2013-2017 Acura ILX Parking Brake Problems and Adjustment

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

The 2013-2017 Acura ILX uses a hand-lever parking brake that pulls cables to the rear disc calipers, where a screw mechanism inside each caliper pushes the piston and clamps the rear pads. Most ILX parking brake complaints come down to three things: cable slack that lets the lever travel too far, a rear caliper mechanism that sticks or was not reset correctly during a pad job, or a lever that was never fully released while driving. Here is how the system works, how to tell which problem you have, and what fixes it.

How the ILX Parking Brake Works

Acura's owner information for the ILX states the car has disc brakes at all four wheels with vacuum power assist, and the parking brake is a center-console lever. To apply it, you pull the lever fully up without pressing the release button. To release it, you pull up slightly, press and hold the button, lower the lever all the way, then let go of the button.

There are no separate parking brake shoes or drum-in-hat on this car. The lever pulls an equalizer and cables that run to an actuating arm on the back of each rear caliper. That arm turns a screw mechanism inside the caliper that pushes the piston out mechanically, so the same rear pads that stop the car also hold it when parked. The caliper also contains a self-adjusting mechanism that takes up clearance as the rear pads wear, which is why the lever feel should stay about the same over the life of the pads when everything is working.

The ILX also watches the lever for you. If you start driving without fully releasing the parking brake, a buzzer sounds and RELEASE PARKING BRAKE appears on the multi-information display. Acura's manual warns that the rear brakes and axle can be damaged if you drive with the parking brake applied.

Common Symptoms and What They Point To

If the red brake light stays on after the lever is fully down, check the brake fluid level before anything else. On most cars the same warning covers both the parking brake and low fluid, and low fluid usually means the pads are worn or there is a leak.

Why ILX Parking Brakes Lose Holding Power

Cable stretch and corrosion

Brake and Front End notes that parking brake cables can stretch over time, creating slack that increases lever travel. On cars that see road salt, the inner cable can also corrode inside its housing, so it pulls on but does not spring back fully. A cable that sticks partly applied will drag one rear pad and wear it out faster than the other side.

Rear caliper mechanism problems

Because the parking brake lives inside the rear caliper, a rear caliper whose actuating arm is stiff, or whose internal adjuster has stopped working, will give a high lever and weak hold even with good cables. A caliper that hangs up also drags the rear pad and rotor. Replacing the caliper is the fix; the internal mechanism is not something you rebuild in a driveway.

Worn or glazed rear pads and rotors

The parking brake can only hold as well as the rear friction surfaces. Thin, glazed or rust-crusted rear pads, or a rotor with a heavy lip, reduce holding force no matter how tight the cable is.

A rear pad job done without resetting the pistons

This is the one we see most. On integral parking brake calipers the piston does not push straight back with a C-clamp; it has to be screwed back into the bore with a caliper wind-back tool. Brake and Front End also advises that on Hondas with rear disc brakes, the notch in the rear caliper piston must line up with the tab on the inboard pad. Get either step wrong and you can end up with a long pedal, a high lever, or a pad that is not seated flat.

How to Check and Adjust It

Start with the service brakes, not the cable. Brake and Front End's parking brake guidance is clear that the rear caliper pistons must be fully and correctly positioned before the cable is adjusted, and that you should never estimate a parking brake adjustment.

1. Count the clicks. Pull the lever up with firm, steady force and count the clicks until it stops. The factory service manual gives the correct click range and the pull force to use. A count well above normal means slack somewhere.
2. Inspect the rear brakes. Pull both rear wheels. Check pad thickness, the rotor surface, and that each caliper's actuating arm returns fully to its stop when the lever is released.
3. Check the cables. With the lever down, each cable should move freely and the arms should rest against their stops. If a cable is frozen or frayed, replace it; adjusting a seized cable only hides the problem.
4. Pump the pedal. After any rear brake work, press the brake pedal repeatedly with the engine running. On self-adjusting calipers this lets the adjuster take up clearance before you touch the cable.
5. Adjust at the equalizer. The adjusting nut sits under the center console at the lever. With the lever down, tighten the nut until the lever reaches the factory click count and both rear wheels lock by hand, then confirm both wheels spin freely with the lever released.
6. Road test. Park on a grade with the lever up and the car in neutral, with your foot ready on the pedal. Then drive and confirm neither rear wheel heats up.

