Your car’s handbrake is actually a obligatory basic safety feature based on the highway code, in fact , this aims to quit your Ford Ka, even over a slight incline. It must be in addition to the main brake system controls. It is possible that with time the wire system of the hand brake will loosen up and you will certainly not pass the technical control or you could feel that it is no longer blocking your car. To deal with these problems, we will look at how to adjust the hand brake on your Ford Ka . To achieve this, first we will see the adjustment of a manual handbrake on Ford Ka , then, in a second step, how to adjust an automatic handbrake, and lastly the price of the service performed by a professional.
Adjusting a manual handbrake on Ford Ka?
So we start our article with the hand brake adjustment of a Ford Ka in its manual version. This version works in a simple way having a system of wire and anchoring screws that allow you to control the tension on the device and therefore to modify the stroke on the lever of your handbrake. To act on it you will need to act on these types of screws in order to stretch out the handbrake cable of your Ford Ka . In any case, prior to adjusting the hand brake, you must check that your rear wheels aren’t blocked throughout the adjustment. Please find under the detailed method to carry out this intervention:
- With the level of your handbrake, remove the plastic console that protects it using the torx screws and clips.
- Once performed, you should discover a trapdoor on your handbrake, open it to see the screw and wire system.
- You will have to locate the locknuts and loosen them with a wrench to allow you to replace the cable pressure.
- Now screw on the lock nuts on both sides, make sure to make the comparable changes upon both sides to hold a balanced braking, and check that the hand brake lever of your Ford Ka has a stroke of about three notches.
- Tighten up the locknuts and test the fastening of the rims of your car, if it’s good you can reassemble the set, otherwise tighten up again the tightening anchoring screws until you get an optimal setting
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If you don’t have access to the handbrake flap of your Ford Ka, the adjustment will be exactly the same but it really will be done by passing beneath your car in the level of your handbrake lever. Remember to put your car on the stand prior to any actions.
How do I adjust the automatic handbrake of my personal Ford Ka?
Second approach to handbrake adjustment on Ford Ka , this is an automatic handbrake, in contrast to the manual one, this one is done upon the brake drums or calipers, and it is expected to change automatically for the wear of your brake shoes or pads. It may be that if you before long have to purchase brake pads, your handbrake will suffer power, listed below are the steps to take to examine if the tension of your handbrake is the appropriate one:
- Remember that an automatic handbrake can not be modified straight because it is meant to adapt by itself to the put on of the pads or shoes of your Ford Ka.
- You can still examine that the system is functioning correctly by simply putting your vehicle on the stand and examining by driving under the automobile that the brake pads are still in good performing order.
- For drum brakes it will be required to disassemble the brakes to examine the state of the shoes, we recommend you to have it conducted by a professional.
- Remember to replace your pads if you need to.
What is the price of adjusting the handbrake of Ford Ka by a professional?
Finally, if you do not feel comfortable with this procedure, specifically since it questions a safety component of your car, namely the adjustment on the handbrake of your Ford Ka , we advise you to go to a mechanic who are able to adjust your handbrake for the about fifty euros . When you have problems with vibrations when braking on Ford Ka, do not hesitate to consult our article which refers to this problem.
To find more tips on the Ford Ka, take a look at the Ford Ka category.