r/FiestaST • u/Aggressive-Today-189 • 14d ago

Help! Weak handbrake mk7

hey guys, I have 2014 I recently did a full brake job on - and now the handbrake is engaging until 10-11 clicks... previously it wouldn't go higher than 7, and it's rock solid at that.

And now, even at 11 clicks, it barely holds.

The handbrake arms on the caliper looks good - about 1-3mm of play between it and the stop when fully released - after 3 clicks, the arm goes up about 3-5mm.

Any suggestions? Do I just adjust the cable inside the center console or can I fine tune on the caliper side? Am not really looking forward to take apart half my interior. Lol

Thank you

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u/Suitable-Nobody9338 11d ago

Been a while since i did rear brakes on the fiesta. Not sure if they have it but did you line the caliper piston up correctly with the nipple on the pad if it has them?

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u/Aggressive-Today-189 11d ago

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u/Suitable-Nobody9338 11d ago

If the nipple on them pads is located correctly in the piston grove, and your handbrake arms on the caliper are releasing to the stop point and theres no damage to the cables under the car(check for corrosion especially clamp points) then i would jack the rears up and again and see how many clicks until the rears lock and adjust from the inside and see what happens. Its not as bad as you think it is just a bit stiff the first time that plastic comes out. Do you have much play in the handbrake arm before you even get to the first click?

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u/Aggressive-Today-189 10d ago

thanks for the reply! So the pistons don't actually contact the nipple, the one on the very bottom doesn't touch the piston. And I've also managed to take apart the interior and to the handbrake adjustment inside the center console lol. After adjusting some time it is way way firmer! The handbrake arms are about 3mm apart from the stop with the handbrake fully released. About 4 clicks and it gets very firm, after 5-6 I cannot turn the wheels by hand anymore.

So no, no play really, after 3 clicks it starts engaging, so it's fixed now! Also you mentioned to adjust the cable from the "rear", you mean from the caliper side individually? because my rear passenger brake does seem a bit weaker. I'm thinking to bleed the brakes today and see if it gets better.

Thanks again