Honda Car Forum

Hi all, does anyone know where the adjuster is for the parking brake,
on the 2006 Civic. Our model is the hybrid, with drum brakes in the
rear.

The dealer has set it too tight for my taste at a recent brake
service: now it barely gets to the first click of the lever and it's
locked. With the back wheels raised and parking brake off, one wheel
turns freely, but one is scraping a little for about half of the
revolution, and comes to a stop.

I suspect our mileage is suffering a bit since that brake service, but
not sure, we're doing a lot of short trips lately.

I know a little resistance is not unusual, and that it will loosen up
in time, from experience with other hondas. I phoned the dealer back
and they've said bring it in and they'll loosen it, and that it will
loosen. Also, the mechanic said if I wanted to do it myself, the
adjuster is "at the back of the drum". I've had a look and that
doesn't seem to be the case.

I have a shop manual on order, but in the interm, for my curiosity:

Anyone know where the adjuster for the parking brake is? In the center
console? Our old honda's alway's accessed it by taking out the rear
passenger ashtray, but our new civic hybrid looks to have an
unimpenatrable center console. Is it in there, and do you have to pull
the whole dang thing out? Or is it hiding somewhere back at the drum
itself?

Any info greatly appreciated!

It may be underneath the car, since the console is not easy to get at.

WHy not take it back to the dealer and have them do it to your preference?

-SP



Mendel Leisk wrote:
> Hi all, does anyone know where the adjuster is for the parking brake,
> on the 2006 Civic. Our model is the hybrid, with drum brakes in the
> rear.
>
> The dealer has set it too tight for my taste at a recent brake
> service: now it barely gets to the first click of the lever and it's
> locked. With the back wheels raised and parking brake off, one wheel
> turns freely, but one is scraping a little for about half of the
> revolution, and comes to a stop.
>
> I suspect our mileage is suffering a bit since that brake service, but
> not sure, we're doing a lot of short trips lately.
>
> I know a little resistance is not unusual, and that it will loosen up
> in time, from experience with other hondas. I phoned the dealer back
> and they've said bring it in and they'll loosen it, and that it will
> loosen. Also, the mechanic said if I wanted to do it myself, the
> adjuster is "at the back of the drum". I've had a look and that
> doesn't seem to be the case.
>
> I have a shop manual on order, but in the interm, for my curiosity:
>
> Anyone know where the adjuster for the parking brake is? In the center
> console? Our old honda's alway's accessed it by taking out the rear
> passenger ashtray, but our new civic hybrid looks to have an
> unimpenatrable center console. Is it in there, and do you have to pull
> the whole dang thing out? Or is it hiding somewhere back at the drum
> itself?
>
> Any info greatly appreciated!
>

On Feb 24, 8:19 am, Speedy Pete <speedythetrash.p...@verizon.net>
wrote:
> It may be underneath the car, since the console is not easy to get at.
>
> WHy not take it back to the dealer and have them do it to your preference?
>
> -SP
>
>
>
> Mendel Leisk wrote:
> > Hi all, does anyone know where the adjuster is for the parking brake,
> > on the 2006 Civic. Our model is the hybrid, with drum brakes in the
> > rear.
>
> > The dealer has set it too tight for my taste at a recent brake
> > service: now it barely gets to the first click of the lever and it's
> > locked. With the back wheels raised and parking brake off, one wheel
> > turns freely, but one is scraping a little for about half of the
> > revolution, and comes to a stop.
>
> > I suspect our mileage is suffering a bit since that brake service, but
> > not sure, we're doing a lot of short trips lately.
>
> > I know a little resistance is not unusual, and that it will loosen up
> > in time, from experience with other hondas. I phoned the dealer back
> > and they've said bring it in and they'll loosen it, and that it will
> > loosen. Also, the mechanic said if I wanted to do it myself, the
> > adjuster is "at the back of the drum". I've had a look and that
> > doesn't seem to be the case.
>
> > I have a shop manual on order, but in the interm, for my curiosity:
>
> > Anyone know where the adjuster for the parking brake is? In the center
> > console? Our old honda's alway's accessed it by taking out the rear
> > passenger ashtray, but our new civic hybrid looks to have an
> > unimpenatrable center console. Is it in there, and do you have to pull
> > the whole dang thing out? Or is it hiding somewhere back at the drum
> > itself?
>
> > Any info greatly appreciated!- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I most likely will do nothing, since I concur with the dealer that it
will loosen over time. Second most like option is I'll take it back to
them. But, I'd like to learn for myself where the adjustment is made.

