The handbrake on my xj6 no longer works. Im thinking i need to tighten the cable back up since it?s an older car. How do I tighten it back up so it will work? as of right now it does about nothing.
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Maryjane

 

I would recommend you check the brake at the wheels as well. As a 96, and 14 years old, when was the last time the handbrake system was checked out ? These things tend to be forgotten about until they don't work. So many people never use them when parking the car, relying on 'Park' to hold the car.

 

The adjustment is normally done at each wheel via a hole in the brake discs that allows you access to the starwheel adjusters....which operate like ordinary drum brake adjusters.

There is a cable adjustment just forward of the differential. If there is gross slack in the cable you can take it up but the system still won't work if the at-wheel adjustments are not made.

I agree that the parking brake at each wheel should be inspected on general principle. The mechanisms are often seized up from dirt.

Cheers
DD

 

This might help!

 

A picture is worth a thousand words !

As it is the same system as my old Rover 75, I would re-emphasize checking out the brake at the wheel, and have the disc off and inspect the whole assembly, as rust etc will jam it up

 

Good news is that we've seldom ever changed the e-brake shoes. Get some brake clean and remove all the gunk from the mechanism. Probably an afternoon with a catch bucket and a cold six pack. If you do disassemble them to clean, skip the six pack and do one side at a time and use the other side as a template for reassembly.

Do forget the jack stands since you will be working tight in the wheels openings.

 

Forget the 6 pack?????

 

now would you trust a 17 year old to do it?
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Find Dispensary

 

sounds like my e-brake adjustment -> replacement pad project. lots of pics and instructions here if you want to take a peek.

 

It's not complicated but lots of little pieces to keep track of and reinstall. It just depends where their head is...finals, girl pieces, cars, gaming. As I've said before: Damn kids with their working memories and non-aching joints!

 

USE JACK STANDS!!! No shortcuts!

 

So today i took off the back wheels and tightened my e-brake at the discs and tightened the cable. However, I did not clean the brakes as you guys recommended. When I went to test it out the ebrake still does not work even though the handle is significantly harder to pull up. Do I need to tighten it more at the disc or do I need to clean it?
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Hawaii Medical Marijuana

 

It might need more tigthening at the disc or it might be that the mechanism is seized up or broken in some way. I really think you need to pull the brake rotors off and have a good look at what's going on in there.

It isn't all that hard. Basically: remove caliper and suspend it out of the way. Remove caliper bracket. Remove brake disc.

You'll have to back-off the adjustments to remove the rotors, most likely.

Cheers
DD

 

I turned the cable adjuster between the exhaust pipes, just in front of the rear wheel. It is easily reachable without jacking up the car. You won't be able to see the adjuster itself, but you can feel around the cables to find it it the middle. Its a 13mm and I used a deep socket. Such an easy adjustment. I turned it down and still have about 1/4 of tightening left. The parking brake will now hold the car on an incline again.