Many car owners often face the question of proper adjustment parking brake. Is it possible to do it yourself, and if so, how? What is a parking brake in general, or in everyday conversation, a handbrake. Why is it so necessary in any car? In this article we will try to figure out how to properly adjust the "handbrake" without asking for help at a service station.
It is the handbrake (parking brake) that allows you to keep the car for a long time on sloped sites, in parking lots, and the like. But not only for these purposes it is used. Race car drivers sports cars use it with enough sharp turns on high speed, because it is such a brake that is able to hold the rear wheels. But in everyday life, it helps to move smoothly if you are in a traffic jam and the road has a slight (or large) slope, while not running into a neighbor standing behind. In general, it helps the car owner a lot, but only when the handbrake (parking brake) is adjusted correctly.
Parking brake device (handbrake).
Its device is very simple, but at the same time reliable. The purpose of such a brake is that mechanical drive(and this is either a rod, or a foot pedal, or a lever) transmits the force that goes to the locking mechanism. Such an effort is transmitted with the help of cables, and there are different numbers of them in different designs. Maybe one, there are two, but usually there are three such cables. Any handbrake cable is connected to the rest of the braking (locking) system components with adjustable tips. At first glance, it seems that this is a very complex system, but this is not at all the case, the main thing is to understand the principle of its operation and everything will fall into place.
The basic principle of the handbrake (parking brake).
This principle is incredibly simple - by raising the handle (pressing the pedal), the driver thereby pulls the cable (or cables), a rocker goes with them. It already aligns the tension of the cables, then the levers of the wheel block (rear) are tensioned. And already they push the pads that the parking brake has, these pads diverge to the sides and completely block the rear wheels. It becomes impossible to move.
But today there are already electromechanical parking brakes. Such mechanisms are currently being installed in modern cars For disc brakes with electric drive. Here, the disc lock mechanism interacts with the car engine. It turns out this picture: after pressing the button and if the speed is above 10 km per hour, there is a slow and smooth braking, when the car has stopped, there is a hollow blocking of the wheels.
Such a brake acts completely independently on undercarriage, the handbrake itself is automatically removed when moving uphill. In principle, this system is very convenient and reliable, but unfortunately it is installed only on new (modern cars) on classic or old cars, simple mechanical “handbrakes” are usually installed.
Reasons why the handbrake needs adjustment.
To check if your car's handbrake requires adjustment, do the following test: Find a slight slope and begin to move down it, while lifting the lever very gently. At the moment when you lift the handbrake one third, your car should start to slow down, and stop completely at two thirds. When such a stop did not occur, it is necessary to replace the handbrake cables, the reason may also be in the brake pads, it may be necessary to replace them. If everything is in order with the handbrake cables and pads, it is necessary to adjust the handbrake.
If you practically don’t use your handbrake, there is such a thing as cable souring, which is quite unpleasant and can lead to backfire, many motorists are trying to revive such cables, but as practice shows, lubricating the wd-40 handbrake cable and other liquids does not solve the problem, the maximum that can be expected from such actions is to extend the handbrake operation by a couple of weeks. As a result, all the same, such cables will have to be changed. In general, handbrake adjustment is best done at least once a year.
Handbrake adjustment.
First of all, we check the cable. Press it or pull it with force, if your cable does not move in the sheath, souring has occurred. If you managed to tighten the handbrake cable, and when lowering the handbrake lever, the cable did not return to its original position, i.e. the springs on the pads brought together - such a cable is also inoperative. In both cases, the cable must be changed urgently!
If the cable is normal, moves freely in the sheath, returns to its original position - we make an adjustment.
The first thing we need to do is get to the adjustment unit, for this we remove the plastic cover (located between the front seats) at the back
IN different cars access to the adjusting nuts is located in different ways, in some it is necessary to remove top cover as in the photo below
Further, when access to the adjustment unit is open, lower the parking brake handle straight down (as far as it will go), then press the tension nut with a wrench to “10” and loosen the lock nut with another wrench to “10”. Now we tighten the cable with the adjusting nut and check the tension of the handbrake cables. Correct move lever (working) should act only within certain limits - this is from 2 to 4 clicks. If the handle is pulled out by more than 4 clicks, it is worth bringing (pulling up) the cable more. If the adjustment is made and the handbrake lever rises by 2-4 clicks, then tighten the equalizer nut, while the adjustment nut should be held tightly. The next step is to check the rear wheels to see if the handbrake is too tight. rear wheels should move without friction and smoothly.
But if with this setting you saw flaws in the design of the handbrake, repairs are needed, and only the masters! Of course I have, special sets to repair parking brake problems, but your safety on the road is worth far more than the savings on doing it yourself!
Conclusion
As you can see, the process of adjusting the handbrake is not so complicated and every motorist can cope with this, the main desire and half an hour of free time.
Parking brake (in the everyday life of drivers - handbrake) - special device, which provides fixation of the car during parking (on flat or inclined areas). Correct adjustment parking brake eliminates spontaneous movement of the machine, and the device is activated by lifting a special handle to the upper position.
Some motorists do not use the handbrake, mistakenly believing that 1st or 2nd gear can perform its function. This is not so, because with an increased steepness of the slope, only the parking brake saves. If the handbrake is not adjusted in a timely manner, the cable connecting the handle and the brake system is stretched and ceases to perform its assigned tasks. That is why this system requires periodic adjustment and repair. Below we will consider how to perform this work and replace the cable.
The parking brake is adjusted after checking the device. The frequency of such manipulation is once every thirty thousand run. To perform the work, it is enough to pull the mechanism handle up, move the speed selector to the first gear position, and then smoothly remove your foot from the clutch pedal. If the engine stalls, then the system works without failures. If the car is moving, you will have to adjust the handbrake or change the cable. Practice shows that most often braces are enough.
How to adjust: step by step
Find an overpass or viewing hole, because the parking brake is adjusted after gaining access to the lower part of the machine. Check the manual for the car to find out. design features parking brake. In some models, the handbrake can only be adjusted in the cabin (see helpful below).
For self check act like this:
That's all. The procedures considered are enough to adjust the handbrake and check its operation.
How to change the parking brake cable?
If the cable cannot be adjusted due to stretching or damage, it must be replaced. To do this, proceed as follows:
- Drive the car into the pit (overpass).
- Clean the nut and equalizer from dirt.
- Loosen the lock nut and twist it. Do the same with the adjustment nut.
- hang up back car, for which loosen the wheel bolts, lift the transport with a jack and put supports. Next, remove the jack and dismantle the wheels.
- Remove the brake drums by twisting the locking pins and knocking them down with a hammer.
- Dismantle rear pad(the tip of the handbrake is fixed to it), and then dismantle the tip itself.
- Twist the bolt that holds the cable sheath to the rear suspension.
- Remove the seal bushings from the cable sheath, and then pull out the last of the holes.
- Remove the sheath from the body clips, for which you remove the edges of the cable from the leveling panel.
- Install a new cable by returning all the elements according to the reverse algorithm.
Adjustment of the parking brake is done when the efficiency of the device decreases. The resource depends on the frequency of use. There is an opinion that if the handbrake capabilities are not used, it will last longer. On the contrary, in such a situation, the device breaks faster due to a lack of lubrication, sticking of the cable and accumulation of dirt. For this reason, the process of moving the handbrake is complicated, which increases the load when using it. With a decrease in efficiency, it is enough to adjust the handbrake or replace the cable according to the algorithm described above.
Parking brake, among motorists it is also called a hand brake, any passenger car- the node is quite important and necessary. It is necessary to maintain and check its performance constantly and at least every 30,000 km, and, of course, at the slightest suspicion of a decrease in its efficiency. As preventive measures are checking all its mechanisms for integrity, as well as adjusting the hand brake.
And in order to perform this inspection and adjustment, you need to at least more or less understand the operation of the main elements of the parking brake system of your car.
The device and principle of operation of the hand brake.
In most cases this system actuated by a hand lever located between the front two seats of the vehicle, just behind the shift knob. So, this very lever, through a system of cables, actuates the rear brake pads, which block rear axle car, making it immobile. Therefore, when conducting an inspection, it is necessary to check:
- the performance of the lever itself - it must rise, fixing in the upper position;
- the integrity of the cables actuated by this lever;
- blocking rear wheels subject to the above points.
Parking brake system:
- parking brake lever assembly with bracket
- thrust axis
- protective case
- retaining clip
- cable equalizer
- washer
- adjusting nut
- lock-nut
- rope sheath
- lever axis
- hand drive lever
- washer
- pad expansion bar
Checking the hand brake.
To check the braking on each wheel, they should be hung above the ground or, alternatively, go to the brake test stand, where, in addition to the effectiveness of the parking brake system, at the same time check the overall performance of the brakes.
Based on the results of checking and testing the operation of the parking brake, if it is fully operational, I recommend that you note the time (mileage) of such a conduct, then you can forget about this check for some period. If a malfunction or insufficient effort is detected in the parking brake system, it is imperative to carry out repairs or adjustments, putting the brakes in order.
