How to Make Parking Brake Adjustments in a Saturn Ion

Make parking brake adjustments to your Saturn Ion with simple tools that you probably already have in your garage. You can save yourself time and money making the adjustment at home instead of going to the mechanic. Make the adjustment when your car starts to slip while parked on a slope. You can use this technique for all years of the Saturn Ion.

Things You'll Need

  • Jack and jack stands
  • Screwdriver
  • Wrench or pliers
  • Raise the rear of the Saturn Ion off the ground using a jack. Support your vehicle with jack stands.

  • Take off the center console around the parking brake lever with a screwdriver. Locate the parking brake lever inside your Saturn Ion between the driver seat and the front passenger seat.

  • Use your pliers to unscrew the adjusting nut. Look underneath the vehicle and locate the wire cables coming from each rear wheel. Make sure the cables are loose when the adjuster nut loosens.

  • Rotate the rear wheels until there is no tension in the rotation. Tighten the adjuster nut towards the previous position where the parking brake cables underneath are tight.

  • Back off the adjusting nut one full turn with your pliers. Pull up on the parking brake lever and use your hand to release the lever three to five times. Attempt to rotate the wheels; they should not turn.

  • Lower your vehicle using the jack and remove the jack stands from each rear wheel.