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Handbrake Failure

Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2023 5:59 pm
by Incognito
My handbrake, not that it was the best , now travels all the way to the maximum height and won't hold the car. MOT in a couple of weeks. Cable stretched ? Surely too much travel for me to just adjust at the handbrake ?
Any advise please and thanks.

Re: Handbrake Failure

Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2023 6:51 pm
by Micron
Take off the adjustment that the handbrake, jack up the car and adjust it there to take up the slack, then final adjustment at the handbrake
That’s the short version 😂

Re: Handbrake Failure

Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2023 9:02 pm
by Slick
The return springs on my 24v are both seized up, cable keeps popping out 🙄
Might be worth a look……

Re: Handbrake Failure

Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2023 9:28 pm
by Kit
Check the adjustment on the rear callipers, action of the hand brake cable.

Then try and take out any ‘long travel’, on the hand brake lever , with the 10mm nut under the plastic cover on the top.

Kit

Re: Handbrake Failure

Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2023 5:30 pm
by Incognito
Thank you chaps, it is going in for a pre mot check next week so I think it's best rather than me mess it up,pass the info on to my garage . Ive got spare calipers, pads and all cables in stock....bloody mot. Managed perfectly OK on a 400 mile round trip to Blackpool with no handbrake :lol: :lol:

Re: Handbrake Failure

Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2023 11:56 pm
by Sunfly
handbrake, even when properly adjusted is crap. How it passes I do not know but it wont hold the car on a steep gradient. Rear calipers are nothing but trouble too. Handbrake lever Siezing up being the big issue and that might be worth checking. I never use it unless I have to, i.e. a car behind me on a slope. Car will stay put on any hill in 1st on engine compression so who needs the handbrake except the MOT man

Re: Handbrake Failure

Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2023 8:30 pm
by Slick
Gone on 16v too, within a month of new calipers, discs & pads all round!!
Starting going ‘soft’ until no use at all!! Job for the weeekend 🙄

Re: Handbrake Failure

Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2023 9:32 am
by cpt black
When adjusting hand brake on rear calipers put the hand brake up to the first click
then adjust the caliper screw,to bled the rear brakes do with the car running

Re: Handbrake Failure

Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2023 10:13 am
by jrh
Sorry , it's lack of DENSO tape again !
When you fit newish calipers , the spindle that disappears into the body of the caliper , the one that is operated by the handbrake cable , MUST be
packed round tight with DENSO tape.
This will give the lip seal a fighting chance of keeping the salt water out.
Even a tiny bit of rust on that spindle and it seizes up , hand-brake locks on or fails to release properly.