And also when parking on inclined surface. This unit blocks the spontaneous movement of the car and is activated using a special lever installed together with the transmission on the dashboard. However, not every driver uses the parking brake, believing that its functions can be performed by low gear. They are not entirely right, because if the slope is too steep, only the handbrake will help, which will not allow the car to roll away. Over time the cable parking brake stretches and can no longer perform its functions. Therefore, it needs to be adjusted or repaired from time to time. We will tell you how to tighten the handbrake and...

Functionality check

Before starting the adjustment procedure, you should check the functionality of the device. It is recommended to carry out both procedures every 30 thousand km of driving.

To check the condition of the parking brake, you need to tighten it all the way, engage 1st gear, and then smoothly release the clutch. If the device works without failures, . Otherwise, the car will barely begin to move. This indicates that the handbrake needs adjustment or cable replacement. However, most often it is enough to simply tighten the parking brake.

On the video - adjusting the handbrake:

Adjustment steps

The procedure should be carried out on an elevated platform - inspection hole, lift or overpass. Look in the manual for your car to see what kind of parking brake system it has, because for some brands of cars the adjustment must be done inside the cabin. Then do sequentially:

1. Raise the handbrake lever 1–5 clicks.
2. Loosen the equalizer locknut.
3. Tighten the adjusting nut (this manipulation should cause the cable to tighten; if this does not happen, it is necessary urgent replacement cable hand brake).
4. Check the degree of tension of the cable - to do this, tighten the handle again a few clicks (if everything is in order - rear wheel will be difficult to turn).
5. Release the lever and turn the rear wheels - make sure they rotate evenly.
6. Lower back vehicle to the ground and check the effectiveness of the handbrake by engaging 1st gear.

Video about adjusting the handbrake from inside the car:

That's it, the handbrake adjustment is complete.

How to replace the cable

1. After driving the car into the pit, clean the surface of the equalizer and nuts.
2. Loosen the lock nut and unscrew it, and do the same with the adjusting nut.
3. Suspend the rear of the machine (loosen wheel bolts, lift with a car jack and place supports; lower the car and remove two wheels).
4. Remove the brake drums (unscrew the locking pins and knock them off the pads with a hammer).
5. Remove the rear block to which the handbrake end is attached, then remove the end itself.
6. Remove the bolt that secures the cable housing to the rear suspension.
7. Pull the grommets out of the cable casing, then pull the cable itself out of the holes.
8. Remove the sheath from the body holders and remove the ends of the cable from the equalization panel.

Now all that remains is a new cable, performing the steps in reverse order.

In the video - installing the handbrake cable on a VAZ:

Finally, we note that to ensure the longevity of the parking brake, it is recommended to use it more often. Some drivers mistakenly believe that the less often you touch it, the longer it will last. In reality, on the contrary, with rare use it will quickly fail due to lack of lubrication, sticking of the cable to the sheath, and accumulation of dust. All these factors will significantly complicate the movement of the handbrake, and this, in turn, will further increase the load when using it.

As a rule, malfunctions that arise in a rather primitive parking brake system are due to the fault of an inexperienced driver who forgets to put the lever in position when starting off. initial position. Although on dashboard the light is on (should be on), which indicates that the car is in the handbrake; cases of the brake not being released are far from rare. As a result, it becomes necessary to adjust the handbrake, since its constant readiness for operation is very important from a safety point of view.

Purpose of the handbrake

The parking or handbrake is designed to hold the car in place during long periods of parking. It is also used for emergency, emergency braking while driving and as a braking device if using the main one, the foot one, is difficult. This can occur when, for example, you need to simultaneously “gas” and at the same time keep the car from rolling away.

Handbrake device

The parking brake system is quite simple in design. It consists of brake mechanisms rear wheels, defined for a given vehicle class, and a mechanical drive.

Mechanical drive includes:

• handbrake lever located in the cab next to the driver’s seat on the center line;
• front and rear drive cables.

The rear cable ends are included in the levers manual drive brake pads. At the point where the front cable transitions to the rear sections there is an equalizer with an adjusting nut, a lock nut and a tension spring. Through this spring, the tip of the front cable is attached to a bracket on the body shell. The spring constantly returns the equalizer to its original position and weakens the cables when the handbrake lever is released. This is where the parking brake is adjusted.

Parking brake malfunctions

As a rule, malfunctions boil down to the fact that the handbrake simply does not hold the car and you just need to adjust (tighten) it. Owners of domestic cars constantly face this problem.
The second most common malfunction of the parking device is that the parking brake light does not light up, or, on the contrary, the parking brake light is constantly on.

Adjustment, or how to tighten the parking brake

As already mentioned, the mechanical handbrake drive is included in the same brake pads rear wheels, which are driven by the main ones, hydraulic brakes car. Therefore, we will not touch upon faults that occur in the drum itself - brake mechanism rear wheels. After all, otherwise the main ones would not work.


So, if the parking brake does not work, there is a need to adjust it. To do this we will need a 13mm wrench, pliers and a trestle or inspection hole.

