Hand brake question

Hello All,

MOT time again and got a fail on handbrake efficiency and reverse travel of lever. I just tried to adjust it up and it is better but not sure it will pass. I had similar issue 2 years back that was caused by the hand brake cable stretching on one side due to heat from a stuck caliper. At the time I replace that side of the hand brake cable and the rear disks, foot and hand brake pads.

Question I have, assuming my adjustment isn't enough, would simply replacing the hand brake shoes give more adjustment to get a pass or should I do that and change the other cable assuming it has probably stretched too with age.

Got advisory for rear pad thickness so going to have to some work back there anyway.

Thanks in advance

It may need adjusting inside the brake drum even though they should be self adjusting.

Thanks Backinblack

When you say adjusting inside the drum, do you mean rotating the adjuster through the hole in the disk at 6 o'clock?

I didn't think there was any other adjustment inside, I put a new fitting kit on it when I replaced the drum shoes.

Thanks

backinblack said:

It may need adjusting inside the brake drum even though they should be self adjusting.

Click to expand...

Seems likely, assuming its like BMWs (which i would guess it is) there is a hole you poke a screwdriver in to turn a starwheel to adjust them

Yup, I did that and booked it in for a retest but I suspect it won't be enough. On five clicks on the hand brake handle, close to the top it will hold the car in drive if you push the accelerator and hold it on our steep drive but it certainly isn't as good as two years ago when I replaced the cable.

Lezley said:

When you say adjusting inside the drum, do you mean rotating the adjuster through the hole in the disk at 6 o'clock?

Click to expand...

Yep that's the one. They are renowned for being crap.

Thanks both for your input, I'll see what the tester thinks tomorrow, maybe need to rebuild it all again and change the other cable.

Did you follow the instructions in RAVE when you adjusted the bit through the drum?

I did but 8 turns off from fully on does not give sufficient hold on the hand brake so something is wrong somewhere.

That sounds like a lot but if that what rave says...
Cable should be adjusted so there is a small amount of slack with hand brake off
As mentioned this type of handbrake is rubbish, Ive had BMWs with all new parts still not hold on a hill

Well the little adjustment I managed to make kept the tester happy and I got my cert this afternoon so probably don't need to worry about it until next year.

Thanks for the input

Lezley said:

I did but 8 turns off from fully on does not give sufficient hold on the hand brake so something is wrong somewhere.

Click to expand...

8 turns?
8 clicks I could go with, even that sounds a lot.
Need to check my manuals.

But you are safe for a year, all good.

J

8 clicks is what I believe Rave to state, I had it all set nice 2 years/7k miles, can't believe it has gone bad so quick. I guess we will see if we can get it to hold again 12 months.

The handbrake is a notoriously 'last notch' contender even with new pads, shoes etc. I never worry as ours worked when it needed to on some of the steep hills and bridges in Normandy last summer. Speaking of brakes it never harms to do a fluid change when the weather gets better, small cost, big return.

I suggest you remove the drum and clean up the brake surfaces with acetone, oil contamination can play havoc with the handbrake efficiency.