheels to lock while they where in the air with the handbrake engaged about half way, but rolling on the ground was a different story, I just kept rolling.

Post by **occasional demons** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 11:04 pm

Did you do the hand brake self adjuster lock out I posted above? I have noticed mine is beginning to be weak sauce, but I am going to attempt the "by the book" method before replacing cables.

Sometime when it is warm.

GreeNeons03 · Post by **GreeNeons03** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 11:24 pm

No, I'll try that method when I get a chance to tear out my center console.

SC62391 · Post by **SC62391** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 1:01 am

Is this a typical neon problem?

Post by **occasional demons** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:29 am

GreeNeons03 wrote:No, I'll try that method when I get a chance to tear out my center console.

Exactly. As much crap as I have integrated into my console, I don't really feel like doing it in 15 to 25 degree weather.

SC62391, it is more typical of any car that has some age and mileage on it. That accounts for prolly 85% of neons out there now. So I guess it would be typical for neons.

lilnicko11 · Post by **lilnicko11** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 9:21 am

my e brake is non existent so im going to have adjust mine sometime soon as well.

Jenni · Post by **Jenni** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 4:58 pm

viewtopic.php?t=22487

search button is your friend!

/thread!

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 5:06 pm

Jenni wrote:viewtopic.php?t=22487

search button is your friend!

/thread!

Sometimes I wonder if you read any of the posts, or if you just come in, post, and leave..

Jenni · Post by **Jenni** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 6:09 pm

in depends on the lengt of the thread.

mostly i try to get an overview, to understand the topics and find an answer.
so i read the question, the answers but missed the link to the how-to.
so now i read again - and think my answer was still correct.

but *caugh caugh* any now and than it is like you suspected. and sometimes i just realize it too late.
but hey - i have an excuse: lost in translation...