How to Adjust MG ZR / Rover 25 Handbrake

Having an incorrectly adjusted handbrake (parking brake) on your Rover 25 or MG ZR is not only unsafe, it'll also fail an MOT handbrake efficiency test.

Follow this quick and simple guide to make sure you car's handbrake is adjusted correctly.


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Time to Complete - 15-25 minutes

Difficulty - 2/5

Tools and Parts Required

• 12mm spanner
• Jack
• Axle stands
• Wheel chocks

Disclaimer: Any information given in this guide is to be used at the readers own risk. I take no responsibility for injuries to the reader or damage to their vehicles. If this guide is followed correctly, no harm should occur to either the reader or the car.

Please read through the entirety of this guide prior to undertaking any work, and take due care.

How to Adjust a Rover 25 / MG ZR Handbrake

Step 1 - Determine How Much Handbrake Adjustment Is Required

Before starting this procedure, make sure that the car is level, or as level as possible.

To determine how much adjustment your Rover 25 or MG ZR handbrake needs, follow these quick steps.

• Pump the foot brake pedal a few times
• This will make sure the clearance is correct between the braking elements
• Then, starting with the handbrake lever in the fully disengaged position, pull it up counting the number of clicks
• It is best to pull it up slowly to get an accurate count
• The acceptable click range is 8 - 12

Step 2 - Chock the Front Wheels and Jack Up the Rear of the Car

For safety, make sure you chock the front wheels before jacking up the rear of the car.

If you haven't got any chocks, they are pretty cheap for a pair on Amazon, these Sealey rubber chocks look pretty good value for money.


Once the chocks are in place, jack up the rear of the car so that the rear wheels are off the ground.

Never work on a car that is just being held off the ground by a jack, they can fail and cause serious injury or damage to your car.

Position your axle stands safely under the car, then lower the car down onto them.

If you haven't got any axle stands, likewise with the chocks, these Silverline 3 tonne axle stands look decent value for money.

Step 3 - Set Handbrake Calibration Position

Fully disengage the handbrake, then pull it up 1 click only.

Step 4 - Remove the Rear Ash Tray

Remove the rear ashtray from the centre console. To do this simply pull it out. Once out it should reveal the handbrake adjusting nut, as shown below.

Step 5 - Tighten or Slacken the Handbrake Adjustment Nut

Tip: It'll save you a fair amount of time and faffing around if you get a helper at this point to either adjust the nut or turn the rear wheels.

Using the 12mm spanner, adjust the nut until only a very slight resistance to movement can be felt when turning the back wheels by hand.

If you had lower than 8 clicks in the step 1 click test, turn the nut anticlockwise, if you had higher than 12 clicks turn the nut clockwise.

Step 6 - Test the Handbrake Adjustment

Once adjusted, fully disengage the handbrake and make sure that the wheels still spin freely.

Then (from fully disengaged) pull the handbrake up again counting the clicks till fully engaged.

To give you a rough idea of where your handbrake lever should sit after adjustment, this is my handbrake fully engaged at 9 clicks.

Step 7 - Lower Your Car Back to the Ground

On completing the handbrake adjustment, refit the ashtray (it just pushes back in), jack the car off the axle stands and remove them, then finally lower the car back to the ground.

Job Done!

Let me know in the comments below how you get on, and be sure to check out my other service and how to guides to keep your MG Rover running sweet.