2002-2009 Nissan 350z Parking Brake Problems and Adjustment

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

The Nissan 350Z (Z33) does not use the rear disc caliper as its parking brake. It has a small drum brake hidden inside the hat of each rear rotor, applied by cables from the center lever. When the handbrake pulls too high, will not hold the car on a hill, or drags, the cause is almost always shoe adjustment, stretched or seized cables, or worn shoes and drums, and the fix follows a specific Nissan sequence: shoes first, then cable.

How the 350Z Parking Brake Works

Nissan's factory service manual (section PB, 2005 350Z) lists the parking drum brake as type DS17HG, operated by a center lever. Pulling the lever tensions a front cable into a device assembly that splits into left and right rear cables. Each rear cable pulls a toggle lever on the backing plate, which spreads two small shoes against the machined inside surface of the rear rotor's hat. That inner surface is the drum.

Because the drum is part of the rotor, anything done to the rear rotors affects the parking brake. A new rotor has a new drum surface, and a worn rotor hat can have a drum that is out of spec even when the braking face looks fine. The service manual covers both rear caliper types (the standard AD14VE and the Brembo OPB13VB) with the same parking shoe design.

The dash brake warning light does double duty. The owner's manual explains that it comes on when the parking brake is applied and also warns of low brake fluid. If it stays lit with the lever fully down, check the fluid level first before blaming the lever switch.

Common 350Z Parking Brake Problems and Symptoms

Brake and Front End magazine points out that parking brake cables stretch over time, which shows up as extra lever travel, and that the equalizer linkage can rust and interfere with both application and release. A worn pivot can leave the lever feeling normal while the brake does little on an incline.

Nissan Factory Specifications

These figures come from the service data section of the 2005 350Z factory manual. Confirm them against the manual for your exact model year before you rely on them.

Count the notches by listening to the ratchet clicks as you pull the lever with steady, moderate force. If you get well past 7 clicks, the system needs adjustment. If it holds in fewer clicks and the rear wheels drag, it is too tight.

How to Adjust the 350Z Parking Brake the Nissan Way

The most common mistake is cranking the cable nut to take up slack. That hides worn or backed-off shoes and can leave the rear brakes dragging. Nissan's procedure adjusts the shoes first, then the cable:

1. Slack the cable. Remove the ashtray in the center console, reach the adjusting nut with a deep socket, loosen the cable well, and let the lever return fully.
2. Pull the rear wheels and hold the rotor. Thread wheel nuts on to hold each rotor flat against the hub so it does not tilt.
3. Adjust the shoes through the hat. Remove the adjusting hole plug in the rotor. With a flat-bladed screwdriver, turn the star adjuster until the rotor locks, then back it off 5 or 6 notches.
4. Check for drag. Spin the rotor to confirm it turns freely, then reinstall the plug. Repeat on the other side.
5. Set the cable. Work the lever 10 or more times with a firm pull of about 294 N (30 kg, 66 lb). Then turn the adjusting nut until the lever gives 6 to 7 notches at the 196 N pull.
6. Verify release. With the lever fully down, make sure neither rear brake drags.

Nissan cautions that the cable adjusting nut is not reusable once removed, so buy a new one if you take it off. Brake and Front End makes the same point in general terms: when the manual calls for backing an adjuster off a set number of teeth, use that number rather than a guess by feel, because shoes can swell with moisture and drag.

Replacing Shoes, Rotors and Cables

If the linings are at or below 1.5 mm, oil-soaked, or glazed, replace the shoe set on both sides. If the drum inside the rotor hat measures past 173 mm, replace the rotor. Performance rear rotors for this car keep the drum surface in the hat, for example the DBA 4000 T3 slotted rear rotor for Brembo-equipped 350Z and the GiroDisc 2-piece rear rotors for Brembo 350Z.

Service notes from the factory manual worth following:

• Remove the rotor only with the lever fully released. If it will not come off, turn the star adjuster the opposite way through the hole to retract the shoes.
• Clean brake dust with a vacuum dust collector, never compressed air.
• The adjusters are side-specific. Assemble each so the threads expand in the correct direction, collapse it before installing, and grease the threads with PBC or silicone-based brake grease.
• Check the anti-rattle pins for wear and corrosion, the return springs for sagging, and make sure the adjuster turns smoothly.
• Inspect the cables for fraying, kinks and binding. Brake and Front End warns that spraying solvent or oil into cable sheaths tends to push grime deeper, so a binding cable is usually a replacement job.

Doing rear pads at the same time makes sense because the rotor is already off. Options include Hawk ceramic rear pads for non-Brembo 350Z for street use. You can also browse our brake shoes and brake hardware kits.

Break In New Parking Brake Shoes

Both the owner's manual and the service manual call for a parking brake break-in whenever the shoes or rotors are replaced, or when holding power has weakened. The service manual procedure is:

1. Set the lever stroke to spec first.
2. In a safe, empty area, drive forward at about 30 km/h (19 mph) and pull the lever with about 294 N (roughly 66 lb) of force for about 30 seconds.
3. Let the linings cool for about 5 minutes after each run.
4. Recheck the lever stroke and readjust if it has moved out of spec.

Nissan warns against overdoing it: excessive break-in runs can wear the linings unevenly or early. Skipping it is a common reason a freshly rebuilt Z parking brake feels weak on a hill.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 350Z use the rear caliper as the parking brake?

No. The 350Z uses a separate drum-in-hat parking brake. Small shoes press against the inside of the rear rotor hat, independent of the rear caliper and pads.

How many clicks should the 350Z handbrake have?

Nissan specifies 6 to 7 notches with a pull of 196 N (20 kg, 44 lb). More than that means the shoes or cable need adjustment.

Can I just tighten the cable at the console?

Only after adjusting the shoes at the wheels. Tightening the cable alone can mask worn or backed-off shoes and may cause the rear brakes to drag.

Why will my rear rotor not come off?

The parking shoes may be adjusted out or have worn a lip into the drum. With the lever fully released, remove the plug in the rotor hat and turn the star adjuster to retract the shoes.

Do replacement rear rotors work with the 350Z parking brake?

Direct-fit rear rotors for the 350Z include the drum surface in the hat. Adjust the shoes and perform the break-in procedure after installing them.

Why is my brake warning light on with the parking brake released?

The same light warns of low brake fluid. Nissan says to check the fluid level first; if the level is correct, have the warning system checked.

Sources

1. Nissan 2005 350Z Service Manual, Section PB Parking Brake System - DS17HG type, lever stroke, lining and drum specs, adjustment, removal and break-in procedures
2. Nissan 2008 350Z Owner's Manual - brake warning light function and parking brake break-in guidance
3. Brake and Front End: Adjusting Parking Brakes - drum-in-hat adjustment practice, cable stretch, seized equalizers and cable lubrication cautions