NCT failed parking brake effort 10%

balcoder101

Hi All
Ford focus 2006 failed parking brake effort for 10% should be above 16%

I cleaned out all dirt from drums and replaced with new brake pad shoes and adjusted the shoes out as much as would allow me to put old drum back on. note I did not buy new drum.
I thought this would significantly improve the hand brake so it would lock the wheels but on moving at say 10 mph and pulling the hand brake up it still only slows the car down to a stop. Also the hand brake is not loose but kind of tight . It only goes up 7 clicks with a strong pull, saying that I'd say the guy testing looked week and sick and probably could't pull the hand brake up that far.
Any ideas on how to get it to lock better? Would loosening the cable so as to get better leverage on the hand brake work? As I said it only goes up 7 clicks with effort
Thanks
Balcoder101

punisher5112

balcoder101 wrote: »

Hi All
Ford focus 2006 failed parking brake effort for 10% should be above 16%

I cleaned out all dirt from drums and replaced the brake pad shoes and adjusted the shoes out as much as would allow me to put old drum back on. note I did not buy new drum.
I though this would significantly improve the hand brake so it would lock the wheels but on moving at say 10 mph and pulling the hand brake up it still only slows the car down to a stop. Also the hand brake is not loose but kind of tight . It only goes up 7 clicks with a strong pull, saying that I'd say the guy testing looked week and sick and probably could't pull the hand brake up that far.
Any ideas on how to get it to lock better? Would loosening the cable so as to get better leverage on the hand brake work? As I said it only goes up 7 clicks with effort
Thanks
Balcoder101

Should really only be going up 3 clicks. It defo needs tightening and if it comes to it new drums.

galwaytt

Old cables can stretch too, so your effort may be expended in the cable as distinct from the shoes.

balcoder101

Would tightening up the hand brake cable do it

TallGlass

Can you puah the car with a bit of force? My guess is the hand brake cable needs adjusting after the new shoes or the cable could be in need of changing.

Why did you change them previously, what issues did you have before you changed them..

balcoder101

No I cant push the car with hand brake on but if I go to really steep hill pull hand brake up 5 clicks it still moves but with harder pull up to 7 clicks it stays put.
I changed the shoes thinking it would fix the parking brake effort fail for 10%

porsche boy

Did you fully unwind the adjuster at the hand brake before adjusting it at the drums?

Cee-Jay-Cee

Tighten the cable, if you can pull 7 clicks then it's too slack. Tighten it till you have no mare than 4 clicks to full on.

the merchant

If the cables aren't seized, tightening the cable won't help. You'll need to re adjust the shoes. As far as I remember the Focus has an inspection hole in the front of the drum through which you can adjust them.

balcoder101

No didn't fully unwind adjuster before adjusting at drum. Is the adjuster in the car under the hand brake?

JIdontknow

This link might help, not sure if it is the same mark as your car.


http://www.focushacks.com/mod/Handbrake_adjustment

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/5195-focus-handbrake-adjustment/

balcoder101

I changed the shoes thinking it would fix the parking brake effort fail for 10%
I have also adjusted the cable from within the car at the hand brake but the wheels still don't lock. I holds on a normal hill but on a steep hill it will creak a groan while moving slightly until i pull hard on the handbrake to get another click out of it.
Do you really think it could be the cables stretching and if so which cables will I have to change, the two small one's coming directly from the drum or the two long one's that connect to these and run up the centre of the car to the hand brake?

porsche boy

balcoder101 wrote:

I changed the shoes thinking it would fix the parking brake effort fail for 10% I have also adjusted the cable from within the car at the hand brake but the wheels still don't lock. I holds on a normal hill but on a steep hill it will creak a groan while moving slightly until i pull hard on the handbrake to get another click out of it. Do you really think it could be the cables stretching and if so which cables will I have to change, the two small one's coming directly from the drum or the two long one's that connect to these and run up the centre of the car to the hand brake?

This is the procideure you need to follow.
1. Unwind adjuster under handbrake lever
2. Adjust shoes througn hole in brake drum untill they are just making contact with drum.
3. wind in adjuster at handbrake until you are happy with it.

Remember new shoes will have to bed in and will feel a bit crap until this happens.

feez

The cables are more likely to be seized than stretched beyond adjustment. These have automatic ratchet type adjusters.

The correct way to do replace the shoes is like this:
1. Loosen off cable at the handbrake lever all the way (without taking the nut off)
2. Remove drum and change shoes, make sure the ratchet adjuster is not seized itself. It should be backed off all the way before refitting the drum.
3. When it's back together, press the brake pedal and you should hear the ratchets adjusting in the back. Drive it forwards and backwards a little and brake to make sure they are contacting the drum properly.
4. Tighten the cable until there is no play in the handbrake at the bottom of it's stroke. Be careful not to overtighten it as the brakes will be in contact all the time, overheating the shoes and causing them to fail in spectacular fashion (speaking from experience.) It should come up about half it's stroke if adjusted properly.

As you have already replaced the shoes, are the ratchets free (not seized)? If so, you can just try adjusting the cable by doing the above steps 1, 3 and 4.

If this doesn't work, the cables could be seized. Have someone check that the cables are actually moving on both sides while you pull the handbrake a few times. The springs in the drum brake should pull the cables back in fully. If not, you need a new complete handbrake cable.