If you have to tighten the cable far to get a normal click count, the cable is stretched or a caliper adjuster has quit. That is a parts problem, not an adjustment problem.

Why the Parking Brake Matters on the Manual ILX

NHTSA recall 20V770000 covers the drive shaft on the 2013 ILX. The recall states the shafts' protective coating may not have been applied properly, making them more likely to be damaged by road salt and break, and that a broken shaft can cause a sudden loss of drive power or a rollaway. On a manual-transmission car, the parking brake is the only thing holding the car when you walk away, so a weak lever is a safety problem, not just an annoyance. Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm the drive shaft work was done, and set the parking brake every time you park, as Acura's manual instructs.

What to Replace Together

Replace rear pads in axle sets and inspect both rear calipers at the same time. If one caliper's parking brake arm is sticking, replace calipers as a pair so the rear axle brakes evenly. New pads on a lipped or grooved rotor will not bed in properly, so pair them with fresh rotors when the old ones are worn.

• Rear pads: browse brake pads or ceramic brake pads for a quiet, low-dust daily driver.
• Rotors: see our brake rotors. For the front axle, the Hawk Talon drilled and slotted front rotor set for the 2013 ILX Base and the EBC GD Sport slotted front rotors for the 2017 ILX 2.4L fit.
• Calipers and hardware: brake calipers and brake hardware kits for new clips and slide pin boots.
• Hybrid owners: the EBC Yellowstuff front pad set for the ILX 1.5L Hybrid fits the front axle.

Confirm fitment by year and trim before ordering; ILX Base, 2.4L and Hybrid models do not all share brake sizes.

How Hard Is the Job?

Checking click count and cable movement is easy and needs only basic tools. Adjusting the cable means removing center console trim, which is moderate but fiddly. Rear pad replacement on this caliper is a moderate job that needs a caliper piston wind-back tool and attention to the piston notch alignment. Replacing a rear caliper adds a brake line connection and a full bleed. If you are not comfortable bleeding brakes or confirming the parking brake holds on a grade, have a shop do the caliper work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 2013-2017 Acura ILX have an electronic parking brake?

No. Acura's owner information describes a hand lever you pull up to apply and release with a button. The parking brake is mechanical, working through cables to the rear disc calipers.

Why does my ILX parking brake lever come up so high?

Usually cable stretch, a rear caliper self-adjuster that has stopped taking up clearance, or rear pistons that were pushed back without being wound in during a pad job. Inspect the rear brakes first, then adjust the cable to the factory click count.

Can I push the rear caliper pistons back with a C-clamp?

No. Integral parking brake calipers need the piston rotated back into the bore with a wind-back tool. Forcing it straight in can damage the internal mechanism. Line up the piston notch with the inboard pad tab when you reassemble.

What happens if I drive with the ILX parking brake on?

The car warns you with a buzzer and a RELEASE PARKING BRAKE message. Acura warns that driving with it applied can damage the rear brakes and axle. Expect overheated rear pads and rotors that may need replacing.

Is my ILX part of the drive shaft recall?

NHTSA recall 20V770000 covers the drive shaft on the 2013 ILX. Enter your VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup or ask an Acura dealer to confirm whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

Sources

1. Acura ILX Owner's Manual: Brake System - lever apply and release steps, RELEASE PARKING BRAKE warning, rear brake and axle damage warning
2. Acura Owners: ILX Braking - disc brakes at all four wheels, vacuum power assist, parking brake lever operation
3. NHTSA Recalls: 2013 Acura ILX - recall 20V770000 drive shaft coating, loss of drive power and rollaway risk
4. Brake and Front End: Adjusting Parking Brakes - cable stretch, screw-type caliper piston positioning, knocking from slack, never estimate adjustments
5. Brake and Front End: Honda Brake Job Tips - align rear piston notch with inboard pad tab on Honda rear discs