I needed to replace my brake pads for quite awhile and since they were so low I had to pull my emergency brake all the way up to the top to get my car to not roll. I replaced my pads last week and now I still have to pull the ebrake handle all the way to the top. If i pull it 1/2 or 3/4 of the way up the car will roll back in my drive way. My drive way is maybe a 5 -7% incline it is nothing. What can I do to fix this? i was told that my cable was stretched out. If it's stretched out can I even fix it, or does it have to be replaced? Thanks everyone. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

dustin

 

not sure if there's a DIY around for this but yea, our cars e-brakes suck badly. I never trust it, my solution has just been e-brake/leave in gear combo. to be safe....

 

The cable can be adjusted:



Also, you do realize that the e-brake doesn't engage the rear caliper pads, right? It uses separate brake shoes inside the rotor.

 

^^ Great find!! Should be a quick and easy fix just don't make it too tight.

 

It's not a find - I have the service manual and uploaded the pic...

 

thank you very much for that -- i honestly had no idea that the ebrake did not use the pads. i figured that was why i had to pull it up so high -- maybe I will do what dreamg35 said leave it in gear and pull the ebrake -

i will tighten the cable on thursday, i am installing my spacer on thursday anyway. thanks again for the post out of the service manual

 

what is the first picture of, it won't pull up, it only shows the infamous X

 

Same thing as the attachment.

 

is this the same for adjusting the ebrake on the automatic? i cant even get my cable to grip sometimes when on a big hill in N... i was told to let the car go in neutral with the ebrake on, let off brake, then park... to bypass stress on the parking pall....?...

 

good find... do you know if it is the same for the Z????

 

yea, how u do it with the pedal e brake? my doesnt hold at all in my 03 5at... hasnt 4 over 2 years now

 

Adjusting the e-brake on the 5AT should be the same. I disassembled my ebrake on one side when I replaced my hub and wheel bearing. Just turn the star adjustment piece to tighten up the e-brake shoes.