Parking Brake System: Adjustments

VEHICLE EQUIPPED REAR DRUM BRAKES
Due to the auto adjust feature of the park brake lever, no manual adjustment of the operating cables for the park brake system is required. On vehicles equipped with rear drum brakes, proper operation of the park brake relies on proper adjustment of the rear drum brake shoes.

VEHICLE EQUIPPED REAR DISC BRAKES
Due to the auto adjust feature of the park brake lever, no manual adjustment of the operating cables for the park brake system is required. On vehicles equipped with rear disc brakes, proper operation of the park brake relies on the proper adjustment of the drum-in-hat park brake shoes. Refer to the following procedure to correctly adjust the drum-in-hat park brake shoes.

NOTE: The park brake shoes used in the drum-in-hat park brake system do not automatically adjust to compensate for brake shoe lining wear. Therefore, it is necessary to manually adjust the park brake shoes. Manual adjustment of the park brake shoes is required whenever any of the following occurs. Excessive travel of the of the park brake lever, new park brake shoes are installed, or any service is performed that effects the location of the park brake shoes like: replacing hold down clips, return springs, adjuster mechanism etc.

1. Fully release the park brake hand lever.
2. Raise vehicle.
3. Remove the rubber plug from the adjusting hole in the brake shoe backing plate on both sides of the vehicle.
4. Driver (left) side park brake shoe adjustment procedure. Insert a medium size screwdriver through adjustment hole in backing plate. Position the screwdriver against the star-wheel on the park brake shoe adjuster mechanism. Using the screw driver rotate the star-wheel downward until a slight drag is felt when turning the rear tire and wheel. Then, using the screwdriver rotate the star-wheel upward just until the rear tire and wheel can be rotated with no park brake shoe drag. From the point where there is no more park brake drag rotate the star-wheel upward a maximum of two additional clicks. The park brake shoe to drum clearance is know properly adjusted.
5. Driver (left) side park brake shoe adjustment procedure. Insert a medium size screwdriver through adjustment hole in backing plate. Position the screwdriver against the star-wheel on the park brake shoe adjuster mechanism. Using the screw driver rotate the star-wheel upward until a slight drag is felt when turning the rear tire and wheel. Then, using the screwdriver rotate the star-wheel downward just until the rear tire and wheel can be rotated with no park brake shoe drag. From the point where there is no more park brake drag rotate the star-wheel downward a maximum of two additional clicks. The park brake shoe to drum clearance is know properly adjusted.
6. Install the rubber plug in the adjusting hole on the brake shoe backing plate on both sides of the vehicle.
7. Lower vehicle far enough to allow access the park brake lever. The rear tires must not be on the ground.
8. Fully apply and release the park brakes two times after adjusting the park brake shoes. Then rotate both rear wheels to ensure that the park brake shoes do not drag on the brake drum following the application and release of the park brakes.