HAND BRAKE.....hopeless

Number 6 · 17th December 2018, 21:45

What can be done about these useless Handbrakes ???

I have replaced the rear disc's and shoes and over the last 18 months the hand brake gets worse and worse....

I have used an air line to get the dust out of them ,I have adjusted them as per the How to and maybe it is OK for a month but then if becomes ineffective and will not hold on any kind of slope. The handbrake is fully up on about 6 clicks

Has any had this before and found a cure ??

Rogue · 17th December 2018, 21:50

You need to replace the compensator ... I believe the Mini compensator fits.

Quote:

https://the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/s...ke+compensator

Number 6 · 17th December 2018, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue

You need to replace the compensator ... I believe the Mini compensator fits.

It already has the Modified compensator fitted courtesy of Artic....

The feeling you get is that there is NO grip from the shoes against the drum.

Jim Jamieson · 17th December 2018, 22:29

To get a good handbrake on the 75 you have to start at the beginning.
I’ve run 75’s since 2002 and now on my third and haven’t fitted a compensator on any of them, well not quite correct as I have a different system on my Wedgwood V6

To start strip off the rear brakes completely with the drum / disc removed and handbrake adjustment inside the car fully slackened off.
Using a Dremmel or simmilar remove the rusty lip which gathers on the inside edge of the drum adjacent to where the brake shoes make contact.
Next using a sanding disc on the Dremmel lightly sand the inside of the disc to de glaze and remover any rust and brake contaminants from the surface.
Then light sand the surface of the brake shoes, again to de glaze them.
Lightly lubricate the mechanical parts of the handbrake mechanism ensuring the cables are nor seized. You need a helper for this to operate the handbrake inside the car while you check the movement at the rear.
By trial and error manually adjust the rear shoes so that the rear drum / disc is a tight fit then pull up the handbrake lever suffiently to centralise the shoes.
Most likely the rear drum will be slack again so re adjust the brake shoes just enough to have a rubbing clearance to turn the disc while it is attached.
Now re adjust the handbrake inside the car until the rear drums lock up at the third click on the handbrake.
If you have to run this adjuster up fully you can fit a Tubular spacer strong enough and long enough to take up any stretching on the short cable which joins the cables from the rear to the handbrake itself.
Run a test with the rear wheels fitted, pull up the handbrake one notch at a time and check the progress at each wheel.
I get a partial lock up at two notches with a full lock up at three, sometimes four but no more than that.

Point to note. Remember to wear a dust mask when doing this type of work.
I sometimes forgot about this and am now paying the consequences.

Number 6 · 18th December 2018, 09:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Jamieson

To get a good handbrake on the 75 you have to start at the beginning.
I’ve run 75’s since 2002 and now on my third and haven’t fitted a compensator on any of them, well not quite correct as I have a different system on my Wedgwood V6

To start strip off the rear brakes completely with the drum / disc removed and handbrake adjustment inside the car fully slackened off.
Using a Dremmel or simmilar remove the rusty lip which gathers on the inside edge of the drum adjacent to where the brake shoes make contact.
Next using a sanding disc on the Dremmel lightly sand the inside of the disc to de glaze and remover any rust and brake contaminants from the surface.
Then light sand the surface of the brake shoes, again to de glaze them.
Lightly lubricate the mechanical parts of the handbrake mechanism ensuring the cables are nor seized. You need a helper for this to operate the handbrake inside the car while you check the movement at the rear.
By trial and error manually adjust the rear shoes so that the rear drum / disc is a tight fit then pull up the handbrake lever suffiently to centralise the shoes.
Most likely the rear drum will be slack again so re adjust the brake shoes just enough to have a rubbing clearance to turn the disc while it is attached.
Now re adjust the handbrake inside the car until the rear drums lock up at the third click on the handbrake.
If you have to run this adjuster up fully you can fit a Tubular spacer strong enough and long enough to take up any stretching on the short cable which joins the cables from the rear to the handbrake itself.
Run a test with the rear wheels fitted, pull up the handbrake one notch at a time and check the progress at each wheel.
I get a partial lock up at two notches with a full lock up at three, sometimes four but no more than that.

Point to note. Remember to wear a dust mask when doing this type of work.
I sometimes forgot about this and am now paying the consequences.

