Possible Cure for Dodgy Handbrake..

[Arctic]

Are we now back at the begining and saying do not use these modificated ones until we are sure i would have thought that the welded one which can still move in all directions and still retain the 3mm gap is basically like having a new compensator fitted for the first time always or is my thinking wrong
1
retaining the 3mm gap and can still swivel
2

Note there is still a gap between the bar head and the swivel plate,full movement in all directions.
3

Still hoping someone as a pic of the fixing plate over the compensator showing how many screws after the carpet as been peeled back or removed, as i am thinking of trying to remove it with out taking console out or the back seat,

[T-Cut]

Originally Posted by JeffD

film it being tested to destruction

I love seeing that stuff.

TC

[BigRuss]

Originally Posted by gerry3

I do have a concern that altered brackets would enable a much greater load to be placed on the cables and if the brakes were not adjusted right then some thing else would have to "give". Perhaps this was in the mind of the designer, hence leaving the "U" open ended, letting that bend rather than something further down the system fail.

Gerry

Gerry, I think you may well have a valid point here, something may well give if everything isn't right.

At least with the weakness here it will just effect the adjustment instead of breaking something more important.

It may be that it'll be fine, I suppose we'll see if there's any concerns.

Russ

[stocktake]

Originally Posted by Arctic

2


Still hoping someone as a pic of the fixing plate over the compensator showing how many screws after the carpet as been peeled back or removed, as i am thinking of trying to remove it with out taking console out or the back seat,

See post 21 0n this thread. 2nd picture down. rear pass footwell. shows the item.

1 fixing to the rear top.
2 fixings to the side fronts.
The other 2 fixings you can see at the front top are the rear centre console fixings.

i assume you realise you will have to cut the carpet along the middle and reseal with tape

[Arctic]

Originally Posted by stocktake

See post 21 0n this thread. 2nd picture down. rear pass footwell. shows the item.

1 fixing to the rear top.
2 fixings to the side fronts.
The other 2 fixings you can see at the front top are the rear centre console fixings.

i assume you realise you will have to cut the carpet along the middle and reseal with tape

Hi Dave.
Yer thats what i spoke to you about at the Four Ashes remember, i am also trying to find a nice tray to go over the top should it not reseal but do know a mate whom is a carpet fitter and he said he will do a invisable mend with an under glue but as always photos will follow just going to have a fewin the back garden

[gerry3]

Originally Posted by Arctic

Are we now back at the begining and saying do not use these modificated ones until we are sure i would have thought that the welded one which can still move in all directions and still retain the 3mm gap is basically like having a new compensator fitted for the first time always or is my thinking wrong
1
retaining the 3mm gap and can still swivel
2

Note there is still a gap between the bar head and the swivel plate,full movement in all directions.
3

Still hoping someone as a pic of the fixing plate over the compensator showing how many screws after the carpet as been peeled back or removed, as i am thinking of trying to remove it with out taking console out or the back seat,

Hi Arctic,
There should be no problem with the bracket the way you have welded it.
Do not place too much into my saying that something else could go and that it was designed to give way.The designer probably did not even think of it.
Judging by some of the other parts on cars they were designed to a price rather than how good it was, so long as it out lasted the warranty.
Just £1 saved on every car would give the manufacture thousands more profit.
If its any consolation I would fit a modified one on my car without a second thought about it.

So to all who have read this thread and would like to have the mod. done, take up Harry's offer, send him your old one and for just the cost of the postage you can be sure that you should not have to do the job again, perhaps adjust the brake shoes but that is easier than having to strip the hand brake down.

[Synchromesh]

I have just taken the CD/cassette liner out of my wife's centre console to inspect the compensator. The distance between the front and rear parts of the compensator is about 7mm. It looks similar to the compensator on the left of the fourth photograph on the first page of this thread. Does anyone know how much the 'bent nail' slides around the rivet? Does it stop when the gap reaches 7-8mm or does it carry on until the two halves of the compensator become detached from each other. The handbrake is supposed to also be an emergency brake if the foot brake fails. If the foot brake fails the adrenalin rush may enable you to yank so hard on the handbrake that the 'bent nail' slides all the way to the end and then the handbrake would also fail.

[HarryM1BYT]

Originally Posted by Synchromesh

I have just taken the CD/cassette liner out of my wife's centre console to inspect the compensator. The distance between the front and rear parts of the compensator is about 7mm. It looks similar to the compensator on the left of the fourth photograph on the first page of this thread. Does anyone know how much the 'bent nail' slides around the rivet? Does it stop when the gap reaches 7-8mm or does it carry on until the two halves of the compensator become detached from each other. The handbrake is supposed to also be an emergency brake if the foot brake fails. If the foot brake fails the adrenalin rush may enable you to yank so hard on the handbrake that the 'bent nail' slides all the way to the end and then the handbrake would also fail.

There is no limit to how far the bent nail can can have its bend moved, so far as the compensator is concerned. What would limit it, is that fact that for every time the bend moves a bit, you would need to readjust your handbrake to take up the slack. unless it was very close to coming out, you would not be able to pull it out in one panic application of the lever.

I don't think they are any longer classified as an emergency brake, since the introduction of dual circuit brakes I understood they had been re-classified to just parking brakes.

I would suggest your compensator needs to be sorted out ASAP.

[danmayberry]

well,i'm wondering is this still a work in progress,as i had stripdown of my back brakes today as there was something loose inside the drum,it turns out that it was the two spring loaded pins which hold the shoes to the backplate,they had pulled right through the backplate leaving 2 holes, so i used 2 bolts with the heads ground down to about 2mm with washers and nylocs on the outside of the back plate, clears the drum and holds the shoes a treat,but my dilemma is now went from no handbrake to poor handbrake,even after adjusting at the drums,which leaves me to think it could be the compensator beastie,has some one came up with a solution or is it a safe bet to buy a new one? cheers-dan

[T-Cut]

Originally Posted by HarryM1BYT

There is no limit to how far the bent nail can can have its bend moved, so far as the compensator is concerned.

Would this mod not have the right effect, but easier to do?



TC