Hi guys,

Son has just changed his discs & pads on his ST, fitted everything smoothly, brake pedal feels firm but the handbrake goes up much higher than previously!

Is this normal for the handbrake to go up higher than before or has he done something wrong ?

Thanks.

Need to adjust the handbrake. A pain of a job given all the trim you need to remove.

https://www.fiestastforum.com/threads/2143-DIY-Request-Taking-apart-center-console-to-adjust-e-brake

The handbrake shouldn't have changed. did he pump the brake pedal before operating the handbrake? 

2 minutes ago, stef123 said:

The handbrake shouldn't have changed. did he pump the brake pedal before operating the handbrake? 

He started to pull the handbrake up first then pumped the brakes!

1 minute ago, Ian Lanc said:

He started to pull the handbrake up first then pumped the brakes!

if the handbrake has been pulled he needs to start again. Rewind the calipers and operate the brake pedal, then the handbrake.

Just now, stef123 said:

if the handbrake has been pulled he needs to start again. Rewind the calipers and operate the brake pedal, then the handbrake.

I'll tell him.

He has pushed the pistons out with the handbrake mechanism before they were in contact with the pads, hence the long travel. 

1 minute ago, stef123 said:

He has pushed the pistons out with the handbrake mechanism before they were in contact with the pads, hence the long travel. 

Had words with him over his mistake, he's going to have another bash at it tomorrow.

Thanks for your knowledge, much appreciated. 

I had this a few weeks ago too with my 2012 Focus. After many failed attempts to reset the handbrake after new pads turned out my caliper was goosed! 

with regard to the comment above about adjusting the handbrake cable. I know that people do adjust up the cable sometimes when the handbrake lever is coming up high, but most of the time this is the wrong thing to do. The adjuster is there to set it up correctly when new or when a new cable is fitted. If it is adjusted up for another reason then most of the time it is the wrong thing to do because it is just masking the real problem elsewhere - which is the automatic adjuster in the caliper (or the automatic adjuster on the brake shoes on a drum brake car)