This I have done in between normal adjustments...I have also put new drums/disc's and shoes on You can lock the wheels when off the ground at three clicks but when you have the weight of the car on the ground there is no chance.On a good slope even with six clicks on the H/B it wont hold.

Scoobydodad · 5th May 2019, 07:47

Hi the 75 rear brakes are influenced to much by BMW, they should have used the rear brake system as the old 800, anyhow I recently had the same problem as you, I fitted new discs/pads/shoes and modified compensator from Arctic, I must have adjusted mine dozens of times to get it right you have to keep doing it there's a fine line until you get it just, I did mine and breaks are now perfect, its all trial/error.

HarryM1BYT · 5th May 2019, 08:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoobydodad

Hi the 75 rear brakes are influenced to much by BMW, they should have used the rear brake system as the old 800, anyhow I recently had the same problem as you, I fitted new discs/pads/shoes and modified compensator from Arctic, I must have adjusted mine dozens of times to get it right you have to keep doing it there's a fine line until you get it just, I did mine and breaks are now perfect, its all trial/error.

Sorry, I do not agree. The handbrake had just one issue, the stretching compensator, plus poor adjustment technique.

I soon sorted out my 75's handbrake, when I realised the compensator stretch was a problem and worked out the fix that. I read lots of advice about how to set it up, the technique, including the workshop manuals and arrived at a conclusion that they were quite simply wrong.

I carried out the modification I devised seven years ago, set it up my own way and it has been absolutely fine ever since. I have though carried out a readjustment once since then.

I explained how to do all of this years ago.

Arctic · 17th December 2018, 22:33

HI John.
I know you have the modified compensator, so it as to be down to adjustment have you tried changing the shoes, also is you expander moving freely, if not it maybe getting stiff after a certain time due to dust build up?

Make sure the adjuster moves freely also have you had the drum off and cleaned it all out, before you fit the drum back on adjust the knurled nut so you can only just about get the drum back on.

1

Then once the drum is on adjust it so the drum locks up and will not turn by hand, then add the wheel with to studs attached try turning the wheel by hand if it turns then wheel off adjust again so it is tighter wheel back on check again if you can not turn the wheel great.

Do both sides the same, once again wheel off and this times slacken the knurled nut one or two turns only, wheel back on does the wheel turn if so does it have a little drag ? hopefully so, then set the hand brake at the front to the 25mm.

But at all times make sure inside that drum is clean and all is working as it should pins are ok, expander moves ok, etc also shoes are decent

Arctic · 17th December 2018, 22:47

As this fitted already therefore it will be down to adjustment and or the shoes
https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...&postcount=102

Maybe add new shoes as old ones can get tired, I added these to my car a few years back

1

Stevie Boy · 18th December 2018, 08:59

Had my R75 3 weeks now and on advert it said 'Mini handbrake compensator fitted' but handrake is naff. Have to pull it up as far as it can go (think 6 clicks) for it hold on my drive. Anything less and it rolls back. Never had a good handbrake on any 75/ZT i've ever owned.

17th December 2018, 21:45	#1
Number 6 This is my second home Rover 75 tourer Club CD/Limo Tints Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Meneac Posts: 6,759 Thanks: 5,007 Thanked 1,609 Times in 869 Posts	HAND BRAKE.....hopeless What can be done about these useless Handbrakes ??? I have replaced the rear disc's and shoes and over the last 18 months the hand brake gets worse and worse.... I have used an air line to get the dust out of them ,I have adjusted them as per the How to and maybe it is OK for a month but then if becomes ineffective and will not hold on any kind of slope. The handbrake is fully up on about 6 clicks Has any had this before and found a cure ?? __________________ ] "I started out with nothing, and Ive still got most of it left!"

5th May 2019, 07:47	#6
Scoobydodad Regular poster Rover 75 Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Chipping norton Posts: 49 Thanks: 9 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Modified handbrake Hi the 75 rear brakes are influenced to much by BMW, they should have used the rear brake system as the old 800, anyhow I recently had the same problem as you, I fitted new discs/pads/shoes and modified compensator from Arctic, I must have adjusted mine dozens of times to get it right you have to keep doing it there's a fine line until you get it just, I did mine and breaks are now perfect, its all trial/error.

