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DIY: E-Brake Adjustment

 
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Old Aug 5, 2002
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DIY: E-Brake Adjustment

What time is it? It's DIY time! That's right kiddies, the DIY ***** is at it again! This time we learn how to take up the slack in the emergency brake. [IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG]

Seriously though, that's what I felt like DIYing. I already did this DIY a while back, but at the time I didn't have a digital camera handy. Now I do, plus it's bean some time since the last time I did this, so I felt like checking up on things.

Tools:
- phillips head screwdriver
- small wrench
- jack


First push down on the shift **** collar. Your shift **** might look different. This happens to be the base model RSX shift ****.


Then unscrew the shift ****.


Then pry up the emergency brake cover. Use lots of force and pry straight up.


Turn it around and look for any missing clips. Sometimes they fall off when taking this piece off. Find them and put them back on that piece. Notice my blue sound deadening material. That's not stock.


Unscrew two little screws under the piece that we just took off.


Move the chairs forward and unscrew two other screws in back.


Now pop out the little plastic clips holding the front. Reach under them and play with them a little. You'll like it! Hehe, no. Actually, reach in back there and make the middle of it pop out.


That large piece is now ready to come off. Just pull it out at an angle to the front. Make sure to clear the e-brake handle. Then just pull it out towards the rear of the car.


Jack up one rear wheel and lower the emergency brake. Make sure the car is on level ground and in first or reverse, so that it does not start to roll. Put sand bags around the front tires as an extra safety precaution if you'de like (anything heavy will do). Then try spinning the wheel with your hand. Wee! Watch it go.


Now, if your wheel spun in the previous step it's time to take up the slack in the emergency brake cable. If you can not spin your wheel, then you might want to consider giving the emergency brake a little more slack. Just tighten it like a screw with a wrench. Tighten a little and test out if the wheel still spins freely. Do so until you're happy with the results. You don't have to do the other side because the two cables are on a sort of scale like attachment that distributes the force applied to the cables evenly. One sides adjustment will equal the others.

Now enjoy the better feel of the emergency brake. My stops on hills have improved. Not because I made the emergency brake sptronger or anything, but because I don't have to pull up on it as much as I used to. My hand sits lower when it is pulled up all the way, so I have better leverage.
Old Aug 5, 2002
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ooohh. project for tomorrow
Old Aug 6, 2002
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yay. nice diy.
i havent done a diy in awhile.
Old Aug 6, 2002
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What's your mileage dude? I have 8k and still no slack in my e-brake at all.

But good project for when I do. Thanx for the DIY, you *****![IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG]
Old Aug 6, 2002
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First time I did it I had 5k or something like that. Now I have 10k. There was some slack this time as well... [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]
Old Dec 1, 2003
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Not to diss on your DIY as it's a good idea, but sometimes it's not the cable that's the problem.

If you wanna go at it, you basically take off the rear wheels, knock off the cover on the drum, and there's a little adjustment nut on the spring for the shoes. You move it in and out as to how close you want the shoes to the inside of the drum.

I'm not knocking this. It's a good idea, but also take a look at your shoes. Might not be a bad idea to do them both at the same time.
Old Dec 1, 2003
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nice CHEAP diy....thanks!
Old Dec 1, 2003
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Very easy DIY.
I did it when i was installing new shifter bushings.
Old Dec 1, 2003
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how the hell did you get the center console out? my arm rest keeps getting in the f***ing way...
Old Dec 1, 2003
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Originally posted by infinite012
how the hell did you get the center console out? my arm rest keeps getting in the f***ing way...
That should help.. Why cant you get it out though? You dont even need to take out arm rest to take out center console..
Old Dec 2, 2003
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the way i did mine is i jacked up the rear of the car and took off the drum cover. then i looked for the little bolt thats on a screw-like-cylinder and spun the screw clock wise or counter clockwise (i forgot which way). this does the same thing to your e-brake without having to take off your center console.
Old Jun 13, 2004
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After months of procrastinating I finally went out and did this last night, so easy and it's nice having an e-brake that doesn't end up in the back seat when you pull it up.
Old Nov 5, 2004
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I'd really love to do that but i cant see any of the pics for some reason?
Old Nov 6, 2004
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that seems like alot to do for just the adjustment. Everytime I had mine adjusted at a shop, it took them less then 5 min.
Old Nov 7, 2004
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I will re-post all of my DIY's with updated pics soon. The shop probably adjusted them in the rear. You can do that too, but I haven't been able to locate the screw we supposedly turn to tighten things up.
Old Nov 7, 2004
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Originally Posted by Grey
I will re-post all of my DIY's with updated pics soon. The shop probably adjusted them in the rear. You can do that too, but I haven't been able to locate the screw we supposedly turn to tighten things up.
**** I would like to know too so I can do it myself. Maybe next time I will watch them.
Old Dec 17, 2004
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any new pics yet? i need to adjust mine and am not sure which part to turn to adjust it.
Old Dec 18, 2004
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nothin???
Old Dec 19, 2004
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bump maybe??
Old Mar 30, 2005
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any new pics? would love to do this DIY. thanks Grey
Old Mar 30, 2005
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If I had the webspace, then I'de post them. My Member's Pics Page is full. If someone can donate some webspace, then let me know. I'll look around for something free when I have the time...
Old Apr 1, 2005
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pics aint work
Old Apr 1, 2005
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Originally Posted by Grey
If I had the webspace, then I'de post them. My Member's Pics Page is full. If someone can donate some webspace, then let me know. I'll look around for something free when I have the time...
Try http://photobucket.com/ or http://www.imgspot.com/.
There both free.
Old Apr 2, 2005
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hey guys..here the pics..grey wanted me to post..

10 attachments — Download all attachments View all images
Old Apr 2, 2005
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wow my bad..haha i dunno how to do it sorry
Old Jun 30, 2005
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wake this thread from death!

btw.....................where's grey? how he's doin? i wonder what happened to all the pics in this DIY...
Old Aug 8, 2005
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http://www.imageshack.us someone please post the pics!
Old Aug 8, 2005
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Damn this is an old thread!!! Someone help this guy out!!!
Old Sep 3, 2005
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yea, can someone do refresh this thread, i wanna see pics please
Old Sep 3, 2005
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Originally Posted by rice4lyfe
yea, can someone do refresh this thread, i wanna see pics please
instead of adjusting it at the rear of the center console, just remove the rear wheels and rear drums and in the middle you will see a star adjuster wheel. moving that adjuster forward or backwards will move the shoes closer to the drums or away from the drums. Adjust that untill you have a slight drag on the drums while spinning them, and when you are done with both sides, this will not only adjust the shoes, but your e-brake will be adjusted.

refer to the DIY on replacing the rear brake shoes to see what the adjuster looks like. it is a small wheel with little notches all around it.



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