Any advise on how to adjust the parking brake on a 1989 Honda Acoord LX?

Only thing I can find is is to remove a panel off the back of the center console and tighten the nut. This didn't seem to help.

 

The cable should be investigated to make sure it is intact and connected properly to brake mechanism. If rear brakes have been redone recently, it may have not been properly re-attached.

good luck

 

Yes, agree with TX.

I've have lots of fun with these 3rd gens (86-89), owned at least five over the years....yes I like them

One thing I would add, you might want to pull the drums and check the adjusters and shoe "thickness". A good bath in brake cleaner when the drums are off. From there, put the drum back on and adjust the rear brakes.....there is a plug in the backing plate that allows you to adjust the shoes. You want a "slight" drag on the drum when you spin it by hand, a "brake spoon" tool make this easy (~$5) but you can get away with a flat head screw driver just be careful.

 

Thanks TexasHonda and poorman212,
I did just replace the rear shoes and maybe didn't adjust them correctly. I'll pull them off and re-adjust them and check out the cable while at it.

I'm liking this car wsa handed down from my Grandpa to my father and now to me. Slow going but I'll get it in shape.

 

Yea, if you just replaced the shoes......you need to adjust them.

Did you put new drums or have the old ones "cut/turned"? If not what happens is a "lip" builds up on the outer edge. So to get the drum on you have to adjust the shoes "too small".

Again, the final adjustment of the rear shoes is done with the drum on. Remove the rubber plug from the backing plate. Use a brake spoon - or screw driver, just be careful - and adjust/turn the star wheel on the adjuster until there is a slight drag on the drum as you spin it by hand.

.....as I said, I like the poor old 3rd gens as well. Lets see, I might miss one......86 DX 5 speed, 87 LX 5 speed, 88 LXi Auto, 89 LX auto, 89 LXi 5 speed. Either in 2dr coupe or 4 dr, only thing in that gen I haven't had was the 3dr (hatch).

Filled up the 89 LXi the other day......30.X mpg, dang winter blend gas - summer time she is in the 33.X mpg range ....and that is at ~230K miles.

 

I didn't replace the drums, so I'll adjust the rear brakes. Thanks.

 

Let us know how it turns out.

PS- If you ever have to do this again, I've got a few tips/"tricks" that make it easy....shoes off the car in less than 5 minutes and you never have to "fight" that upper spring

 

Before I tried to adjust the rear drum brakes I took them back apart and found that the adjustment screw on both sides was not turning. Took them apart and cleaned them up, adjusted the rear brakes and now I have my parking brake back.
Thanks.
So... whats the secret on the upper spring?

 

The trick.....you don't even remove it until the shoes are off the car.

Next time I do this I really need to take more pic's and do a proper write up.

Here we go, from memory.

Once the drum is off, sometimes you have to adjust the shoes "in" to get them to clear the drum.

Remove the lower spring on the shoes. Remove the "pins" from the shoes/backing plate. If the shoes have been on for a bit of time, press the top part of both shoes - to compress the wheel cyl.

Slip the lower part of the shoes from around the lower "block/pin/anchor" point. pull gently on the lower part of the shoes and they will spread enough to do this.

Then hold the lower part of both shoes and "push" them together enough to get the upper part off/clear the wheel cyl. Be careful not to pop one side of the wheel cyl out.

Once off the wheel cyl, let go of the shoes. Tilt them down from the top and remove the e-brake cable from the lever.

BAM....shoes off the car and on the ground with the top spring and adjusting screw still in place

Once on the ground, slightly twist the shoes from the outside in. The top spring/adjuster/adjuster arm/adjuster spring will pretty much just fall off.

To install, reverse. Install the "upper" part of the brake shoe set up - don't forget the e-brake lever - while the shoes are on the ground. The set up on the ground, before installing will look something like this pic. Notice the adjuster lever spring is left off - just seems to help on the install, if it falls off during the install. Don't worry, it can be installed really easy once the shoes are back on - just be sure to get it set correct.

Me, done this a few times - shoes off and on the ground in 5 minutes, back on in about 10 more. 5 for transfering the old or new hardware to the shoes, another 5 to put them back on. But I take a break between steps (beer )

 

Very interesting, I'll give it a try next time.
Thanks.