How do I make my parking brake tighter?
Your parking brake should hold the car securely when you park, especially on slopes. Tightening it typically means adjusting the brake shoes or the brake cable, or recalibrating an electronic parking brake (EPB). The exact method depends on whether your car uses a traditional cable-driven system or an electronic one.
Identify Your Parking Brake System
Determining which system you have will guide the adjustment approach. Look for a mechanical cable and rear drum brakes, or an electronic switch/motor assembly near the rear brakes. If you’re unsure, check the owner’s manual or ask a trusted mechanic.
How to tell if you have a cable-driven or electronic system
The simplest clue is the mechanism you interact with:\n- Cable-driven systems use a hand lever or foot pedal connected by a cable to the rear brakes and often rely on a drum or shoe setup. \n- Electronic parking brakes use a switch or pedal and a motor or caliper that activates electronically. If there’s a motor near the rear brakes or an EPB indicator light, you likely have an electronic system.
Manual, Cable-Driven Parking Brakes
On many older or simpler modern cars, the parking brake tightens by adjusting a star wheel inside the rear brake drum or by tightening the outer cable via an adjuster. You’ll usually need basic hand tools and a safe workspace.
What you’ll need
Before you begin, gather the essentials and note safety caveats. This list applies to most cable-driven rear brakes, where the drums are accessible:
- Jack and jack stands, wheel chocks, and a level working surface
- Basic hand tools (socket/set, wrench, and a brake spoon or flat-head screwdriver)
- Replacement brake shoes if wear is excessive
- Lubricant for a light coat on moving parts
With the right tools, you can proceed carefully. If the drum won’t come off easily or you’re unsure about shoes wear, seek professional help.
Steps to tighten a cable-driven parking brake
- Park on a level surface, engage wheel chocks, and loosen the wheel lug nuts slightly before lifting the car.
- Lift the rear of the car and remove the rear wheels to access the brake drums.
- Remove the brake drum(s) to reveal the brake shoes and the star wheel adjuster on the backing plate.
- Place a brake spoon or appropriate tool into the star-wheel adjuster and rotate it. Turning the star wheel clockwise tightens the shoes; you’ll feel resistance as the shoes contact the drum.
- Rotate evenly on both sides until you detect a slight drag when spinning the drum by hand. Do not over-tighten; excessive force can cause binding or wear.
- Reinstall the drums and wheels, lower the car, and gently test the parking brake several times by engaging and releasing it.
- On many vehicles, the automatic adjuster will continue to tighten as you drive with the brake applied in reverse, so a short test drive after adjustment can help set the mechanism.
Concluding: If the adjustment to one side is clearly uneven or the drum drags excessively, inspect the brake shoes for wear, inspect the cable for fraying or binding, and correct any faults before continuing. If you’re unsure about the process, a professional inspection is recommended.
Electronic Parking Brakes (EPB)
Electronic parking brakes replace or supplement a mechanical cable with a motorized caliper or brake actuator. There isn’t a simple star-wheel adjuster you can turn by hand. Tightening or recalibrating is usually done via the car’s software and requires the right tools. If your EPB isn’t holding well, diagnosing the system is essential and often requires a code scan and service mode procedures.
What you can and cannot do with EPB systems
In EPB cars, you generally cannot manually tighten the brakes at home as with cable systems. Instead, you’ll rely on software calibration, component replacement, or a service procedure outlined in the vehicle’s manual. When the EPB underperforms, consider these steps:
- Check for diagnostic trouble codes with a compatible scan tool to identify stuck components or sensor faults.
- Inspect rear brake pads/shoes for wear and replace if necessary; worn components can reduce holding power.
- Look for binding or seized calipers, damaged cables, or seized motor assemblies that prevent full engagement.
- Use the manufacturer’s recommended relearn or calibration procedure after any brake work, using the appropriate diagnostic tool.
- If the system still doesn’t hold after calibration, seek professional service. EPB systems require specialized tools and knowledge.
Concluding: EPB tightening is largely a software and component-maintenance task. If your car won’t hold with EPB engaged, a dealer or trained technician is usually the best path forward to diagnose and restore proper function.
Common issues and maintenance tips
Regardless of system type, several issues can affect parking-brake performance. Regular inspection and timely replacement of worn parts helps prevent a loose or unreliable brake:
- Worn brake shoes or pads reduce holding power; replace as needed.
- Cables stretched or frayed over time; replace faulty cables.
- Corrosion on star-wheel adjusters or backing plates can prevent proper adjustment; clean and lubricate as appropriate.
- Sticking calipers or drums; ensure moving parts operate smoothly.
- Electronic systems may require software updates, calibration, or module replacement.
Concluding: Regular brake inspection by a qualified technician helps ensure your parking brake remains reliable, especially on slopes or during long-term parking.
Summary
Tightening your parking brake depends on the system you have. For cable-driven rear brakes, adjust the star wheel or cable length to achieve a slight drag without binding, then test and recheck on both sides. For electronic parking brakes, tightening is achieved through calibration and replacement under guidance from the vehicle’s service procedures and tools. In all cases, if you’re unsure or the brake still doesn’t hold after adjustment or recalibration, consult a professional to avoid unsafe parking conditions. Regular maintenance and proper part replacement are key to reliable parking-brake performance.
