Adjusting parking brake...

[rothsean]

Where do you adjust the parking brake to make it more sensitive? Mine barely brakes, even when I pull it as far up as I can.

[82DMC12]

Take a rear wheel off. You will see the parking brake mechanism mounted to the caliper. Remove the Cotter pin and turn the big flat head screw 180 deg at a time. After each turn look at where the pads are on the rotor. You will want them nearly touching, like a hair away.

Do this to each wheel. Make sure you put the cotter pin back in.

If the pads look uneven, replace them first.

Andy

[Jonathan]

Try these. The PDF file is a good summary.

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?3495-How-to-adjust-your-Parking-Brake&highlight=parking+brake

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?3249-Handbrake-Adjustment&highlight=parking+brake

[WelmoedJ]

I found that the adjuster on the emergency brake caliper could not do its job to the fullest.
Since there is a cable adjuster we have to options to adjust.

Using the adjuster of the caliper first and then fine-tune with the cable adjuster my emergency brake does what it is intended for.

[David T]

Make sure both cables move freely. Make sure all 4 pads can move on their hinge pin, the long bolt that holds the pads to the caliper. Do not over-adjust the large flat head screw held by a cotter pin. The pads must not drag when released or they will wear quickly.
David Teitelbaum

[Ron]

I found that the adjuster on the emergency brake caliper could not do its job to the fullest.
Since there is a cable adjuster we have to options to adjust.

Using the adjuster of the caliper first and then fine-tune with the cable adjuster my emergency brake does what it is intended for.
My D was that way when I got it, and if I pulled it hard enough to do any good, it would let one of the cable ends jump out of the pivot at the pull handle end. I have seen two other Ds with this same problem. I believe all three were due to a cable being replaced or re-installed incorrectly.
Basically, the problems were all caused by not adjusting the cable/sheath (at both ends) so that the pivot at the handle remains perpendicular to the cable as tension is applied evenly....Once the correct tension/slack is obtained, simply add to one sheath as you take from the other (at the handle end).