Handbrake Almost Vertical

[PaulPJ]

Hi Technical chaps, I adjusted my handbrake shoes this morning and the handbrake still goes up about 8 clicks. I made sure there was only about 23mm thread showing (There was 30mm so readjusted it) I adjusted the shoes until it locked the wheel and then went back one on both sides (Shoes have plenty of meat on them) but the hand brake is still 8 clicks. What else can I do so car is ready for MOT time.

[Greeners]

Originally Posted by PaulPJ

Hi Technical chaps, I adjusted my handbrake shoes this morning and the handbrake still goes up about 8 clicks. I made sure there was only about 23mm thread showing (There was 30mm so readjusted it) I adjusted the shoes until it locked the wheel and then went back one on both sides (Shoes have plenty of meat on them) but the hand brake is still 8 clicks. What else can I do so car is ready for MOT time.

If the shoes are properly adjusted up then take the slack up at the handle end. You may have slacked the shoes off a tad too much.........


and have you bed them in since adjusting them....?

[PaulPJ]

Hi Greeners, after adjusting the shoes thru the little hole and locking them up and then releasing a tad I did give 5 good yanks on the handbrake to bed them in.

Are you saying take up the slack at the handbrake end? The car has done 90K, could the cable(s) have stretched?? Paul

[Greeners]

Handbrake adjustment

Rear brake shoe bedding-in

WARNING: Where possible, a road test should be on well surfaced, dry roads. Always comply with speed limits and local traffic regulations.

1. Ensure handbrake is correctly adjusted as detailed below.
2. While driving the vehicle at approximately 6 mph (10 km/h), apply handbrake lever 5 notches. Maintain vehicle speed at approximately 6 mph (10 km/h) for 100 metres then release handbrake.

Adjust

1. Release handbrake lever gaiter from centre console.
2. Loosen handbrake cable adjusting nut until nut is flush with end of thread.
3. Raise rear of vehicle.
WARNING: Do not work on or under a vehicle supported only by a jack. Always
support the vehicle on safety stands.
4. Remove both rear road wheels.
5. On each rear brake:
a Turn brake disc to align road wheel bolt hole with brake shoe adjuster (approximately 11o'clock on RH brake and 1 o'clock on LH brake).
b Use thin bladed screw driver, or similar, to turn brake shoe adjuster nut (RH thread) until brake disc is unable to turn.
c Unscrew brake shoe adjuster nut 5 notches.
d Ensure brake disc is free to turn without resistance.
6. Cycle handbrake lever fully on/off 5 times to seat handbrake shoes and cables.
7. Tighten handbrake cable adjusting nut until 23 to 25 mm of thread is exposed above nut.
CAUTION: Exposed thread above handbrake cable adjusting nut must not
exceed 25 mm, or damage to the handbrake mechanism will occur.
8. Cycle handbrake lever fully on/off.
9. Apply handbrake lever 2 notches
10. On each rear brake, check force required to turn brake disc. Brake disc must turn with light resistance. If necessary, use brake shoe adjuster nut to adjust brake shoes.
11. Release handbrake lever and ensure rear brake discs turn without resistance.
12. Turn ignition switch to position II and check handbrake operation. Apply handbrake lever in 1 notch increments and ensure the following occurs:
a notch 1 - rear brake discs turn without resistance, handbrake warning lamp in instrument pack on or off.
b notch 2 - rear brake discs turn with light resistance, handbrake warning lamp in instrument pack on.
c notch 3 and above - rear brake discs locked, handbrake warning lamp in instrument pack
on.
13. Turn ignition switch to position 0.
14. Secure handbrake lever gaiter to centre console.
15. Fit rear road wheels and tighten bolts to 125 Nm.
16. Remove stand(s) and lower vehicle.





That's the official way to adjust handbrakes......

Now......I've never managed to get the 25mm of thread in the cabin, it's usually double that. I can't believe that the steel cables stretch that much...

so what I do is, adjust them up, bed them in then adjust them again.....

[PaulPJ]

Hi Greeners, thats exactly what Ive done. I bed them in and then took it up on the handbrake. Ended up with 30mm but handbrake holds on 3 clicks now. Thanks for the help. Paul

[Devilish]

Originally Posted by PaulPJ

after adjusting the shoes thru the little hole and locking them up and then releasing a tad