Handbrake Adjustment
Also called handbrake too loose
The handbrake works the rear brakes through a cable, and both the cable and the rear brake adjusters stretch and wear so the lever travels further before it holds. Adjustment resets that travel and checks the cable runs freely. If the cable is frayed, seized in its sleeve, or the rear shoes are worn out, adjustment alone will not hold the car, and those parts need replacing instead. Islamabad's slopes make this worth getting right.
Signs you need this
- Lever comes up much further than it used to
- Car rolls on a slope with the handbrake applied
- Handbrake holds on one side only
- Warning light stays on with the lever fully down
- Rear brakes drag slightly after the lever is released
Not all of these have to be present, and one of them on its own can mean something else entirely. That is what the diagnosis is for.
What the job includes
- Count of lever clicks before the brake holds
- Rear brake shoe or pad condition check
- Rear brake self-adjuster freed and set before the cable is touched
- Cable tension adjusted at the equaliser
- Cable and sleeve checked for fraying, rust and free movement
- Slope holding test after adjustment
How we do it
Check the rear brakes
Shoe or pad wear and the self-adjuster are checked first, because cable tension cannot compensate for worn linings.
Free the adjuster
The rear brake adjusters are freed and set so both sides take up clearance evenly.
Set cable tension
Tension is adjusted at the equaliser so the lever holds within the correct number of clicks.
Test on a slope
The car is held on an incline and the rear wheels are checked afterwards for any residual drag.
How we work
The same on every job, which is why we can write it down.
Diagnosis before quote
We find the fault first. A price given over the phone for a noise nobody has heard is a guess.
The price is agreed first
You approve the work and the cost before a spanner is picked up. Extra work means another call.
Parts you can check
We tell you whether a part is genuine, OEM, aftermarket or used, and what each one costs.
Old parts returned
Ask and we will hand back whatever we replaced. It is the simplest proof that the job was done.
Book handbrake adjustment
Fill this in and a person will call you back to confirm the time and the price. Only your name and one way to reach you are required.
You send this
Takes a minute. No payment, no obligation.
We call you
To confirm the car, the time and the location.
Tell us the car and the symptom
We will arrange a mechanic at your location, or a slot at the nearest workshop. No payment until the price is agreed.