Try www.slhondaparts.com and look at the diagrams.

'Curly'

On Feb 24, 9:10 am, motsco_ <mots...@interbaun.com> wrote:
> Trywww.slhondaparts.comand look at the diagrams.
>
> 'Curly'

Thanks for the link. I see the equalizer is still the center console.
Not sure if there's still an adjustment bolt there, as it was on our
past hondas

On Feb 24, 9:38 am, "Mendel Leisk" <mendel_leisknos...@hotmail.com>
wrote:
> On Feb 24, 9:10 am, motsco_ <mots...@interbaun.com> wrote:
>
> > Trywww.slhondaparts.comandlook at the diagrams.
>
> > 'Curly'
>
> Thanks for the link. I see the equalizer is still the center console.
> Not sure if there's still an adjustment bolt there, as it was on our
> past hondas

Ok, starting from the page you linked, got to here:

http://www.slhondaparts.com/browse.a...ViewParts=true

and item 7 is referred to as the "adjuster nut".

It inside the console, right behind the parking brake lever, before
the equalizer bracket.

Mendel Leisk wrote:
> On Feb 24, 8:19 am, Speedy Pete <speedythetrash.p...@verizon.net>
> wrote:
>> It may be underneath the car, since the console is not easy to get at.
>>
>> WHy not take it back to the dealer and have them do it to your preference?
>>
>> -SP
>>
>>
>>
>> Mendel Leisk wrote:
>>> Hi all, does anyone know where the adjuster is for the parking brake,
>>> on the 2006 Civic. Our model is the hybrid, with drum brakes in the
>>> rear.
>>> The dealer has set it too tight for my taste at a recent brake
>>> service: now it barely gets to the first click of the lever and it's
>>> locked. With the back wheels raised and parking brake off, one wheel
>>> turns freely, but one is scraping a little for about half of the
>>> revolution, and comes to a stop.
>>> I suspect our mileage is suffering a bit since that brake service, but
>>> not sure, we're doing a lot of short trips lately.
>>> I know a little resistance is not unusual, and that it will loosen up
>>> in time, from experience with other hondas. I phoned the dealer back
>>> and they've said bring it in and they'll loosen it, and that it will
>>> loosen. Also, the mechanic said if I wanted to do it myself, the
>>> adjuster is "at the back of the drum". I've had a look and that
>>> doesn't seem to be the case.
>>> I have a shop manual on order, but in the interm, for my curiosity:
>>> Anyone know where the adjuster for the parking brake is? In the center
>>> console? Our old honda's alway's accessed it by taking out the rear
>>> passenger ashtray, but our new civic hybrid looks to have an
>>> unimpenatrable center console. Is it in there, and do you have to pull
>>> the whole dang thing out? Or is it hiding somewhere back at the drum
>>> itself?
>>> Any info greatly appreciated!- Hide quoted text -
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> I most likely will do nothing, since I concur with the dealer that it
> will loosen over time. Second most like option is I'll take it back to
> them. But, I'd like to learn for myself where the adjustment is made.
>
it won't loosen unless the self-adjusting mechanism is disabled. it's
also a potential safety issue because it can affect the front/rear
braking balance causing the rears to apply too early and too hard,
thereby causing rear wheel lock and spin-out. without abs at any rate.
get it properly adjusted. dealer is just b.s.ing you because they
don't want to fix their own mistake on their own dime.

