Alex <adr5@columbia.edu> wrote in
news:1193619883.153613.207590@y42g2000hsy.googlegr oups.com:

> On Oct 23, 8:41 am, Tegger <teg...@tegger.c0m> wrote:
>> Alex <a...@columbia.edu> wrote in news:1193106725.429023.38600
>> @q3g2000prf.googlegroups.com:
>>
>> > Hi,
>> > I recently changed the rear brake pads on my inlaws Acura TL 2.5.
>> > Everything went well except that I wasn't sure how to adjust the
>> > parking brake. I didn't want to just take up more cable on the
>> > adjustment bolt. I just couldn't tell how to tighten the parking
>> > brake cable again after I screwed the pistons back into the
>> > caliper. Can anyone point me to a web site with instructions on how
>> > to do this? TIA.
>>
>> How many clicks of the handle are needed to fully apply the parking
>> brake?
>>
>> If you're between six and ten, you're fine.
>
> It's more than 10 clicks. Before the brake pad change the parking
> brake handle
> would end up approx. 20 degs up from horizontal. Now it is closer to
> 75 degs.
> It still catches enough to keep the car from rolling, but from working
> with other
> cars I know that less than 10 clicks is the norm.



The angle of the handle is irrelevant. It's the number of clicks that
matters.

If the number of clicks needed is eight or above, then the cables
probably do need to be adjusted.

However...

-- Make 100% certain the parking brake cable ends are pivoting properly
on the calipers' levers. This is critical.
-- Make sure you're NOT using aftermarket pads.
-- Make sure both pistons are moving freely in their bores.
-- Make sure neither the calipers nor the pads are seized.
-- Make certain that BOTH parking brake caliper levers rotate when the
handle is pulled, and that BOTH wheels are held by the parking brake so
that you cannot spin them by hand (if one is still spinnable while the
other is not, then something is seized somewhere).

If the above five items are proven to be true, then:
1) back the cable adjustment off so that both caliper levers are sitting
against their pins;
2) then adjust the cables so that the parking brake takes six clicks to
fully hold the car on an incline.

With the cables thus adjusted and the parking brake OFF, BOTH rear
wheels should spin freely when spun by hand. Both wheels should
conitinue to spin when you stop pushing, and should spin about equally
freely. With the handle pulled up, neither wheel should be spinnable by
hand no matter how hard you push.

--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/