Step 1: Jack up the rear of the car
- Park your car on a level surface, and apply the parking brake.
- Use a floor jack to lift the rear of the car off the ground just enough so that you can remove the rear tires and wheels.
- Place jack stands under the rear of the car to support it while you work on the emergency brake.
Step 2: Locate the emergency brake cable underneath the car
- The emergency brake cable is located in the middle of the car, running from the front to the rear.
- It is attached to the emergency brake pedal inside the car, and to the rear brake shoes at the rear of the car.
Step 3: Adjust the emergency brake cable at the rear of the car
- There is an adjuster located on the emergency brake cable at the rear of the car.
- Use a 12mm wrench to turn the adjuster clockwise until the rear brake shoes are just touching the rear brake drums.
- Make sure that the emergency brake is not too tight (so that the rear brakes drag) or too loose (so that the emergency brake does not work).
Step 4: Adjust the emergency brake cable inside the car
- There is another adjuster located on the emergency brake cable inside the car.
- Use a flat-head screwdriver to turn the adjuster clockwise until the emergency brake pedal has about 1 inch of travel before it engages.
- Make sure that the emergency brake is not too tight (so that it is difficult to press down) or too loose (so that it does not hold the car in place).
Step 5: Test the emergency brake
- Lower the car off the jack stands, and reinstall the rear tires and wheels.
- Test the emergency brake by applying it firmly while in a safe, controlled environment.
- The emergency brake should hold the car in place, even on a hill.
Tips:
* If you are uncomfortable working on brakes, you can have the emergency brake adjusted by a qualified mechanic.
* Be sure to inspect the rear brake shoes and drums for wear while you are adjusting the emergency brake.
* If the rear brake shoes or drums are worn, replace them before adjusting the emergency brake.
