How to Adjust Hand Brakes

The hand brakes in today's vehicles are generally self-adjusting and do not need to be adjusted. But after years of driving your vehicle, the hand brake may start to slip a little, so a manual adjustment can help restore the proper functioning of the hand brake. Most hand brakes have a control cable or control rod, some type of adjusting mechanism and a hand lever.

Things You'll Need

  • Pliers
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Instructions

    • 1

      Find the parking brake in the center of the vehicle between the driver and passenger seats. Unhook the latches on the side of the console cover that covers the hand brake. Lift off the console cover and set it aside.

    • 2

      Pull up the hand brake lever three to four notches.

    • 3

      Find the hand brake cable rod and look for an adjuster nut. Loosen the nut with pliers.

    • 4

      Disengage the hand brake and tighten the adjuster nut with pliers.

    • 5

      Engage and disengage the hand brake four times to set the adjustment.

    • 6

      Park the vehicle downhill. Hold it in place by engaging only the parking brake. If this doesn't keep the vehicle in place, repeat the adjustment. Replace the console cover once the hand brake has been adjusted properly.