Perform the following sequential actions:

1. place the car in a viewing hole or drive it onto an overpass;
2. raise the handbrake 2 clicks;
3. go down under the bottom, loosen the equalizer lock nut;
4. tighten the adjusting nut until the cable is tensioned;
5. tighten the locknut.

What if the adjusting nut no longer tensions the cable? This can happen on older vehicles that have been in use for a long time. In this case, it needs to be replaced, since over time the cable has already stretched to the limit. It is also necessary to change the cable if there are signs of severe wear, so that it does not break at the most inopportune moment.

The handbrake light does not light (stay on)

It's hard to give here general recommendation, in each individual case it is necessary to find the electrical circuit for the car, and then try to eliminate the malfunction using it. And if in the first case the light bulb could simply burn out, then if it is constantly lit, short circuits in the electrical system are possible, leading to a violation in the display on the instrument panel.

Checking status

At the end of the work, check how well the handbrake holds. To do this, park the machine on a slope and pull the lever towards you until it locks. Make sure the light is on. Try pushing the car. The parking brake should hold your car securely in place. If necessary, you can further tighten the cable.

It is advisable to perform these actions regularly so that a sudden refusal does not take you by surprise. When starting to drive, always pay attention to the instrument panel and, when moving, make sure that the light (handbrake sensor) is not on.

The brake system is an important part of any car. It is precisely this that is designed to provide a change in speed vehicle depending on the situation on the road surface.

The braking system of a car is, without a doubt, the main basis of driving safety. This is a rather complex mechanism that requires a professional approach to maintenance.

The brake system is represented by the main elements and auxiliary devices. These include a hand or parking brake, which is a backup system for emergency stopping of the vehicle.

Every driver, without exception, knows what a handbrake is and what it serves. It is most actively used by future drivers undergoing training within the walls of a driving school.

He helps them overcome one of the elements of the site - the overpass. In the future, when the cherished driver license received, many drivers rarely use the handbrake, using the brake pedal on inclines.

The following functions of the handbrake in a car can be distinguished:

1. Fixing the car in parking lots and slopes;
2. Pulling away on inclines;
3. Entering a sharp turn;
4. Refusal brake system;
5. Emergency braking.

The principle of operation of the parking brake is simple and straightforward. All control is carried out through a mechanical drive. It is operated by a person's hand by pulling upward.

A mechanical drive transmits the force of a person’s hand to the rear brake pads of the car. They block the rotation of the wheels and the car slows down smoothly or sharply depending on the speed of the force applied.

Checking the operation of the hand brake

There is no need to explain the importance of a working handbrake. On the Internet you can find a lot of videos where cars standing on a slope randomly started moving and rolled down, damaging other vehicles along the way.

Often it was the handbrake that saved the driver and passengers when the central braking system failed. This is a real backup way to stop the car, which must be in good condition.

You can check the operation of the handbrake yourself without outside help. The simplest and effective method apply the handbrake and try to move smoothly in first gear.

If the car is stationary or moves with great difficulty, the handbrake should be in good condition. When the car drives freely with the hand brake applied, it means that its effectiveness is extremely low, and adjustments must be made.

It is best to adjust the hand brake on an overpass or inspection hole. Most the best option- This is the use of a lift.

The procedure for adjusting the hand brake is as follows:

1. The handbrake goes up 3 clicks;
2. The equalizer locknut is loosened;
3. The equalizer adjusting nut tightens smoothly;
4. Handbrake cable tension;
5. Check the cable tension by tightening the handbrake handle until it stops;
6. When the handbrake is tightened, the rear wheel is manually turned with force;
7. The equalizer nut is tightened until it stops;
8. The handbrake lever is fully lowered and the vehicle wheels should rotate freely without jerking;
9. The vehicle is lowered to the ground and the handbrake is checked.

Conclusion

The performance of the handbrake is one of the fundamental principles of vehicle safety. Very often, a non-working handbrake can cause emergency situations. A service hand brake is the key to safe driving.

Thank you for your attention, good luck on your journey. Read, comment and ask questions. Subscribe to fresh and interesting articles on the site.

In addition to a working and spare one, there is also a parking one. In common parlance it is called a “handbrake”. On trucks, this element is driven by air. But on ordinary passenger cars and minibuses this is an archaic cable element. The design is quite simple (since it does not require a compressor, receiver and other parts, as in a pneumatic system), but it requires periodic adjustment. In today's article we will look at how to tighten the handbrake on a VAZ and other cars with your own hands.

Main symptoms of a malfunction

How to tighten the handbrake on a Chevrolet or any other car? Determining the malfunction of this element is quite simple. You should drive your front part onto a slope. According to the rules, you must hold the car at an angle of 17 degrees.

So, we drive up the hill, put the handbrake on and turn off the engine. We do not set the car for transmission. If the car begins to roll down, this is the first sign of a weakened handbrake. You can check this element without practical exercises. So, it is enough to count the total number of clicks in the lever. There should be 5-6 of them. If there are fewer or more clicks, then the car needs parking brake adjustment.