We will not thoroughly consider the repair itself, since each car has its own characteristics, and here the service book for the repair of each particular car will help better.
How to tighten the hand brake?
As for adjusting the parking brake, here, in general, the procedure is unified for most cars. First of all, it begins with counting how many clicks the handbrake is fixed. Ideally, there should be 3-4. If this is not the case, then we will strive to achieve this indicator through adjustment.
So let's post rear axle of the car so that it is possible to freely rotate the wheels of this axle and proceed to the next step. We need to find the adjusting screw for the tension of the parking brake drive cables. It is most often combined with a leveling bar, to which cables are attached to each of the rear wheels. The location of this unit is possible both in the passenger compartment in the area of the parking brake handle itself, under the trim elements that will temporarily have to be dismantled, and outside - under the bottom of the car.
When you find the adjustment assembly, loosen the fixing nut. Then tighten the handbrake lever to 1-2 clicks. After that, tighten the cables with the adjusting screw until the braking force appears on each of the rear wheels.
Release the lever, the wheels should then rotate without brake force. Again, tighten the lever to the maximum possible effort (ideally, 3-4 clicks). The wheels must become stationary. If so, then the handbrake adjustment procedure is complete. Now you need to fix the adjusting nut of the fixing nut and install the trim elements in place, if they were dismantled.
Well, you can check the performance of the parking brake system, which should hold the car, without trips to the diagnostic brake stand, as follows: tighten the hand brake, start the car, turn on the first gear and, without touching the gas pedal, smoothly release the clutch. If, as a result of this procedure, the engine calms down peacefully (stops), the brake works perfectly. If the car starts moving, then the adjustment procedure will have to be repeated, increasing the tension of the drive cables.
Handbrake adjustment video
The functional purpose of the parking brake, as its name implies, is to prevent spontaneous movement stationary car under the influence of outside forces. Usually, hand brake used when stopping (parking) vehicle on surfaces with a certain slope (entrances to flyovers, bridges, railway crossings and so on.).
Hand brake device
The design of the handbrake will be considered on the example of the most common model from the "classics" of the Volga Automobile Plant - "VAZ 2106", rear pair of wheels, which is equipped with drum-type brake mechanisms.
Main structural elements of this brake mechanism are:
Parking brake lever located in the vehicle interior.
Adjusting unit, consisting of an equalizer, rod, adjusting and fixing nuts, rubber boot.
Parking brake cable made of a steel cable enclosed in a flexible twisted winding, and connecting the adjusting unit to the rear brake mechanisms of the vehicle.
In addition, in the brake mechanisms of the rear wheelset there are elements that ensure the performance of the functions of the parking brake.
This is the drive lever (pos. 9), one arm of which is rigidly fixed to a metal pin (pos. 11), and the other, capable of moving, is connected to the hand brake cable (pos. 8).
DIY parking brake adjustment
The process of adjusting the hand (parking) brake is not difficult and does not require complex technical support, since its essence lies in changing the length of the drive cables. The operational wear of the elements that ensure the operation of the system is extremely insignificant, which allows you to do without their replacement for a long time.
The effectiveness of the "handbrake" is determined by the stability of the vehicle on surfaces with a slope, with a certain degree of raising the lever (number of clicks). If the conversation is about the "six", then, as a rule, four is enough. Otherwise, the brake is subject to adjustment. Another indication for the implementation of adjustment measures is the increased stroke of the "handbrake" lever.
In addition, the handbrake adjustment is performed after some repair and restoration work:
Replacement of brake pads and discs.
Replacing drive cables.
Replacing brake calipers (for disc brakes).
Attention! Adjustment is carried out exclusively on a serviceable brake system, the moving elements of which have an easy move, and adjustment work has been performed on the brake mechanisms of the rear wheelset.
Measures to organize the process of adjusting the "handbrake" include raising the rear of the car and placing it on supports, as well as preparing the appropriate tool - two open-end wrenches to "13".
The adjustment unit (mechanism) is located in the central part of the vehicle bottom.
Handbrake adjustment on vehicles equipped with drum-type rear brakes:
We release (turn off) the parking brake by lowering the lever.
Release the fixing nut with the key "b".
With the key “a”, tighten the adjusting nut until the shoes come into contact with the brake drum (determined by turning the rear wheels).
We unscrew the adjusting nut by 1.5-2 turns, which allows you to remove the brake pads from contact with the drum.
We raise the "handbrake" lever by two clicks, which corresponds to the second tooth of the ratchet, and turn the wheel again. It must be slow.
Tighten the fixing nut.