On Feb 24, 12:35 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
> Mendel Leisk wrote:
> > On Feb 24, 8:19 am, Speedy Pete <speedythetrash.p...@verizon.net>
> > wrote:
> >> It may be underneath the car, since the console is not easy to get at.
>
> >> WHy not take it back to the dealer and have them do it to your preference?
>
> >> -SP
>
> >> Mendel Leisk wrote:
> >>> Hi all, does anyone know where the adjuster is for the parking brake,
> >>> on the 2006 Civic. Our model is the hybrid, with drum brakes in the
> >>> rear.
> >>> The dealer has set it too tight for my taste at a recent brake
> >>> service: now it barely gets to the first click of the lever and it's
> >>> locked. With the back wheels raised and parking brake off, one wheel
> >>> turns freely, but one is scraping a little for about half of the
> >>> revolution, and comes to a stop.
> >>> I suspect our mileage is suffering a bit since that brake service, but
> >>> not sure, we're doing a lot of short trips lately.
> >>> I know a little resistance is not unusual, and that it will loosen up
> >>> in time, from experience with other hondas. I phoned the dealer back
> >>> and they've said bring it in and they'll loosen it, and that it will
> >>> loosen. Also, the mechanic said if I wanted to do it myself, the
> >>> adjuster is "at the back of the drum". I've had a look and that
> >>> doesn't seem to be the case.
> >>> I have a shop manual on order, but in the interm, for my curiosity:
> >>> Anyone know where the adjuster for the parking brake is? In the center
> >>> console? Our old honda's alway's accessed it by taking out the rear
> >>> passenger ashtray, but our new civic hybrid looks to have an
> >>> unimpenatrable center console. Is it in there, and do you have to pull
> >>> the whole dang thing out? Or is it hiding somewhere back at the drum
> >>> itself?
> >>> Any info greatly appreciated!- Hide quoted text -
> >> - Show quoted text -
>
> > I most likely will do nothing, since I concur with the dealer that it
> > will loosen over time. Second most like option is I'll take it back to
> > them. But, I'd like to learn for myself where the adjustment is made.
>
> it won't loosen unless the self-adjusting mechanism is disabled. it's
> also a potential safety issue because it can affect the front/rear
> braking balance causing the rears to apply too early and too hard,
> thereby causing rear wheel lock and spin-out. without abs at any rate.
> get it properly adjusted. dealer is just b.s.ing you because they
> don't want to fix their own mistake on their own dime.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

After having a look at this:

http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16370

I managed to get down to the parking brake adjuster nut. It wasn't too
much of a fight, and I tried as much as possible to use just my
fingers and nails, to avoid scratching things. The (auto) shifter
bezel comes of first, then the larger black plastic surround. Just per
the link. Then, you can see the adjuster nut down alongside the
parking brake lever.No screws involved, just a matter of wiggling the
pieces out of their clips.

I had the back end jacked up and on safety stands before doing any
adjustment to the parking brake adjustment nut. I also pulled both
back wheels and had a look inside the drum brakes. Both star adjusters
out somewhere between 1/16"~1/8". A little dust in both drums, and the
shoes are floating ok, moving side to side.

Put everything back, loosened of the parking brake nut, by about 2
revolutions, and applied and released the parking brake a few times.
Lo and behold, neither back wheel is dragging now, just a hint of
whisper on one side, but truly free spinning.

Pulling the lever up one notch: I can't turn the wheel by hand when
the car's raised, though I suspect it would still creep on a slope.
Pulled up 3 notches it feels fully locked. Will check it out on a
grade.

Nice to know you can get at that adjuster nut still, though it's a bit
more of a hassle.

