How to Replace Emergency Brakes in a Mazda6

The original purpose of emergency brakes was to stop your vehicle in an emergency. Fortunately, the brakes on a Mazda6 rarely fail and the emergency brakes are most commonly used to keep the vehicle from moving while parked. The most likely type of failure for emergency brakes is when the brake cable rusts and seizes after lack of use for a long period of time.

Instructions

1

Determine which type of emergency brakes your Mazda6 will need. Emergency brakes typically function by activating the regular braking system on the driving wheels. The emergency brakes for all versions of the Mazda6 use the brake pads for the disc brakes on the rear wheels.

2

Raise your vehicle and remove the rear wheels with a socket wrench. Disconnect the parking brake cable clip and unfasten the upper brake caliper bolt with a socket wrench so you can rotate the caliper downward.

3

Remove the V-springs and brake pads. Separate the shims from the brake pads.

4

Attach the shims to the new brake pads. Install the V-springs and brake pads. Install the upper brake caliper with a torque wrench and tighten the caliper bolt to between 27 and 36 foot pounds. Press the rear caliper pistons back into their bores using tool 49 FA18 602-Mazda6.

5

Adjust the tension on the parking brake cable by turning the adjustment nut. The parking brake warning light should come on when you pull the parking brake lever up one notch.