Brakes – Parking Brake Adjustment

Overview

This procedure adjusts the parking brake on your Porsche 944 (16v engine) to ensure it holds the car securely when engaged. Proper adjustment prevents the rear wheels from moving too freely or locking up completely when the parking brake lever is raised two clicks, keeping your vehicle safe when parked.

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Tools Required

• Screwdriver (flathead recommended)
• Jack stands

Step-by-Step Procedure

Step 1: Check the Parking Brake Adjustment

1. Position your Porsche 944 on jack stands to lift the rear wheels off the ground safely.
2. Pull the parking brake lever up two clicks.
3. Try turning the rear wheels by hand. They should turn with some effort but not spin freely or be impossible to move.
4. If the wheels spin easily or won’t turn at all, proceed to adjust the parking brake in the next steps.

Step 2: Adjust the Parking Brake

5. Lower the parking brake lever fully and confirm the rear wheels spin freely by hand.
6. Locate the small hole in the rear wheel hub. Insert a flathead screwdriver into this hole to access the brake adjuster star wheel.
7. Turn the adjuster with the screwdriver until the rear wheel locks and cannot be turned by hand.
8. Reverse the adjuster slightly in the opposite direction until the wheel spins freely again with minimal drag.
9. Lift the carpet beside the parking brake lever inside the car to reveal the adjusting nuts on the parking brake cables.
10. Find the locknut at the bottom of the adjusting yoke and loosen it using a wrench.
11. Adjust the two nuts on either side of the adjusting yoke collar. Tighten or loosen them evenly until the rear wheels can just barely turn when the parking brake lever is raised two clicks.
12. Ensure both adjusting nuts are snug against the yoke collar, then tighten the locknut against the rear adjusting nut to secure the adjustment.
13. Lay the carpet back down around the parking brake lever.

Post Procedure Checklist

• Raise the parking brake lever two clicks and confirm the rear wheels turn with effort but aren’t locked.
• Lower the parking brake lever and verify the rear wheels spin freely.
• Check that the carpet is properly repositioned and doesn’t interfere with the lever.

Sources

• Clark’s Garage
• Pelican Parts
• Porsche 944 Workshop Manual, Volume 1
• Youtube