Just wondering how I would do it and I don't have a manual. It is working, I would just like a tighter feel when the lever is pulled up halfway. I have to pull it all the way up to activate the brake. Thanks.

 

If you take out the console that is covering the parking brake mechanism, there is a screw/bolt that controls how tightly the parking brake activates. You can also do it at the real wheels as well.

-Shane

 

Thanks, just starting to learn abotu cars.

 

No problem. If you have any questions, search first, ask questions later . You can learn a LOT from this website, trust me.

-Shane

 

Does your car have rear disc or rear drum. If it has rear disc the only place to make the adj is at the brake lever under the center console. If it is rear drum then you have 2 adjustments to make. the first is an adjustment at the rear brake , and the second is still the ebrake cable under the center console.

 

Drum I believe. As stupid as this sounds, do I have to adjust both sides or is each side controlled seperately? I don't want to adjust it to much, just enough where I don't have to pull it all the way up. Thank you.

 

Well for drums you ideally want to adjust the drums themselves first...

You take off the wheel and then generally there is an access through the front or usually back of the drums (But if I remember correctly it's easier on a civic to just take the drum off and adjust it a bit then put it back on and check it NOT SURE THOUGH) where you can fit in a flat head screwdriver to turn a little spurred post which pushes the shoes further apart so they're closer to the drum... you do that until the drum spins freely but has a TINY amount of drag on the pads.

THEN you adjust the cables behind the ebrake IF NECCISARY... what you want is 7 clicks to full lock of the ebrake.

here's a pic of the adjuster rod.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/drum-brake2.htm

that one is automatic... I'm 90pct sure that civics are not auto-adjusting...

Even some "automatic" adjusters require some steps to adjust them... usually it's reversing the car and pulling the ebrake or reversing the car and hitting the normal brakes hard... it varies manufactuerer to manufacturer.