Audi 80 Quiz
Brake System

Parking Brake System

In this manual: Brake System
Technical Description — 39Engines — 41Exhaust System — 13Cooling System — 28Fuel tank and fuel pump — 12Air Filter and Intake Ducts — 13Mono-Motronic Injection System — 18Digifant Injection System — 19KE-III-Jetronic Injection System — 35MPI and MPFI Injection Systems — 32Clutch — 11Transmission and Driveline — 21Suspension and Steering — 33Brake System — 41Anti-lock brake system — 8Wheels and Tires — 13Body Electrical System — 35Ignition System — 24Lighting — 14Signaling Devices — 7Instruments and Auxiliary Equipment — 54Heating and Ventilation — 7Body Components — 18Troubleshooting — 6Specifications — 13
~1min read

When the parking brake lever is applied, a rigid rod under the vehicle floor moves forward. At its end is a balance bar (equalizer). The brake cables are attached to it and run rearward to the rear brake shoe backing plates or to the brake caliper assemblies. The purpose of the equalizer is to distribute the force applied when the parking brake lever is pulled as evenly as possible between the rear wheels. The equalizer compensates for variations in friction of the two brake cables.


On models with rear drum brakes, the brake cables pull the parking brake levers on the rear brake shoes and press them against the drum. At the same time, the parking brake lever bears through the push rod against the front brake shoe, so it also brakes.

On models with rear disc brakes, the brake cables act through the operating lever on the push rod and the adjusting mechanism, as described in the section "Rear Wheel Disc Brake Assemblies".

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