Drum brakes
If the brake pads are replaced or new drive cables are installed, the parking brake only needs to be adjusted. The parking brake cables must be installed in a certain way to allow automatic adjustment. In the event that the rear wheels are not installed, if the parking brake lever is to be used in the normal way, do not adjust the clearance as described below, as this will only tighten the cables and make no adjustment.
To check cable adjustment, fully jack up the vehicle and place it on axle stands. The drive cable balancing lever is now visible from the underside of the vehicle (see illustrations 17.1 and 17.2). In both cases, loosen the locknut. On early models, loosen the middle link, on late models, loosen the adjusting nut. In both cases, the cable must be completely free.
17.1 Adjusting the parking brake on early models. Lock-nut (1) attaches the adjusting rod
17.2 Adjusting the parking brake on later models (drum and disc brakes). Loosen and re-tighten the nut (1)
Remove both rear wheels and check the operation of the adjusting mechanism. To do this, expand the gear segment (1), to release three to four prongs (see illustration 17.3). Make sure the cables can move freely and the parking brake lever (2) on both sides of the car is against the brake pads.
17.3 Control of automatic adjustment (see text)
From the underside of the vehicle, tighten the adjusting nut or middle parking brake linkage adjuster until the parking brake levers (see illustration 17.3) move away from the brake shoes when the interior handbrake lever is set to position 1 or 2. They must remain in this position if the lever is shifted to the second position.
Tighten locknuts (1) and reinstall the brake drums. Ask an assistant to slowly depress the brake pedal several times. During normal operation of the adjusting mechanism, if the pads are pressed against the brake drum, a ringing will be heard.
Apply the parking brake lever and make sure the rear wheels are locked. With the parking brake fully released, the wheels should turn without braking.
Disc brakes
The drive cables are adjusted in the same way as on vehicles with drum brakes. The location of the drive cable balancer corresponds to that shown in illustration 17.2.
On the inside of the caliper, check that the handbrake lever rests against the limiter. Without moving the drive cables, tighten them with a nut (1), until the ends of the cables rest against the lever. Set the handbrake lever inside the vehicle between positions I and 2. Tighten the adjusting nut again so that the lever only moves when the parking brake is set to positions 1 - 2.
Make sure the wheels are locked when the parking brake lever is tightened with normal force. With the parking brake released, the wheels should turn freely.