handbrake compensator

gerrywatson · 25th November 2012, 18:43

hi instead of using the compensator,if you make a sleeve 20mm long, 12mm dia, bored through 9mm.Remove nut and fixed washer fit sleeve and refit nut and washer, re adjust handbrake until wheels lock on three clicks.Spacer takes up slack caused by stretched compensator.Imade sleeve out of stainless steel bar.flew through mot tester said best handbrake he had seen on a 75.Ten minute fix and you do not have to disturb carpet.
Regards Gerry

t140pete · 25th November 2012, 18:46

The compensator will still stretch and ultimately something will give I reckon.

I sleeved mine until I fitted the modded compensator

HarryM1BYT · 25th November 2012, 19:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by gerrywatson

hi instead of using the compensator,if you make a sleeve 20mm long, 12mm dia, bored through 9mm.Remove nut and fixed washer fit sleeve and refit nut and washer, re adjust handbrake until wheels lock on three clicks.Spacer takes up slack caused by stretched compensator.Imade sleeve out of stainless steel bar.flew through mot tester said best handbrake he had seen on a 75.Ten minute fix and you do not have to disturb carpet.
Regards Gerry

The problem is, that it will continue to stretch and will ultimately give way. The more it stretches, the more chance there is of it giving way completely. A modified compensator solves the problem completely and safely - why risk it for £5?.

T-Cut · 25th November 2012, 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by gerrywatson

Instead of using the compensator, if you make a sleeve 20mm long, 12mm dia, bored through 9mm. Remove nut and fixed washer, fit sleeve and refit nut and washer, re-adjust handbrake until wheels lock on three clicks. Spacer takes up slack caused by stretched compensator. I made sleeve out of stainless steel bar. Flew through mot tester said best handbrake he had seen on a 75. Ten minute fix and you do not have to disturb carpet.

Your gizmo won't comply with the 25mm max thread protrusion at the handbrake lever will it?

TC

rover54 · 25th November 2012, 19:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by gerrywatson

hi instead of using the compensator,if you make a sleeve 20mm long, 12mm dia, bored through 9mm.Remove nut and fixed washer fit sleeve and refit nut and washer, re adjust handbrake until wheels lock on three clicks.Spacer takes up slack caused by stretched compensator.Imade sleeve out of stainless steel bar.flew through mot tester said best handbrake he had seen on a 75.Ten minute fix and you do not have to disturb carpet.
Regards Gerry

This is a stop gap method, you don't even need to manufacture a spacer, a bit of 15mm copper tube 15mm long will do to get a car through a MOT but the compensator will need changing as it continues to stretch.

CimmaronG · 25th November 2012, 20:00

With all the hassle, just fit a compensator

HarryM1BYT · 25th November 2012, 20:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by rover54

This is a stop gap method, you don't even need to manufacture a spacer, a bit of 15mm copper tube 15mm long will do to get a car through a MOT but the compensator will need changing as it continues to stretch.

Which is what I initially tried to use - copper just crushes, it will need to be steel.

jondonwar · 25th November 2012, 22:00

Hi
i just fitted artics handbrake mod and iv got it holing on 1 click and locked solid on 2 clicks. regards jondonwar

Arctic · 26th November 2012, 02:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by gerrywatson

hi instead of using the compensator,if you make a sleeve 20mm long, 12mm dia, bored through 9mm.Remove nut and fixed washer fit sleeve and refit nut and washer, re adjust handbrake until wheels lock on three clicks.Spacer takes up slack caused by stretched compensator.Imade sleeve out of stainless steel bar.flew through mot tester said best handbrake he had seen on a 75.Ten minute fix and you do not have to disturb carpet.
Regards Gerry

HI Gerry.
With all respects to you and your quick fix handbrake mod to get you through the MOT job is ok but why and please do not take chances with the brakes on your car its just not worth it at all in my opinion.

I have seen even thing from a washer then a rubber washer then another washer used to make up the gap on the adjuster nut, pipe, big nuts, rows of washers but all will just do the same stretch the mild steel compensator more until you will have no more thead left and i should imagine this would not take long after the compensator as already been stretched 12mm or over i will give your handbrake 3 months and i bet it will need the tube changing.

I suppose the moral of the story is fix once fix the best and right compensator for the job simples.Arctic.

PS the last pics shows the compensator from a new one and different stages of stretch

gerrywatson · 26th November 2012, 18:42

hi my stainless steel spacer will not crush like copper tube,could some body please explain the 25 mm rule to me as i can only see one problem with this rule that is if the the nylock nut becomes seized on the thread by somebody overtightening it. the sleeve i have used only makes the tobe part of the hand brake lever longer allowing the single front cable to be adjusted further through the lever ,looking at all the photos of original compensators the bit that streches does not look a lot thinner than a new one.how many cases of the compenstor breaking have been reported i have not heard of any ,was ther an official recal for this problem,if the hand brake is correctly adjusted you should not have to pull on the lever like a gorilla to make it work .on mine know i only need to use the minimum of effort to lock the back wheels at 3 clicks cant see it stretching it any more
regards gerry.

25th November 2012, 18:43	#1
gerrywatson Newbie rover 75cdt Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: dovercourt Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	handbrake compensator hi instead of using the compensator,if you make a sleeve 20mm long, 12mm dia, bored through 9mm.Remove nut and fixed washer fit sleeve and refit nut and washer, re adjust handbrake until wheels lock on three clicks.Spacer takes up slack caused by stretched compensator.Imade sleeve out of stainless steel bar.flew through mot tester said best handbrake he had seen on a 75.Ten minute fix and you do not have to disturb carpet. Regards Gerry

25th November 2012, 20:00	#6
CimmaronG Gets stuck in Roverless at present :-( Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Walsall Posts: 964 Thanks: 305 Thanked 99 Times in 95 Posts	With all the hassle, just fit a compensator __________________ My Rover 75 2.0CDTi (131Ps) Conn SE Tourer Left the production line 08:07:14hrs on 01/07/2004 'Best to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it'

25th November 2012, 18:46	#2
t140pete Avid contributor Rover 75 saloon, 75 Tourer Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Lancaster Posts: 118 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	The compensator will still stretch and ultimately something will give I reckon. I sleeved mine until I fitted the modded compensator

25th November 2012, 22:00	#8
jondonwar Avid contributor rover 75 saloon connoisseur se cdti Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: liverpool Posts: 175 Thanks: 102 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts	Hi i just fitted artics handbrake mod and iv got it holing on 1 click and locked solid on 2 clicks. regards jondonwar

26th November 2012, 18:42	#10
gerrywatson Newbie rover 75cdt Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: dovercourt Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	hi my stainless steel spacer will not crush like copper tube,could some body please explain the 25 mm rule to me as i can only see one problem with this rule that is if the the nylock nut becomes seized on the thread by somebody overtightening it. the sleeve i have used only makes the tobe part of the hand brake lever longer allowing the single front cable to be adjusted further through the lever ,looking at all the photos of original compensators the bit that streches does not look a lot thinner than a new one.how many cases of the compenstor breaking have been reported i have not heard of any ,was ther an official recal for this problem,if the hand brake is correctly adjusted you should not have to pull on the lever like a gorilla to make it work .on mine know i only need to use the minimum of effort to lock the back wheels at 3 clicks cant see it stretching it any more regards gerry.