Does anybody know more details about this service that my dealer just recommended for me? In all the years that I've driven Honda/Acura cars, they've never told me I needed a $70 parking brake adjustment.

My Fit has 23000 miles already, but I don't notice any slack or play with the parking brake handle.

Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

its possibly they are geniuses and have inspected the brakes and noticed one side may be grabbing more than the other, buts its possible they just want 70 dollars. its possible it needs adjustment, its possible it doesnt. if you notice NOTHING, they inspected NOTHING, i would leave it untill the brakes require service. (or inspection) just my 2 cents

1991 civic
1999 civic
2015 fit

 

You should have said 'that better be covered under warranty'. (if in warranty)

If the handbrake works as designed, nothing else is needed.
Ignore the upsell, it's just a money grab.

 

I wouldn't pay $70 for this service, but adjusting the shoes (and lubricating the backing plate where the shoes rub) is a good maintenance practice.

I do it on our '07 Fit about once every two years. (Currently 130K miles) It helps the rear brakes do their share of the braking, and makes the parking brake grab better with less 'clicks' (since the entire arc of the brake contacts the drum).


I bet your other Hondas and Acuras didn't have drum brakes in the rear.

 

I think my 2012 Civic LX had rear drums and I never had to adjust the parking brake.

I usually ignore the dealer recommended services, but she laid it on thick with it being a 6MT and living in hilly San Francisco a properly functioning parking brake was essential.

 

I've always left manuals in 1st gear and if parking on a hill, turn the wheel in such a way that it'll roll into the curb.

Found this thread that may help. The pics don't work for me though: https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/3rd-...nsmission.html

Doesn't look too hard, and you can save the $70

 

images sadly dont work for me either, but this does seem like a good "sticky". probably the hardest part is getting the back of the console off..lol!

 

The USDM Fit has rear drum brakes, which automatically adjust themselves whenever you back up (reverse) while applying the brakes. Drum brakes have been designed like this for decades. Your parking brake actuates the rear brakes via a separate cable system which does not self-adjust. There should be no difference between the 6MT and CVT, as the transaxle has nothing to do with the rear brakes.

As the brake shoes wear, you have to pull the parking brake handle farther up to close the ever-widening gap. The thread linked above indicates the nut for adjusting the parking brake cable tension is inside the console. I would expect it to be a simple 5-10 minute adjustment, including opening up and closing the console. The setup typically consists of two cables (one to each drum) that hook up to a yoke, with the adjustment nut on a shaft that comes through the center of the yoke. I have yet to need to adjust mine (32K miles), so I have not seen the actual Fit setup.

EDIT - I just adjusted mine, and it's exactly as I described. Took less than ten minutes, including getting tools out. I posted pics ind instructions on my mod thread. The $70 your dealer wants is probably standard minimum shop rate. They obviously make a LOT of profit if that's all they're doing.

That said, if your parking brake is getting so slack as to need tightening, I'd also be thinking about checking the wear on your rear brake shoes (which probably will require removing the drums). Let those wear down too far, and you'll be paying for a set of new drums along with your next brake job.

es

 

As promised, I've posted a how-to with pics for adjusting the parking brake on my mod thread.

es

 

Despite that fact that the rear brakes somewhat self-adjust, they definitely DO benefit from a periodic adjustment.

If you do this first you will NOT need to tighten the parking brake cable. I haven't needed to touch the cable adjustment on our '07 for 130K miles.


Procedure:Let me know how it works for ya.