Normally I do my own oil changes but due to the terrible weather and my solid work schedule I had a shop do my oil change. I dont know what could have any affect on the tension of my ebrake handle but before it was much harder to pull the ebrake all the way up. Now theres no fight to it and it just yanks up with little effort. Any ideas on what causes a change like this and or if its a bad thing? All replies appreciated.

 

Is the parking brake still grabbing properly?
If not you will need to adjust it. I had to do this with mine when I first got it. I could pull the thing pretty much all the way up and the brake held but not well. Now I pull it up 6 clicks and I am locked solid.

To adjust it you have to remove the center console. I believe there is a write up here on how to do it.

Raistlin.

 

yeah mine is pretty sloppy now also, annoys the crap out of me

 

same here, what needs adjusting under the center counsole-thanks

 

ok well once you take the center console thing off you will see your ebrake handle, look at the e-brake line and follow it until you get to one end of it at which point you should see a 10mm hex bolt or w/e you call it, tighten that and the e-brake you should have more resistance and shouldnt pull up so high. if anyone is near san diego, ca ill adjust yours for free if you stop by my place.

 

Well said. The other way you can adjust it is to remove the rear rotors and adjust the ebrake cables through a little cog wheel. This wheel located under the spindle basically adjusts the rear shoes. It expandes them or contracts them to add tension to your e-brakes.

 

brake fluid has no effect on the ebrake

 

Hmm maybe this was somehow moved when I changed out my wheel stud.

 

I need to tighten mine also. It hold but is pretty high up when it grabs.

 

I would recommend adjusting the parking brake on the rear brakes not under the center console. All you need to do is take off the rear wheels and there is a little black rubber plug. Pop it out and use a screwdriver to adjust.

 

Why does everyone insist on doing it from under the center console? The only way I have ever done it on all my cars was with the rear spindle.

 

The repair manual actually suggests doing it that way.


PARKING BRAKE LEVER STROKE CHECK AND
ADJUSTMENT M1361000900276

1. Pull the parking brake lever with a force of approximately
200 N (45 pounds) and count the number of notches.
Standard value: 5 − 7 notches

2. If the parking brake lever stroke is not the standard value,
adjust as described below.

(1) Remove the rear floor console assembly. (Refer to
GROUP 52A, Rear Floor Console P.52A-8.)

(2) Loosen the adjusting nut to move it to the cable rod end
so that the cable will be free.

(3) Depress the brake pedal repeatedly until the lever has no
change in its stroke.
NOTE: Depressing the brake pedal repeatedly adjusts
shoe clearance correctly.
CAUTION
If the parking brake lever stroke is below the standard
value and the braking is too firm, the rear brakes may drag.

(4) Turn the adjusting nut to adjust the parking brake lever
stroke to the standard value. After adjusting, check that
there is no space between the adjusting nut and the
parking brake lever. Check that the adjusting nut is
secured with the nut holder.

(5) After adjusting the parking brake lever stroke, jack up the
rear end of the vehicle, and then release the parking
brake and turn the rear wheels to check that the rear
brakes are not dragging.

Here is the link to the PDF repair manual


http://www.lilevo.com/mirage/EVO%208...Evo8US/Evo8US/

 

allright thanks everyone

 

we should sticky this if not already done. I tweaked mine from under the console and it helped a little but just seems like im lifting the handle igher than ever now. Ill deal with it when it doesnt hold

 

Well, ordinarily the parking brake shoes should never wear out. After all, the parking brake is used for parking. So, if the handle is loose then one would expect that the cable has stretched. Hence, the adjustment under the console. But sometimes people drive with the parking brake on. Then, the shoes can wear and the adjustment for this is be made at the wheel. So, it depends on the problem.

Now, if you previously owned a DSM you would automatically go to the console because on a DSM the adjustment in the console is the only one available.