Superformance rear brake adjustment

[madmaxx]

If you own a newer car which has the emergency brake incorporated into the rear caliper adjustment is necessary. In theory the adjustment is very simple you apply the brake and then you pull the parking brake handle as far is it will go. In theory this will ratchet the rear caliper piston to accomodate for any wear.

In reality what must be done is to ensure the threaded rod on your parking brake handle is adjusted about halfway on the the threaded rod with the nuts on either side of the parking brake mechanism tight.

#2) Have someone apply the regular brake then you manually actuate the parking brake mechism on the brakes calipers. This ensures they ratchet out. Once this is complete adjust the cables so that both parking brake levers on the caliper move at the same time.

The problems I found were:

1) rear brake cables not adjusted evenly so one caliper never adjusted out to account for wear.
2) parking brake threaded rod nuts were loose, handle would move 4 inches before any resistance felt. This is because the handle latch was just moving on the threaded rod until it ran into the nut and then would pull on the cables.


I gained about 35% more brake pedal.

You would think the owners manual would detail this but it does not.

I can lock up my rear wheels with my emergecy brake now, and once again I can lock up my rear tires with the brake pedal. If you cannot do this with yours you need to adjust your caliper pistons out as I describe then adjust the cables and handles.