Handbrake Failure

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Incognito
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Handbrake Failure

Post by Incognito » Wed Sep 20, 2023 5:59 pm

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.

Micron
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Re: Handbrake Failure

Post by Micron » Wed Sep 20, 2023 6:51 pm

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 😂
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Slick
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Re: Handbrake Failure

Post by Slick » Wed Sep 20, 2023 9:02 pm

The return springs on my 24v are both seized up, cable keeps popping out 🙄
Might be worth a look……

Kit
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Re: Handbrake Failure

Post by Kit » Wed Sep 20, 2023 9:28 pm

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

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Re: Handbrake Failure

Post by Incognito » Thu Sep 21, 2023 5:30 pm

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:

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Re: Handbrake Failure

Post by Sunfly » Thu Sep 21, 2023 11:56 pm

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

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Re: Handbrake Failure

Post by Slick » Mon Sep 25, 2023 8:30 pm

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 🙄

cpt black
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Re: Handbrake Failure

Post by cpt black » Tue Sep 26, 2023 9:32 am

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

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Re: Handbrake Failure

Post by jrh » Wed Sep 27, 2023 10:13 am

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.

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