Mendel Leisk wrote:
> On Feb 24, 12:35 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
>> Mendel Leisk wrote:
>>> On Feb 24, 8:19 am, Speedy Pete <speedythetrash.p...@verizon.net>
>>> wrote:
>>>> It may be underneath the car, since the console is not easy to get at.
>>>> WHy not take it back to the dealer and have them do it to your preference?
>>>> -SP
>>>> Mendel Leisk wrote:
>>>>> Hi all, does anyone know where the adjuster is for the parking brake,
>>>>> on the 2006 Civic. Our model is the hybrid, with drum brakes in the
>>>>> rear.
>>>>> The dealer has set it too tight for my taste at a recent brake
>>>>> service: now it barely gets to the first click of the lever and it's
>>>>> locked. With the back wheels raised and parking brake off, one wheel
>>>>> turns freely, but one is scraping a little for about half of the
>>>>> revolution, and comes to a stop.
>>>>> I suspect our mileage is suffering a bit since that brake service, but
>>>>> not sure, we're doing a lot of short trips lately.
>>>>> I know a little resistance is not unusual, and that it will loosen up
>>>>> in time, from experience with other hondas. I phoned the dealer back
>>>>> and they've said bring it in and they'll loosen it, and that it will
>>>>> loosen. Also, the mechanic said if I wanted to do it myself, the
>>>>> adjuster is "at the back of the drum". I've had a look and that
>>>>> doesn't seem to be the case.
>>>>> I have a shop manual on order, but in the interm, for my curiosity:
>>>>> Anyone know where the adjuster for the parking brake is? In the center
>>>>> console? Our old honda's alway's accessed it by taking out the rear
>>>>> passenger ashtray, but our new civic hybrid looks to have an
>>>>> unimpenatrable center console. Is it in there, and do you have to pull
>>>>> the whole dang thing out? Or is it hiding somewhere back at the drum
>>>>> itself?
>>>>> Any info greatly appreciated!- Hide quoted text -
>>>> - Show quoted text -
>>> I most likely will do nothing, since I concur with the dealer that it
>>> will loosen over time. Second most like option is I'll take it back to
>>> them. But, I'd like to learn for myself where the adjustment is made.
>> it won't loosen unless the self-adjusting mechanism is disabled. it's
>> also a potential safety issue because it can affect the front/rear
>> braking balance causing the rears to apply too early and too hard,
>> thereby causing rear wheel lock and spin-out. without abs at any rate.
>> get it properly adjusted. dealer is just b.s.ing you because they
>> don't want to fix their own mistake on their own dime.- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> After having a look at this:
>
> http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16370
>
> I managed to get down to the parking brake adjuster nut. It wasn't too
> much of a fight, and I tried as much as possible to use just my
> fingers and nails, to avoid scratching things. The (auto) shifter
> bezel comes of first, then the larger black plastic surround. Just per
> the link. Then, you can see the adjuster nut down alongside the
> parking brake lever.No screws involved, just a matter of wiggling the
> pieces out of their clips.
>
> I had the back end jacked up and on safety stands before doing any
> adjustment to the parking brake adjustment nut. I also pulled both
> back wheels and had a look inside the drum brakes. Both star adjusters
> out somewhere between 1/16"~1/8". A little dust in both drums, and the
> shoes are floating ok, moving side to side.
>
> Put everything back, loosened of the parking brake nut, by about 2
> revolutions, and applied and released the parking brake a few times.
> Lo and behold, neither back wheel is dragging now, just a hint of
> whisper on one side, but truly free spinning.
>
> Pulling the lever up one notch: I can't turn the wheel by hand when
> the car's raised, though I suspect it would still creep on a slope.
> Pulled up 3 notches it feels fully locked. Will check it out on a
> grade.
>
> Nice to know you can get at that adjuster nut still, though it's a bit
> more of a hassle.
>
good. need to loosen it a bit more though. wheels are not supposed to
be locked until notch 6. 6 thru 9 is the factory spec. or at least,
that's for my older [non-hybrid] civic. also, don't rely on not being
able to turn wheels by hand - cars are heavy and can roll against a fair
amount of braking resistance.

