Adjusting the parking brake on a car ล koda Octavia A5 is a critical procedure to ensure safety when parking on slopes. Over time, the handbrake cables stretch and the brake pads wear out, which leads to a decrease in the effectiveness of securing the car. Ignoring this problem may result in the machine rolling even with the lever fully tightened, creating an emergency situation.
Many owners Octavia A5 They are faced with the fact that after replacing the rear brake pads, the handbrake stops holding, or the lever rises too high. In such a situation, it is not necessary to go to the service, since the setup process is relatively simple and does not require complex equipment. All you need is a basic set of tools and an understanding of the rear axle design. Volkswagen Group.
Diagnosis of the parking brake condition
Before starting any manipulations, it is necessary to accurately assess the current state of the mechanism. A simple test on level ground with a slight slope will show how effective your hand brake. If the lever moves above 6-7 clicks and the car still moves, immediate adjustment is required.
It is important to distinguish the problem with the cables from the wear of the brake mechanisms themselves. Nana ล koda Octavia A5 With drum brakes (often fitted to the 1.6 MPI version), the mechanism works differently than on disc brakes with a separate brake drum. Incorrect diagnosis can lead to unnecessary time wasting on the tension of the cables, when the problem lies in jammed calipers guides or worn linings.
For accurate diagnosis, follow the following steps:
- ๐ Lift the back of the car on jacks and make sure the wheels rotate freely without grouting.
- ๐ Try tightening the handbar and check if both rear wheels lock the same way.
- ๐ Examine the cables under the bottom for rust, rubbing, or damage to the insulation.
- ๐ Check the back wheel back lift with the lever completely lowered.
If after tensioning the cables the problem has not disappeared, it may be necessary to adjust the gaps inside the brake drums or replace the pads themselves.
Preparation of the workplace and necessary tools
The success of the whole operation depends on proper preparation. You will need a spacious seat, preferably with an observation pit or lift, as access to the cable equalizer is under the car. Standard set of tools for Octavia A5 includes end keys for 13, 10 and 8 millimeters, as well as pliers and screwdrivers.
Do not forget about personal protective equipment, as work under the car is associated with dirt and possible sprays of brake fluid. If you plan to remove wheels, in advance purchase a balloon key and reliable stands for the body. The jack should not be used as the only support during work.
For high-quality adjustment you will need:
- ๐ ๏ธ A set of rattle heads and extension cords for access to the tensioner nuts.
- ๐ ๏ธ Lubrication on silicone or lithium-based for the treatment of threads and cables.
- ๐ ๏ธ Copper lubrication to prevent the tensioner nuts from boiling.
- ๐ ๏ธ Brake cleaner to remove dust and dirt from the machinery.
Before starting work, make sure that the handle lever is completely lowered and is in the initial position. This is critical for proper tension of the cables.
The process of tensioning handbrake cables
The main adjustment is carried out through the equalizer of the cables, located under the bottom of the car, approximately under the center of the cabin. You will need to remove the plastic protection of the bottom if it closes access to the tension mechanism. The tensioner nut is usually 13 mm in size and can be heavily contaminated with road mud.
Turn the adjusting nut clockwise to pull the cables. Do this gradually, turning the nut half a turn, and then checking the result. Excessive tension can lead to overheating of brake pads during movement and their rapid wear. The optimal position is when the lever rises by 4-5 clicks and securely fixes the car.
Follow this checklist for safe adjustment:
โ๏ธ Adjustment of cable tension
After each turn of the nut, check if the wheels are jammed. If the wheels stop rotating freely, then you have pulled the cables. Relax the nut counterclockwise slightly to return the gap.
โ ๏ธ Warning: Never tighten the nut to the point without checking the rotation of the wheels. This can lead to overheating of brake discs and even fire in extreme cases.
Adjusting the gaps in the brake drums
On versions ล koda Octavia A5 With drum brakes, there is an additional setup that is often overlooked. After tensioning the cables, you need to make sure that the pads fit correctly to the drum. If the gap inside the drum is too large, even a tight rope will not be able to press the pads with sufficient force.
Remove the rear wheel and brake drum. Inside, you will see the pads' opening mechanism and the adjustment nut on the back end of the axle. When you turn this nut, you open or fold the pads. This allows you to minimize the mechanical stroke of the cable, increasing the efficiency of the handbrake.
In some cases, it is necessary to manually dilute the pads with a screwdriver through the process hole in the brake shield so that they do not interfere with the installation of the drum.
Features of drum brake design
In drum brakes, a self-setting mechanism is used, which can โsnagโ over time. It is recommended to periodically clean and lubricate the axes of the levers to avoid skewing the pads.
