Your car’s handbrake is a obligatory security feature based on the highway code, in fact , it aims to stop your Ford S-max, even over a slight incline. It must be independent of the main brake controls. It is possible that after a while the wire system of the hand brake will loosen up and you will not pass the technical control or you may well feel that it is no longer stopping your car. To cope with these challenges, we will look at how to adjust the hand brake on your Ford S-max . To do this, first we will see the adjustment of your manual handbrake on Ford S-max , after that, in a second step, how to adjust an automatic handbrake, and then the price of the service performed by a professional.

adjust-handbrake-ford-s-max

Adjusting a manual handbrake on Ford S-max?

Therefore we start out our content with the hand brake adjustment of a Ford S-max in its manual version. This version works in a basic way using a system of wire and screws that allow you to manage the tension of the device and therefore to modify the stroke of the lever of your handbrake. To act on it you will have to act on these types of screws in order to stretch the handbrake cable of your Ford S-max . In any case, just before adjusting the hand brake, you must check that your back wheels aren’t blocked throughout the adjustment. Make sure you find under the detailed procedure to carry out this kind of intervention:

  • With the level of your handbrake, remove the plastic console that protects it using the torx screws and clips.
  • Once performed, you should see a trapdoor on your handbrake, open it to see the screw and wire system.
  • You will need to locate the locknuts and loosen them with a wrench to allow you to change the cable tension.
  • Now screw on the lock nuts upon both sides, make sure to make the exact changes upon both sides to hold a balanced braking, and check that the hand brake handle of your Ford S-max has a stroke of about three notches.
  • Tighten the locknuts and test out the locking of the tires of your car, if it’s very good you can reassemble the set, otherwise tighten again the tightening screws until you get a great ideal configuration

.
If you don’t have access to the handbrake flap of your Ford S-max, the adjustment will be exactly the same but it really will be done by passing under your car with the level of your handbrake handle. Make sure you set your car on the stand just before any actions.

How do I adjust the automatic handbrake of my own Ford S-max?

Second approach to handbrake adjustment upon Ford S-max , this is an automatic handbrake, as opposed to the manual one, this place is done upon the brake drums or calipers, and is also imagined to change automatically for the wear of your brake shoes or brake pads. It may be that if you shortly have to buy brake pads, your handbrake will lose power, allow me to share the steps for taking to check if the tension of your handbrake is the appropriate one:

  • Take note that an automatic handbrake can’t be adjusted straight because it is purported to adapt alone to the wear of the brake pads or shoes of your Ford S-max.
  • You can even now check that the system is functioning effectively by putting the car on the stand and examining by driving under the automobile that the pads are still in good performing order.
  • For drum brakes it is required to take apart the brake systems to check the state of the shoes, all of us suggest you to have it performed by a specialist.
  • Remember to change your brake pads if you need to.

What is the cost of adjusting the handbrake of Ford S-max by a specialist?

Finally, if you do not feel comfortable with this procedure, specifically since it questions a security component of your car, namely the adjustment of the handbrake of your Ford S-max , we counsel you to go to a technician who can adjust your handbrake to get a about fifty euros . If you have problems with vibrations when braking on Ford S-max, do not wait to consult our content which refers to this trouble.

If you wish more guides on the Ford S-max, go to our Ford S-max category.