17th December 2018, 22:33	#8
Arctic Give to Learn Freelander 2 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: West Midlands Posts: 18,717 Thanks: 1,155 Thanked 6,407 Times in 3,874 Posts	HI John. I know you have the modified compensator, so it as to be down to adjustment have you tried changing the shoes, also is you expander moving freely, if not it maybe getting stiff after a certain time due to dust build up? Make sure the adjuster moves freely also have you had the drum off and cleaned it all out, before you fit the drum back on adjust the knurled nut so you can only just about get the drum back on. 1 Then once the drum is on adjust it so the drum locks up and will not turn by hand, then add the wheel with to studs attached try turning the wheel by hand if it turns then wheel off adjust again so it is tighter wheel back on check again if you can not turn the wheel great. Do both sides the same, once again wheel off and this times slacken the knurled nut one or two turns only, wheel back on does the wheel turn if so does it have a little drag ? hopefully so, then set the hand brake at the front to the 25mm. But at all times make sure inside that drum is clean and all is working as it should pins are ok, expander moves ok, etc also shoes are decent __________________ Arctic Givology Learn to Give Everything is Achievable ad altiora tendo. Check out our Nano meet dates http://www.midlandsnanomeets.co.uk/ http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/index.php?thepage=howto " You do the work , we supply the expertise "

17th December 2018, 22:47	#9
Arctic Give to Learn Freelander 2 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: West Midlands Posts: 18,717 Thanks: 1,155 Thanked 6,407 Times in 3,874 Posts	As this fitted already therefore it will be down to adjustment and or the shoes https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...&postcount=102 Maybe add new shoes as old ones can get tired, I added these to my car a few years back 1 __________________ Arctic Givology Learn to Give Everything is Achievable ad altiora tendo. Check out our Nano meet dates http://www.midlandsnanomeets.co.uk/ http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/index.php?thepage=howto " You do the work , we supply the expertise " Last edited by Arctic; 17th December 2018 at 22:54.. Reason: Photo editing

17th December 2018, 22:29	#4
Jim Jamieson This is my second home Rover less ! Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Tarbolton Posts: 3,442 Thanks: 393 Thanked 888 Times in 542 Posts	To get a good handbrake on the 75 you have to start at the beginning. I’ve run 75’s since 2002 and now on my third and haven’t fitted a compensator on any of them, well not quite correct as I have a different system on my Wedgwood V6 To start strip off the rear brakes completely with the drum / disc removed and handbrake adjustment inside the car fully slackened off. Using a Dremmel or simmilar remove the rusty lip which gathers on the inside edge of the drum adjacent to where the brake shoes make contact. Next using a sanding disc on the Dremmel lightly sand the inside of the disc to de glaze and remover any rust and brake contaminants from the surface. Then light sand the surface of the brake shoes, again to de glaze them. Lightly lubricate the mechanical parts of the handbrake mechanism ensuring the cables are nor seized. You need a helper for this to operate the handbrake inside the car while you check the movement at the rear. By trial and error manually adjust the rear shoes so that the rear drum / disc is a tight fit then pull up the handbrake lever suffiently to centralise the shoes. Most likely the rear drum will be slack again so re adjust the brake shoes just enough to have a rubbing clearance to turn the disc while it is attached. Now re adjust the handbrake inside the car until the rear drums lock up at the third click on the handbrake. If you have to run this adjuster up fully you can fit a Tubular spacer strong enough and long enough to take up any stretching on the short cable which joins the cables from the rear to the handbrake itself. Run a test with the rear wheels fitted, pull up the handbrake one notch at a time and check the progress at each wheel. I get a partial lock up at two notches with a full lock up at three, sometimes four but no more than that. Point to note. Remember to wear a dust mask when doing this type of work. I sometimes forgot about this and am now paying the consequences.

18th December 2018, 08:59	#10
Stevie Boy Regular poster Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Derby Posts: 96 Thanks: 26 Thanked 33 Times in 11 Posts	Had my R75 3 weeks now and on advert it said 'Mini handbrake compensator fitted' but handrake is naff. Have to pull it up as far as it can go (think 6 clicks) for it hold on my drive. Anything less and it rolls back. Never had a good handbrake on any 75/ZT i've ever owned.