Jazz Mk3 Handbrake adjustment.

[jazzaro]

You have to compensate for stretch in cable,

Maybe you have to, maybe not if your lever keeps working fine. My actual car, with rear discs and 150000 miles, has the handbrake on its original position.

You have to wind back piston on any disc rear brake,  that is not peculiar to mark 3.

Right.
In my car I have to push back pistons on front calipers, but on rear calipers (with rearbrake) I have to PUSH AND ROTATE the piston, otherwise it won't go back. And I need to rotate it because there is the handbrake adjustment mechanism.

[culzean]

Has anyone had to adjust their Mk3 Jazz Parking brake?
I have tried removing the rear screw and the 2 front (side) plastic plug screws on the centre console. It is still held on by something and I don't want to 'yank' it in case I break something. Any clues anyone??

On the MK2 there is an extra screw in the bottom of the cup holder at rear of console,  may be the same on MK3

[madasafish]

The lever on rear brake will go back to its 'off' stop even if there is no cable attached to it, now following that train of thought if there is a cable attached with too much slack in it (because it has stretched due to the tension placed on it when handbrake is on, i.e. most of the time), when you pull the handbrake handle the system has to take up that slack before the lever on the brake begins to move,  that is why number of clicks on handbrake is stated, because if you have too many clicks the handbrake can run out of teeth on the ratchet.

I have been fixing cars and motorbikes from about the age of 14, never managed to rear end another vehicle yet - practical experience, not theory or YouTube.

Started late then..

( I also am of the fix or walk generation...)

[Skyrider]

Are Honda fitting elastic handbrake cables? I have not had cable stretch on cars less than ten years old, I didn't  think the Mk3 has been on sale in the UK for much more than a year yet.

[johnda]

Hi fellow Jazz persons,
Whether, or not, you believe that the handbrake should be adjusted I found out how to do it.
If anyone’s interested here it is (with attached photos - hopefully the right size this time).
1. Pull off small panel in front of handbrake lever (picture 1).
2. Remove screw in rear deep console pocket. (picture 2).
3. Remove two front plastic plug screws on either side of transmission tunnel. (picture 3.) Then lift up both back seats to give yourself a bit of space.
4. Pull console backwards then tug/ joggle the console upwards. I put my hand in the hole left after I removed the small panel and pulled from there. There it is the secret Honda green peg and the protrusion with the slot. (multiple picture 4).
5. After a bit of manoeuvring with the handbrake lever the console will lift up to reveal a 12mm adjusting screw.        (picture 5). I gave mine a couple of turns to give me about 6 clicks when I pulled up the lever.

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[culzean]

Hi fellow Jazz persons,
Whether or not you believe that the handbrake should be adjusted I found out how to do it.

Nicely put  -  I'm a believer having had to do it on every car I have owned (and some I did not own (friends and neighbours ))

[jazzaro]

The amount of work for this adjustement imho is another proof that Honda consider it as a not necessary operation.

[culzean]

The amount of work for this adjustement imho is another proof that Honda consider it as a not necessary operation.

They must have thought that no-one would ever have to change a front bulb on the Mk1  - as the amount of work involved was easily as much as the handbrake.

When you design production equipment for industry and civil engineering you have to prove to customer how you access and replace parts to minimize downtime,  the equipment is designed around function - with cars they are normally designed to look good and then worry later about how you are going to access and fix stuff.

[guest1372]

Excellent guide, and the central hidden fixing seems just the same as the Mk1 & 2.
Also a believer but never had to adjust it in ~14 years as like North American Fit owners, I have the rather sensible rear drums.
--
TG

[jazzaro]

The amount of work for this adjustement imho is another proof that Honda consider it as a not necessary operation.

They must have thought that no-one would ever have to change a front bulb on the Mk1  - as the amount of work involved was easily as much as the handbrake.

When you design production equipment for industry and civil engineering you have to prove to customer how you access and replace parts to minimize downtime,  the equipment is designed around function - with cars they are normally designed to look good and then worry later about how you are going to access and fix stuff.

Yes, sad but true...

[PM]

The handbrake cable adjustment on a Jazz (GK) 2015 on is really simple:
From the rear seat area, just pull the back panel of the centre console towards the rear seat (using plastic prying tools). The cable adjustment is at floor level under the console. it can be adjusted with a 1/4" 12mm AF socket on an extension. See attached PDF for pictures:
Hope this helps someone...


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[jaytee]

thanks for posting, going to print this for future reference,this forum has been a great source of knowledge for me as well as a regular interesting read. All the best for 2021 to all.