Changed brake pads, handbrake travel?
Discussion
I changed the rear pads on my car today and noticed that there was a huge amount of travel on the handbrake. I adjusted it at the handbrake end, but it needed so much adjustment that the cable ran out of threaded section.
After driving it a bit it's gotten better, about five clicks until it holds the car. I'm just thinking once the pads wear down and it needs more adjustment I'll be stuck, because there's no more adjustment left on the cable for reducing travel.
What did I do wrong? Thanks.
After driving it a bit it's gotten better, about five clicks until it holds the car. I'm just thinking once the pads wear down and it needs more adjustment I'll be stuck, because there's no more adjustment left on the cable for reducing travel.
What did I do wrong? Thanks.
I'm not familiar with the Mazda3, but suspect you've started at the wrong end.
You may need to put the free-play back into the cable(s) and do whatever has to be done to get the self-adjusters to get to the correct position in the calipers and take the free play up from that end.
This may be by pumping the brake pedal a number of times, or working the handbrake lever up and down, it varies. Check the manual for the car.
You may need to put the free-play back into the cable(s) and do whatever has to be done to get the self-adjusters to get to the correct position in the calipers and take the free play up from that end.
This may be by pumping the brake pedal a number of times, or working the handbrake lever up and down, it varies. Check the manual for the car.
If you take up slack at the handbrake lever end, you stop the adjuster at the wheel from working. The handbrake adjuster should only be used to compensate for stretch in the cable.
I suggest you loosen off the cable adjuster and check the adjuster at the wheel is working. The technique for that varies from car to car, but often it involves holding the brakes on with the foot brake while you pump the hand brake on and off. If the adjuster isn't working then either the adjuster or the cable may need cleaning.
I suggest you loosen off the cable adjuster and check the adjuster at the wheel is working. The technique for that varies from car to car, but often it involves holding the brakes on with the foot brake while you pump the hand brake on and off. If the adjuster isn't working then either the adjuster or the cable may need cleaning.
I wound the slack off the handbrake as far as it would go and then pumped the brake pedal, then tightened up the handbrake again. Much better! Gassing Station | Home Mechanics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff