How to tighten the emergency brake

Suspension related stuff goes in here.
cibon1
Posts: 130
Joined: Sun Oct 06, 2013 9:22 am
Your car is a: 124AS 1969 Fiat Spider

How to tighten the emergency brake

Postby cibon1 » Fri Jul 22, 2016 8:18 pm

How do you tighten the emergency brake?

ORFORD2004
Posts: 1099
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:48 pm
Your car is a: 1983 PININFARINA
Location: Sherbrooke, Qc, Canada

Re: How to tighten the emergency brake

Postby ORFORD2004 » Fri Jul 22, 2016 9:08 pm

From under the car

User avatar
njoconnor
Posts: 614
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:06 pm
Your car is a: 1972 124 Spider

Re: How to tighten the emergency brake

Postby njoconnor » Sat Jul 23, 2016 7:57 am

ORFORD2004 wrote:From under the car


Well, that's a start... :D

Jack up the car, and place jack stands under the rear axle (I used the jack points once, and found the jack stand was kinda in the way). The e-brake cables are tensioned by a V shaped wire, which in turn, fastens to a threaded adjusting rod connected to the e-brake lever inside the car. Note: mine was missing the v shaped wire AND the return springs, and it took a while to find replacements. On the threaded rod, there are two nuts, 13mm IIRC. Loosen and remove the outer one first; that will make adjusting the inner nut easier. Raise the interior brake lever 4 clicks (read this somewhere, forget where, but it works for me). Back under the car, slowly tighten the remaining nut on the adjusting rod until the rear wheels can't be turned by hand (and I usually add a turn or two past that on the nut). Replace and snug down the outer nut, put the car back down on the ground, and check for operation. I check it again every spring when putting the car back on the road.

Hope this helps.

Neil
Neil O'Connor
Madison, WI
72 FIAT 124 Spider
12 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit
14 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn Eco-Diesel
ex-71 FIAT 124 Coupe
and a host of Audi's, Saabs, VW's, MOPAR's, Fords, and a Bimmer....

TXWarthog
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2016 1:28 pm
Your car is a: 1976 124 Spider
Location: Nassau Bay, Texas

Re: How to tighten the emergency brake

Postby TXWarthog » Thu Jul 28, 2016 4:42 pm

I read that the e-brake handle should be raised only two clicks. I think I read it in the Haynes Manual. I could be wrong, but I seem to remember that the handle should be raised two clicks.

I'd adjust mine right now, except that a PO decided to use the brake cable to help support the exhaust system that's hanging out in the breeze. :shock:

User avatar
lglade
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 327
Joined: Sat Dec 07, 2013 7:05 am
Your car is a: 1984 Pininfarina
Location: Mukilteo, WA

Re: How to tighten the emergency brake

Postby lglade » Thu Jul 28, 2016 6:00 pm

Two, three, or four clicks...it doesn't really matter as long as you can comfortably pull the handle high enough to engage the brake once you're sitting in the car. And you have to be able to fully disengage the brakes once you lower the handle as well. If you start with the handle too high, then you may not get the cable tight enough for the limited amount of handle travel that's left. And obviously if you started with no clicks, the brakes would drag all the time. I used three clicks when I adjusted mine and was happy with the result. If you follow the logic, then the worst thing that can happen to you is that you have to tweak it a bit after you initially tighten the cable.
Lloyd Glade- Mukilteo, WA
1984 Pininfarina Spider Azzurra
1962 Fiat 500D - wife's car
2015 Subaru Outback
2017 Ford Focus RS

Shadoobie
Posts: 113
Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2014 10:07 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Pininfarina Spider 2000

Re: How to tighten the emergency brake

Postby Shadoobie » Thu Aug 04, 2016 12:28 am

Actually, I just read my Hayne's manual for the same operation and it said three clicks :P

cibon1
Posts: 130
Joined: Sun Oct 06, 2013 9:22 am
Your car is a: 124AS 1969 Fiat Spider

Re: How to tighten the emergency brake

Postby cibon1 » Wed Aug 31, 2016 7:33 am

Thanks Neil and Lloyd!


Return to “Suspension Related”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 27 guests