Adjusting handbrake

[Spetz]

Hi everyone,

My Mitsubishi Diamante has rear disc rotors but the handbrake operates shoes like a drum inside that rotor.

The adjustment comes in 2 places, one where the handbrake is itself and a further adjustment inside each handbrake mechanism at the rotor.
I don't know what it's called but it's one of those rotary things that you turn to tighten/loosen the shoes.

What is the correct adjustment procedure to ensure that the handbrake doesn't drag while driving but also the handbrake engages within a few clicks?

 

[Dave Sherman]

Unless you've had the shoes replaced or you often forget to release the parking brake and you've worn them down a little, the star wheels probably don't need to be touched. Usually the procedure is to tighten the star wheels (expanding the shoes) until the star wheels won't turn anymore, then backing off a few clicks for each one until the shoes don't drag. Then you apply a few clicks (3?) on the handbrake and tighten the handbrake adjuster until the wheels are hard to turn by hand, and confirming they don't drag when it's released. Paraphrasing greatly, but my '08 Honda procedure was something like that. My Traverse and MG used similar procedures.

 

[Yah-Tah-Hey]

I have 74,

000 on my 04 and have never had to adjust the parking brake. The OEM spec for the shoe material is two mm and the wear limit is one mm. My shoe material is still two mm.

 

[mightymousetech]

You should never have to adjust the handbrake lever unless you are changing the handbrake cables.

On a Honda, the procedure is to tighten the rear star wheels all the way, then back them off 5 clicks.

 

[andyd]

Originally Posted By: Yah-Tah-Hey
I have 74,

000 on my 04 and have never had to adjust the parking brake. The OEM spec for the shoe material is two mm and the wear limit is one mm. My shoe material is still two mm.

Yah but NE is flat. How often do you set E brake?.

 

[Yah-Tah-Hey]

Originally Posted By: andyd
Originally Posted By: Yah-Tah-Hey
I have 74,

000 on my 04 and have never had to adjust the parking brake. The OEM spec for the shoe material is two mm and the wear limit is one mm. My shoe material is still two mm.

Yah but NE is flat. How often do you set E brake?.

Every time I park the vehicle except in the garage. My wife doesn't have the hand strength to release the hand lever.

 

[BJD78]

Originally Posted By: Yah-Tah-Hey
Originally Posted By: andyd
Originally Posted By: Yah-Tah-Hey
I have 74,

000 on my 04 and have never had to adjust the parking brake. The OEM spec for the shoe material is two mm and the wear limit is one mm. My shoe material is still two mm.

Yah but NE is flat. How often do you set E brake?.

Every time I park the vehicle except in the garage. My wife doesn't have the hand strength to release the hand lever.


I live in NE as well,(Lincoln) and have seen about 3-4 vehicles roll away down a graded parking lot or driveway. Probably because they did not set park brake. in one instance a truck rolled down a drive way and smashed a car and a mailbox, this was about 2 blocks from our house. Those parking pawls on an auto trans are going to eventually fail as they are not designed to support the vehicle weight on a grade. I set it each and every time flat or not.

 

[Yah-Tah-Hey]

Originally Posted By: BJD78
Originally Posted By: Yah-Tah-Hey
Originally Posted By: andyd
Originally Posted By: Yah-Tah-Hey
I have 74,

000 on my 04 and have never had to adjust the parking brake. The OEM spec for the shoe material is two mm and the wear limit is one mm. My shoe material is still two mm.

Yah but NE is flat. How often do you set E brake?.

Every time I park the vehicle except in the garage. My wife doesn't have the hand strength to release the hand lever.


I live in NE as well,(Lincoln) and have seen about 3-4 vehicles roll away down a graded parking lot or driveway. Probably because they did not set park brake. in one instance a truck rolled down a drive way and smashed a car and a mailbox. Those parking pawls on an auto trans are going to eventually fail as they are not designed to support the vehicle weight on a grade. I set it each and every time flat or not.
Right you are BJD. Those parking pawl mechanism is a flimsy arrangement and I never depended on "P" period.

 

[maxdustington]

Originally Posted By: BJD78
Originally Posted By: Yah-Tah-Hey
Originally Posted By: andyd
Originally Posted By: Yah-Tah-Hey
I have 74,

000 on my 04 and have never had to adjust the parking brake. The OEM spec for the shoe material is two mm and the wear limit is one mm. My shoe material is still two mm.

Yah but NE is flat. How often do you set E brake?.

Every time I park the vehicle except in the garage. My wife doesn't have the hand strength to release the hand lever.


I live in NE as well,(Lincoln) and have seen about 3-4 vehicles roll away down a graded parking lot or driveway. Probably because they did not set park brake. in one instance a truck rolled down a drive way and smashed a car and a mailbox, this was about 2 blocks from our house. Those parking pawls on an auto trans are going to eventually fail as they are not designed to support the vehicle weight on a grade. I set it each and every time flat or not.


My Dad had the happen in a GMC G3500 in our driveway, it rolled on to my neighbor's front lawn. The driveway is not a very steep slope.

I never parked my car there because I was afraid someone would smash it backing out.

 

[Carmudgeon]

The provision at the handle is a rough, wide adjustment, and shouldn't need to be touched unless the cables have been replaced, or worn out/stretched a fair amount by a gorilla driver who just yanks the handle.

The star adjusters inside the drum are for fine adjustments, within a limited range.

Generally, the procedure is to set the handle to the specified reference position, usually expressed as a number of clicks above full release.

Then, proceed to the star adjusters, set them to the point of wheel lockup, and then back off a bit. If there is insufficient clamping force within the range of the star adjusters, then the condition of the cables or shoes should be examined.

Overall, the system is designed to act with the handle and cable at a specified position, and length respectively (the constant, or dog), and with the in-drum adjustment for fine tuning (the slack, or tail). The tail shouldn't be wagging the dog.

Act accordingly depending on what your needs are.