Cleaning sticky park brake

sometimes, my park brake sticks.
so, put in drive, release park brake and no movement, handbrake handle gone stiff where the shoes are loaded up - normally have to just go backwards an inch, then all good.
Are they easy enough to service? I am guessing its all crudded up or needs some adjustment..

oil seal at a guess

thanks - not knowing the ins and outs, what oil seal?

Only way this happens is if cable has gone tight in outer sleeve. Or hand brake is not adjusted properly. You must slacken cable fully back then adjust hand brake shoes with 17 mm adjuster on forward bottom of drum. Nip up and turn back 1 1/2 turns. ONLY THEN adjust cable up until brake is on in three clicks.

Thanks - I read in RAVE where the actual shoe adjuster is, but is the cable adjuster under the car or do I need to be removing the handbrake gaiter?

TAH said:

Thanks - I read in RAVE where the actual shoe adjuster is, but is the cable adjuster under the car or do I need to be removing the handbrake gaiter?

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Under the car where cable exits.

Mine does exactly the same thing but only if you put it in drive before releasing the brake so it seems to me that it only happens when load is applied to the brake expander.

I was going to take the drum off and clean everything out, The adjustment is fine on mine and the cable is perfect. I reckon it just needs cleaning and lubricating in the right places.

I'll get around to doing it one day......

Craig.

craggle said:

Mine does exactly the same thing but only if you put it in drive before releasing the brake so it seems to me that it only happens when load is applied to the brake expander.

I was going to take the drum off and clean everything out, The adjustment is fine on mine and the cable is perfect. I reckon it just needs cleaning and lubricating in the right places.

I'll get around to doing it one day......

Craig.

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How do you know the adjustment is fine. Have you adjusted it in the correct manner recently?

just adjusted mine as described.. and now have an operational park brake on 3 clicks. See if that sorts the sticking bit. Was a fair way out of adjustment (still worked but took a few turns of the adjuster to get to 3 clicks) Thanks

wammers said:

How do you know the adjustment is fine. Have you adjusted it in the correct manner recently?

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I have adjusted mine to give a good hold on about 3-4 clicks of the brake. and it fully releases when off so assumed that was good adjustment?

Craig.

craggle said:

I have adjusted mine to give a good hold on about 3-4 clicks of the brake. and it fully releases when off so assumed that was good adjustment?

Craig.

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Ok Craig no problem, as long as you did it by backing off cable, adjusting shoes then adjusting cable. Many just adjust cable on vehicles and wonder why the handbrake won't work.

Ahhh, Sorry, I see what your saying, there is an adjuster on the drum as well as the cable.
To be honest I just cranked up the cable a bit so I'll back that off again and adjust the shoes properly this time!

Thanks for your help.

Nice looking aircraft by the way.

Craig.

craggle said:

Ahhh, Sorry, I see what your saying, there is an adjuster on the drum as well as the cable.
To be honest I just cranked up the cable a bit so I'll back that off again and adjust the shoes properly this time!

Thanks for your help.

Nice looking aircraft by the way.

Craig.

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That's ok Craig. I think you said the brake stuck on if you put car in gear. Of course it maybe that expander fulcrum is a little tight. But could also be because shoes are not adjusted correctly. Cable must be knocked back until expander is in rest position then shoes adjusted. So shoes sit in full contact with top locator and bottom adjuster slides. This centralises shoes an even distance from drum all round. It is common practice to tap drum whilst adjusting drum brakes to get this centralisation. Only when this is achieved should cable be adjusted.

Shame it doesn't say that in the workshop manual (the backing off cable first part) - just says to go ahead and nip up the shoe adjuster which I guess should be fine unless your cable is HUGELY out of adjustment and still holding the shoes when released

TAH said:

Shame it doesn't say that in the workshop manual (the backing off cable first part) - just says to go ahead and nip up the shoe adjuster which I guess should be fine unless your cable is HUGELY out of adjustment and still holding the shoes when released

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Please yourself matey. You obviously did not read the part that said.

"Cable adjustment should not be used to take up brake shoe wear "

So if some plank has just taken the cable slack up two or three times and you then adjust the shoes what the hell do you think the shoes will be pushing against at the top end unless you relax the cable and return the expander to it's rest position. Mind you what do i know i've only been a mechnic for fifty years. Still learning.

Yes, I did read that part "Captain Touchy" - I was referring to the part about slacking the cable off first, and pointing out "Its a shame that isn't in the Manual" as in "They should put that in there so more people do it as it makes sense" as in "Good advice.. "
as opposed to having a go. 50 years a mechanic maybe its time to slow down a bit, let the new guys in, kick back and build things from matchsticks with a nice brew.
(We don't have park brakes in F1, but we do have cable adjusters so I know what they do)

TAH said:

Yes, I did read that part "Captain Touchy" - I was referring to the part about slacking the cable off first, and pointing out "Its a shame that isn't in the Manual" as in "They should put that in there so more people do it as it makes sense" as in "Good advice.. "
as opposed to having a go. 50 years a mechanic maybe its time to slow down a bit, let the new guys in, kick back and build things from matchsticks with a nice brew.
(We don't have park brakes in F1, but we do have cable adjusters so I know what they do)

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You stated that it would be ok to just take up the cable. So you work in a garage and a Rangie comes in to have hand brake adjusted. What do you do just take up the cable or do the job properly. I explained how to do it properly. What do you do in F1 make the bloody tea? If you worked in a mechanical position you would not be on here asking advice. Or are you one of the new breed of college taught technicians that don't know their arse from their elbow. You work in F1 and you ask some of the basic questions you ask on here. Give me a bloody break for christ sake. Do you think i came up the river on a tea leaf?

wammers said:

You stated that it would be ok to just take up the cable. So you work in a garage and a Rangie comes in to have hand brake adjusted. What do you do just take up the cable or do the job properly. I explained how to do it properly. What do you do in F1 make the bloody tea? If you worked in a mechanical position you would not be on here asking advice. Or are you one of the new breed of college taught technicians that don't know their arse from their elbow. You work in F1 and you ask some of the basic questions you ask on here. Give me a bloody break for christ sake. Do you think i came up the river on a tea leaf?

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hahaha.. mm yeah ok. Please cut and paste/quote the part where I stated that, as I can't see it. I can see me saying I ADJUSTED IT AS DESCRIBED. Think you are dazed and confused or your 50 year old glasses are oily. I can make really good tea, but I am alot better doing what I do so someone makes me tea mostly.

TAH said:

hahaha.. mm yeah ok. Please cut and paste/quote the part where I stated that, as I can't see it. I can see me saying I ADJUSTED IT AS DESCRIBED. Think you are dazed and confused or your 50 year old glasses are oily. I can make really good tea, but I am alot better doing what I do so someone makes me tea mostly.

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Yes sorry someone else said that. And i misunderstood your comment. My glasses are quit new actually but maybe a bit oily. Get the kettle on.

wammers said:

Yes sorry someone else said that. And i misunderstood your comment. My glasses are quit new actually but maybe a bit oily. Get the kettle on.

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Its on and you are welcome for a brew anytime. I respect your knowledge on these cars, hence being on here, as I know 'uck all about how they are held together, I know how all the bits work, but I work with cars the other end of the spectrum generally P.s. I'm over 40 lol