I need to adjust the parking brake?

The parking brake mechanism is separate from the disc brake system and utilize a set of brake shoes on the inside of the brake rotor. The caliper is a regular caliper that can be compressed back without any special tools beyond maybe a "C" clamp. You shouldn't need to do anything with the parking brake. This video can help it is on a similar car but the process is the same.

https://youtu.be/7a-scFGaYT0

Please run down this guide and report back.

MAJOR ADJUSTMENT (TO BE DONE WHEN REPLACING PARKING BRAKE SHOES)
1. Raise the rear of the vehicle, arid support it with safety stands in the proper locations
2. Release the parking brake pedal fully.
3. Back off the parking brake adjusting nut (A) in the parking brake pedal.

Fig. 9: Identifying Parking Brake Adjusting Nut
4. Remove the rear wheels.
5. Remove the access plug (A).

Fig. 10: Identifying Access Plug
6. Turn the adjuster (B) with a flat-tip screwdriver (C) until the shoes lock against the parking brake drum. Then back off the adjuster 8 clicks, and install the access plug.
7. Clean the mating surface of the brake disc/drum and the inside of the wheel, then install the rear wheels.
8. Do the minor adjustment procedure.

MINOR ADJUSTMENT
1. Raise the rear of the vehicle, and support it with safety stands in the proper locations
2. Release the parking brake pedal fully.
3. Tighten the parking brake adjusting nut (A) until the parking brakes drag slightly when the rear wheels are rotated.
After installing new parking brake shoes and/or new brake disc/drum, make sure you drive the vehicle for "break-in".
4. Back off the adjusting nut in half-turn increments.
5. Release the parking brake pedal fully, and check that the parking brakes do not drag when the rear wheels are rotated. Readjust if necessary.
6. Make sure the parking brakes are fully applied when the parking brake pedal is pressed in all the way.

Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

You are close. The spring is part of the parking brake assembly. That is a standard drum brake inside the rear brake rotor, and it uses standard-style shoe return springs. When they pull the shoes to retract them, that pulls on the parking brake cables, and those pull on the lever to hold it down.

While it is possible for a shoe return spring to break or become weak, it is much more common for a rear cable to become rusted in the partially-applied position. That reduces its ability to pull the lever all the way down.

To verify this, apply the parking brake, then release it slowly. Crawl underneath, just ahead of a rear wheel, and look for the casing that cable slides in. That casing will end where it is attached to the car body, close to where the links attach the axle to the body. It is typically only about two feet long. Look at the cable right where it exits that casing. If the first 1/2" is shiny, with no road dirt on it, that cable has not fully retracted. You will likely see if retract further if you flex the casing by hand.

If you see the cable retract further or all the way when you flex the casing, the only acceptable repair is to replace it. Do not even try to lubricate it. Any used-car dealer can tell you doing so will result in the car coming back on a tow truck with a parking brake that will not release.

You explained it perfectly. The lever is not staying in the released position due to the parking brake cables not pulling on it hard enough.

Given the additional symptom that it moves depending on the orientation of the car, that further points to the rear cables flexing due to different loading of the suspension, and that flexing is the same as I described that you can do from under the car. As the rear axle moves up and down, it pulls on the parking brake cables, and that changes the position of the lever.

Hi NCAROLIPIO,

Either the park brake adjustment is out, the cables are stuck or the lever is often forgotten to be released.

You will need to lift and support rear of vehicle with the wheels off.There is a rubber access plug in the face of the rotor (see pic) remove plug and locate the toothed wheel inside. Adjust with flat screwdriver until shoes lock against drum, then back off 8 clciks.The ebrake handle should go about 5-9 clicks for the e-brake to be on

Hi hondaukcrvauto,

The adjustment should be done at the wheels first and if the cable is too tight, you need to release the tension at front.

When brake shoes adjustment is complete, adjust the front to have just minimal free travel.

Hi vicente0520,

Minor Adjustment (CR-V)
1. Release parking brake lever fully. Move driver's seat all the way forward. Pull back carpet under driver's seat. Remove screw and bolt for parking brake equalizer cover. Remove return spring. Pull parking brake lever one click. Tighten adjusting nut until parking brakes drag slightly when rear wheels are turned.
2. Release parking brake lever fully, and check that parking brakes do not drag when rear wheels are turned. Readjust if necessary. Reinstall return spring and parking brake equalizer cover. Make sure parking brakes are fully applied when parking brake lever is pulled all the way.

NOTE: Minor parking brake adjustments (1-2 clicks) can be made with adjusting nut in the equalizer. If a larger adjustment is required, follow major adjustment procedures using an adjuster at parking brake drum. See MAJOR ADJUSTMENT (CR-V) . After installing new parking brake shoes and/or new rear brake disc/drums, make sure you drive vehicle for breaking in of brakes.

Major Adjustment (CR-V)
Release parking brake. Release parking brake lever fully. Move driver's seat all the way forward. Pull back carpet under driver's seat. Remove screw and bolt for parking brake equalizer cover. Remove return spring. Back off adjusting nut in equalizer. Remove rear wheels. Remove access plug. See Fig. Turn ratchet teeth on adjuster assembly with a flat-head screwdriver until shoes lock against drum. Then back off adjuster 8 clicks, and install access plug. Do minor adjustment procedures. See MINOR ADJUSTMENT (CR-V) . Install rear wheels.

NOTE: To be done after replacing brake shoes & lining surface break-in
Page 1 of 1 DISC & DRUM -2002 Honda CR-V EX 9/13/2008