Check the condition of the guide fingers and springs. If the springs are stretched, the pads will not return to their original position, which will lead to constant braking.
Working with disc brakes and calipers
If on your Octavia A5 disc brakes with a separate brake drum (inside the brake disc), the procedure is slightly different. Here, the handbar cable acts on the lever that opens the pads inside the drum. The adjustment of the cables remains the same, but the mechanics inside the drum require special attention.
Sometimes the pads inside the drum are stuck due to corrosion on the guides. In this case, simple adjustment of the cables will not help. It is necessary to disassemble the drum, clean the guides and lubricate them with a special lubricant. Also check the condition of the springs that return the pads to their original position.
Before assembling the brake drum, apply a thin layer of copper lubricant to the contact points of the brake shield and drum. This will prevent boiling and make it easier to dismantle in the future.
When assembling, make sure the pads do not touch the disc. Turn the drum with your hand to make sure there is no friction. If you hear a grinding, it means that the pads are installed curved or the gap is too small.
Final check and testing
After completion of all adjustment work, a thorough check should be carried out. Set the wheels in place, lower the car and check the handbrake in real conditions. The lever should rise evenly and be fixed with a characteristic click.
Conduct a slant test: put the car on the hand and try to move from the spot. The car must not move. Then try to drive a short distance to make sure the brakes don't jam. If the wheels are heated after the trip, then the adjustment was excessive.
Compare the braking efficiency on the left and right wheels. If one wheel is locked before the other, it is possible that the cables are of different lengths or one of them is stuck. In this case, a deeper diagnosis and, possibly, the replacement of cables in the assembly will be required.
- At every maintenance
- Once a year
- Only when I notice a problem
- Never checked
Typical errors and ways to resolve them
One of the most common mistakes is trying to pull the cables without first cleaning the mechanisms. Dirt and corrosion in the guide ropes can negate all adjustment efforts. The cable will simply not be able to move and you will tighten it to a cliff or deformation.
Another mistake is ignoring the wear of the pads. If the linings are erased to metal, no adjustment of the cables will help. In this case, immediate replacement of brake pads and possibly leaking of drums or replacement of discs is required.
The adjustment of the handbrake is a balance between reliable fixation and the absence of excessive friction. The ideal position is 4-6 clicks of the lever with full wheel lock.
If after all the manipulations the handbrake still does not work effectively, check the condition of the cable itself. The cable may be rubbed inside the shell or have a vein rupture. In such cases, a replacement of the cable is necessary.
Technical characteristics and approvals
For accurate settings, it is useful to know the technical parameters specified by the manufacturer. Although factory instructions do not always give clear figures on the number of nut turns, there are generally accepted standards for group cars. Volkswagen.
Below is a table with the main parameters that should be considered when adjusting:
| Parameter | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Number of lever clicks | 4-6 clicks | Perfect position with full locking |
| Size of tensioner nut | 13 mm | Standard size for Octavia A5 |
| Maximum lever force | 300 N | The force that the machine must withstand |
| Lift gap (drum) | 0.2. - 0.3 mm | Optimal gap with the released handbrake |
The effect of temperature on the work of the handbrake
At low temperatures, the cables may shrink slightly and the lubricant thicken, which increases the force on the lever. In summer, on the contrary, cables can stretch. Consider seasonality when adjusting.
Remember that 25 percent wear of the pads already requires check of handbrake performance. Donโt wait for complete abrasion to do maintenance.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't the handbrake hold after replacing the pads?
Most often the problem is that the new mechanism of the pad has a greater stroke than the worn one. Additional adjustment of the gaps inside the drum or stronger tension of the cables is required, but with caution not to jam the wheels.
Is it possible to adjust the handbrake without removing the wheels?
Yes, the basic adjustment of the tension of the cables can be performed without removing the wheels, through access to the equalizer under the bottom. However, to check the rotation of the wheels and adjust the gaps in the drums, the removal of the wheels and drums is mandatory.
How often should the handbrake be adjusted?
Adjustment is required for each change in the stroke of the lever by more than 1-2 clicks, as well as after replacing the brake pads. For preventive purposes, it is recommended to check the condition once in 10,000 km of run.
What to do if the cable is jammed?
If the cable does not move when the tensioner nut is rotating, it is likely to have jammed inside the shell due to corrosion or dirt. In this case, a replacement cable is necessary, as cleaning often does not give a long-term result.
Does the adjustment of the handbrake affect the operation of ABS?
Directly on the operation of ABS, the adjustment of the handbrake does not affect, since it is an independent system. However, if the handbrake is tightened too much, it can cause false alarms of the speed sensors when driving if the wheels are not rotating freely.