We check the freedom and smoothness of the drive cable.
In order to prevent the occurrence of corrosion processes, we cover threaded connection thrust with a thin layer of lubricant (for example, "Litol").
Upon completion of adjustments in without fail check the operation of the parking brake system. To do this, place the vehicle on a surface with a slope (up to 250) and turn on the handbrake (on the 4th - 6th tooth of the ratchet). If there is at least slightest movement vehicle - the parking brake is not applied sufficiently. The occurrence of a creak in the mechanism of the rear wheelset and the difficult start of the car’s movement are symptoms of a “tightened” “handbrake”. In these cases, the parking brake adjustment must be repeated.
When to Adjust the Brake
Often, motorists with little practical experience in car repair ask the question: “How often should the parking brake be adjusted?”. If the vehicle has not been performed repair work, which we talked about above, then the "handbrake" is subject to adjustment only when the lever installed on the 4-6 tooth of the ratchet mechanism cannot cope with fixing the vehicle on an inclined surface. Why is this happening? The material from which the drive cable is made is able to stretch during operation, respectively, the degree of its tension decreases. However, the cable cannot be pulled indefinitely. Experts recommend performing no more than four drive cable tensions with one set of brake pads, after which it is necessary to replace them (pads) with new ones.
As a rule, malfunctions that occur in a fairly primitive parking brake system are due to inexperienced driver forgetting to bring the lever to its original position when starting off. Although on dashboard the light is on (should be on), which signals just that the car is on the “handbrake”, cases of not turning off the brake are far from rare. As a result, it becomes necessary to adjust the handbrake, since its constant readiness for operation is very important from a safety point of view.
The purpose of the handbrake
The parking brake or handbrake is designed to hold the car in place during a long parking. It is also used for emergency, emergency braking during movement and as a braking device, if the use of the main, foot, is difficult. This can happen when, for example, it is necessary to simultaneously "gas" and at the same time keep the car from rolling.
Handbrake device
The parking brake system is quite simple in design. It consists of rear wheel brakes specified for this class car, and mechanical drive.
The mechanical drive includes:
- the handbrake lever located in the cab next to the driver's seat on the center line;
- front and rear drive cables.
The rear cable with its ends is included in the levers of the manual drive of the brake pads. At the point of transition of the front cable to the rear sections, there is an equalizer with an adjusting nut, a lock nut and a release spring. Through this spring, the tip of the front cable is attached to the bracket on the body shell. The spring constantly returns the equalizer to its original position and weakens the cables when the handbrake lever is released. This is where the parking brake is adjusted.
Parking brake problems
As a rule, malfunctions come down to the fact that the handbrake simply simply does not hold the car and it is only necessary to adjust (tighten) it. Owners of domestic cars constantly face such a problem.
The second most common malfunction of the parking device is not on, or vice versa, the parking brake light is constantly on.
Adjustment, or how to tighten the parking brake
As already mentioned, the mechanical handbrake drive is included in the same brake pads of the rear wheels, which are also driven by the main ones. hydraulic brakes car. Therefore, we will not touch on faults that occur in the drum itself - brake mechanism rear wheels. After all, otherwise the main ones would not work. 
So, if the parking brake does not work, there is a need to adjust it. To do this, we need a 13 wrench, pliers and a flyover or viewing hole.
Perform the following sequential steps:
- put the car on a viewing hole or drive it onto a flyover;
- raise the "handbrake" by 2 clicks;
- go down under the bottom, loosen the equalizer locknut;
- tighten the adjusting nut until the cable is tensioned;
- tighten the locknut.
And if the adjusting nut no longer tightens the cable? This may be the case on older, long-running vehicles. In this case, it needs to be replaced, since the cable has already stretched to the limit from time to time. It is necessary to change the cable even if there are signs of severe wear, so that it does not break at the most inopportune moment.
Not lit (constantly on) handbrake light
It's hard to give general recommendation, in each individual case, it is necessary to find the wiring diagram for the car, and already using it, try to eliminate the malfunction that has occurred. And if in the first case the light bulb could simply burn out, then with its constant burning, short circuits in the electrical system are possible, resulting in a violation in the indication on the instrument panel. 
Status check
At the end of the work, check how well the handbrake holds. To do this, park the machine on a slope and pull the lever towards you until it locks. Make sure the light is on. Try to push the car. The parking brake should securely hold your car in place. If necessary, you can still tighten the cable.
It is advisable to perform these actions regularly so that a sudden failure does not take you by surprise. When starting a movement, always pay attention to the instrument panel, and, when starting off, make sure that the light (handbrake switch on sensor) is off.