It is also possible to test the handbrake on a completely flat surface. So, you should tighten the lever all the way and engage the gear. Smoothly releasing the clutch, try to move away. If it is a working handbrake, you will feel that the car is chained to the ground. It is almost impossible to move it from its place. But if you calmly make a movement with the handbrake tightened, it means the cable has weakened. The way out of the situation is to tighten the parking brake.

Such diagnostics should be performed once a year or every 30 thousand kilometers. Timely checking of the brake system elements will allow you to avoid many emergency situations.

Causes

Most common reason these malfunctions are normal wear and tear parking brake element. The cable tends to stretch. Therefore, it is not surprising that from time to time motorists wonder how to tighten the handbrake on the Hyundai Accent and other cars. On foreign cars this unit lasts quite a long time. But on VAZs it can become unusable after 2-3 years. But it all depends on the intensity of use. Experienced motorists put the car “in gear” - this procedure does not harm the car and extends the service life of the parking cable.

Also, the reason may not be the cable itself. For example, a weakened handbrake may indicate worn out pads in the drum or disc mechanism. In this case, the linings are changed in pairs. For drum brakes four pads are purchased (upper and lower on each side), and for disc pads - two. If you tighten the handbrake without changing the pads, this may contribute to poor braking while driving.

The block has its critical wear. If worn, the metal part of the lining begins to rub against the surface of the disc or drum. If the problem is ignored, significant scuffs and scratches occur. Only a groove can help save such a situation (and even then not always). Therefore, always check the condition of the pads and replace them according to the regulations.

Where is

Before you learn how to tighten the handbrake with your own hands, you need to find where it is located. And it is located under the bottom. It is worth noting that the car has several such cables - each goes to its own wheel (right and left).

Closer to the middle of the body they are combined into one single element. This is where the adjusting nut is located that we need to use. We will also need wheel stops and a set of open-end wrenches.

Let's get started

So, first, we put the car in gear (if it is in “neutral”). Before tightening the handbrake on the Kia, you need to jack up the rear of the car. It is best to carry out work in a pit or overpass. If this is not available, we carry out work on a flat asphalt surface. We install anti-roll bars under the front wheels. We climb under the bottom and find the branching point of the cable. The adjusting and locking nut will also be located here. The latter must first be unscrewed.

Using pliers, grab the front part of the parking cable. With the other hand, take a wrench of the appropriate size and rotate the adjusting nut. If during testing the lever makes more clicks than expected, then the element needs to be tightened. If less, then unscrew it. How many turns the nut will be tightened or unscrewed depends on the severity of the situation. Sometimes to get the desired effect you need to repeat this procedure twice or three times.

Completion of work

After adjustment, tighten the lock nut tightly (so that it does not unscrew and disappear while driving) and check the effectiveness of the parking brake. If necessary, repeat the procedure again. At this point, the question “how to tighten the handbrake with your own hands” can be considered closed.

It is worth noting that the setting cable drive has a similar principle, regardless of the make of the car and even what type of brakes are installed (drums or discs).

Conclusion

So, we figured out how to tighten the handbrake with your own hands. Before testing, it is important to hang up each of the rear wheels of the car and try to spin it. The disk should rotate freely, without jamming. If everything is exactly like this, it means that the procedure for tightening the parking brake was successful.

If you are a car owner, you may need to adjust your handbrake at any time. You should not neglect this part of the brake system, because quality work this important detail Your safety on the road and the safety of your property depend.

Why do we need a working handbrake?

When do you need to adjust the handbrake?

It is very easy to notice that you need to adjust the handbrake. Either the slope experiment will fail, or there is another test to determine whether adjustment is necessary. To do this, pull the handbrake fully and observe whether the movement continues at this time. If the car continues to move and brakes weakly enough, it may require repairs, or at least basic adjustments. The reason why the problem described above may occur is a weakening of the brake cable tension.

Sometimes there may also be other causes such as big gap between the pads and the drum or wear of the linings. To fix problems with the handbrake, you don’t have to immediately contact a car service; you can try to eliminate the problem. To do this, you should perform a series of actions that anyone can handle, provided they have basic knowledge about the structure of the car. When carrying out repairs, do not forget about your own safety and carry out repairs in a place intended for this purpose. If there is no such place, then do not do it alone.

Before starting repairs, check in the instructions which one is present in your car.

Pull the handbrake - your actions

So, the handbrake is tightened as follows. First, use a jack and install the support. Then lift the brake lever. Now locate and loosen the adjuster locknut through the hatch in the brake drum. Tighten the adjusting nut, while making sure that the brake cable is tensioned. If, after performing all of the above steps, the cable tension does not occur, then you will need to replace this part. In this case, you need to contact specialists who will quickly help solve your problem.

If everything went well, check the operation of the handbrake by pulling the lever towards you. Do a test: try turning the rear wheel by hand. The wheels should not rotate without force. And if the test passes, then tighten the locknut. Release the lever and perform another similar test. This time the wheels should spin freely. Now lower your vehicle to the ground and perform a test to determine whether the parking brake is working. The brake tension is complete. You can consider yourself a real master. But if you still do not dare to implement the described plan, then do not hesitate to contact knowledgeable people who will help solve not only this, but also other problems.