On Feb 24, 9:12 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
> Mendel Leisk wrote:
> > On Feb 24, 12:35 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
> >> Mendel Leisk wrote:
> >>> On Feb 24, 8:19 am, Speedy Pete <speedythetrash.p...@verizon.net>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>> It may be underneath the car, since the console is not easy to get at.
> >>>> WHy not take it back to the dealer and have them do it to your preference?
> >>>> -SP
> >>>> Mendel Leisk wrote:
> >>>>> Hi all, does anyone know where the adjuster is for the parking brake,
> >>>>> on the 2006 Civic. Our model is the hybrid, with drum brakes in the
> >>>>> rear.
> >>>>> The dealer has set it too tight for my taste at a recent brake
> >>>>> service: now it barely gets to the first click of the lever and it's
> >>>>> locked. With the back wheels raised and parking brake off, one wheel
> >>>>> turns freely, but one is scraping a little for about half of the
> >>>>> revolution, and comes to a stop.
> >>>>> I suspect our mileage is suffering a bit since that brake service, but
> >>>>> not sure, we're doing a lot of short trips lately.
> >>>>> I know a little resistance is not unusual, and that it will loosen up
> >>>>> in time, from experience with other hondas. I phoned the dealer back
> >>>>> and they've said bring it in and they'll loosen it, and that it will
> >>>>> loosen. Also, the mechanic said if I wanted to do it myself, the
> >>>>> adjuster is "at the back of the drum". I've had a look and that
> >>>>> doesn't seem to be the case.
> >>>>> I have a shop manual on order, but in the interm, for my curiosity:
> >>>>> Anyone know where the adjuster for the parking brake is? In the center
> >>>>> console? Our old honda's alway's accessed it by taking out the rear
> >>>>> passenger ashtray, but our new civic hybrid looks to have an
> >>>>> unimpenatrable center console. Is it in there, and do you have to pull
> >>>>> the whole dang thing out? Or is it hiding somewhere back at the drum
> >>>>> itself?
> >>>>> Any info greatly appreciated!- Hide quoted text -
> >>>> - Show quoted text -
> >>> I most likely will do nothing, since I concur with the dealer that it
> >>> will loosen over time. Second most like option is I'll take it back to
> >>> them. But, I'd like to learn for myself where the adjustment is made.
> >> it won't loosen unless the self-adjusting mechanism is disabled. it's
> >> also a potential safety issue because it can affect the front/rear
> >> braking balance causing the rears to apply too early and too hard,
> >> thereby causing rear wheel lock and spin-out. without abs at any rate.
> >> get it properly adjusted. dealer is just b.s.ing you because they
> >> don't want to fix their own mistake on their own dime.- Hide quoted text -
>
> >> - Show quoted text -
>
> > After having a look at this:
>
> >http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16370
>
> > I managed to get down to the parking brake adjuster nut. It wasn't too
> > much of a fight, and I tried as much as possible to use just my
> > fingers and nails, to avoid scratching things. The (auto) shifter
> > bezel comes of first, then the larger black plastic surround. Just per
> > the link. Then, you can see the adjuster nut down alongside the
> > parking brake lever.No screws involved, just a matter of wiggling the
> > pieces out of their clips.
>
> > I had the back end jacked up and on safety stands before doing any
> > adjustment to the parking brake adjustment nut. I also pulled both
> > back wheels and had a look inside the drum brakes. Both star adjusters
> > out somewhere between 1/16"~1/8". A little dust in both drums, and the
> > shoes are floating ok, moving side to side.
>
> > Put everything back, loosened of the parking brake nut, by about 2
> > revolutions, and applied and released the parking brake a few times.
> > Lo and behold, neither back wheel is dragging now, just a hint of
> > whisper on one side, but truly free spinning.
>
> > Pulling the lever up one notch: I can't turn the wheel by hand when
> > the car's raised, though I suspect it would still creep on a slope.
> > Pulled up 3 notches it feels fully locked. Will check it out on a
> > grade.
>
> > Nice to know you can get at that adjuster nut still, though it's a bit
> > more of a hassle.
>
> good. need to loosen it a bit more though. wheels are not supposed to
> be locked until notch 6. 6 thru 9 is the factory spec. or at least,
> that's for my older [non-hybrid] civic. also, don't rely on not being
> able to turn wheels by hand - cars are heavy and can roll against a fair
> amount of braking resistance.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks Jim. I'll fine tune things in the next few days. I have the
shop manual ordered for this car: I'll check out the spec when it
comes. One old Accord shop manual I've got on hand says "fully applied
at 4-8 clicks". The way I've got it now feels *about* the way it was
when new, but I'm just going from memory.

I totally agree, a car on grade has a little more oomph than me trying
to turn a wheel by hand, and that's the way to really test it. I'll
check it out that way tomorrow.