Handbrake alignment

It sounds like you need to adjust your park brake and it can be done through one of the holes in the rotor.

You are turning the adustment rod inside the hub (circled in red) to adjust the park brake shoes.

*Pics courtesy of Roberto*
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Definitely good pics to help you make the adjustment.

I tried to adjust my e-brake on my 348 this past weekend since it is having trouble releasing. I don't think I need to adjust the shoes, but I wanted to confirm that the pull handle mechanism was working correctly. I removed all the screws holding down the base, handle cover and the motor cover release handle. However, I can't get the handle cover off since the motor release handle will not pass through the opening in the base (see pics). You can't disconnect the cable attached to the motor cover release without cutting the crimped cable end. I thought about loosening the cable in the motor compartment, but I don't think that will really help.

Any suggestions?
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Have you raised the car up recently or had a garage do it? I had an issue with mine not going off after I had new tires put on. Turns out they crushed the housing around emergency brake cable under the drivers door. I could use the handle to release the brake but it would not release. You might want to check this first since I fixed it with a pair of pliers and it was an easy fix.

 

I have not figured out how to do that gracefully yet. And, disconnecting the cable at the engine lid release latch is not something I want to mess with, just yet.

 

I have seen a slot cut into the metal so that only the cable can fit through it to be removed.

But that is not how you adjust the tension on the brake handle.

How you adjust the parking brake is like so:

1) Take off the rear wheels

2) Adjust the parking brake shoes via the hole in the rear brake disc, as shown in the pictures provided by Pap. You want to feel a very small amount of drag on the parking brake shoes when you rotate the rear brake disc by hand. Do both sides.

3) Remove the front part of the left rear wheel well splash guard. This will give you access to the adjustment cable, for the tension on the brake handle. Tighten the nuts to pull the cable closer, that will make the handle in the car tighter, that way you don't have to pull it up so high to set the parking brake. Leave the cable looped over the pull block when you are adjusting it.

Hope that helps.

 

Yep, that's the only way.

I had some pics showing where someone cut/slotted theirs but I can't seem to find them.

 

Since the cable seems to be slow or unwilling to return, I will look to see if anything is binding / kinked as per Jim. When I had things a part, I debated cutting a slot to free the cable end. I was a little worried I might weaken the tab by cutting into it. I'll take another look to see how I might do it.

Either way, I will probably end up readjusting the brakes as detailed by Pap & Ernie. Thanks guys.

 

The only way I know of to remove the emergency brake handle cover is to cut a small slot in the hood release lever. Only other way is to remove the hood release cable going to the engine hood. I slotted mine and it works great.

 

Take pictures and post a how-to for the rest of the Brotherhood would you. I'm sure this will come up again in the future and it will help out the next brother.

 

The whole write up is here: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62780

References to the process here as well: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?p=138350228#post138350228

The primary things to note

1. Loosen the cable on the e-brake located in the wheel wheel just in front of the left rear wheel before you start.
2. Insert screwdriver in drum and rotate the adjuster anti-clockwise to tighten.
3. Tighten the adjuster on each side until it just drags a bit
4. Snug up the cable in the wheel well so it is not loose, but not pulling on the brakes
5. Button it all up.

You do not not want to, or need to, remove the handbrake cover inside the car.....

I did mine in the spring.... I park on a 5 degree angle in the driveway and it now holds rock solid. Pretty cool & redundant design actually.

 

Bloody hell, sounds like it was a mission.

I would check locally for replacement shoes. Should be able to match something up or have them re-lined.

You can probably buy them from Ricambi also, but I am not sure how long you want to wait as will have to post from the US of A.

We used to take brakes shoes in to get re-lined all the time and it was a 1 day turn-around locally. Sometimes got them back later that afternoon if he wasn't busy.

 

Heya buddy, I can't help with the thread pitch/size for the caliper bolts sorry.

If no one can help anytime soon, on days off ill rip a wheel off and check for you.

 

I can't get the coverings removed from the ebrake on my 355 for the same reasons. What did you end up doing? Cutting the slot in the engine cover release handle so that the cable can be detached? I need to remove the coverings to inspect the ratcheting mechanism on my ebrake (no ratcheting noise when raising).

 

Pic of the cable adjustment under the car plus the "slot" in the engine cover release cable pull
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Another smart Ferrari design. Thanks for the pic. I'll need to slot mine as well, or cut the sucker and be perfectly content releasing the engine cover from inside the fuel filler door using the auxiliary release.

 

Great information here. I need to adjust my handbrake and this has been extremely helpful to arm me with the information i need. Thanks

 

Here is a video I did not long ago.

http://youtu.be/JN3K83Ln77c

 

Nice Dave. Assume you just put a flat head screwdriver in the hole. Turn the gear upwards to loosen and downwards to tighten, correct?

 

Correct but I forget which way. You will know when the shoes get tight or lose.

 

To loosen the handbrake, i went clockwise on the driver's side. It was pretty easy especially now that i have quite the collection of stickRx wheel mounting tools