Handbrake adjustment

[outbound]

Hi All,
Please could someone help me. My Father in Law was told on his last MOT that his handbrake would need adjusting. It is now time for the next MOT
and he has asked me to look at it. Please could someone tell me where
you set them.
Thanks,
Jeff

[baxlin]

There's a pdf in the members' section, via the Home page, but I think it's only accessible to subscribed members. Well worth the £3 sub, though, as there's a good few "how-to's" on there.

HTH

Malcolm


BTW, a YEAR with a dodgy handbrake.....................?

[outbound]

Thanks Malcolm,
My subs have just run out as you say it is well worth
the £3, I will do it today, just didn't get round to it.
My Father in law says it holds OK but it is about 8 click.
Jeff

[baxlin]

Originally Posted by outbound

Thanks Malcolm,
My subs have just run out as you say it is well worth
the £3, I will do it today, just didn't get round to it.
My Father in law says it holds OK but it is about 8 click.
Jeff

Sorry, Jeff, I misjudged you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Malcolm

[rovermech]

With the car jacked up and the wheels off slacken off the handbrake cable remove the caliper bracket complete with pads (if you are not renewing the pads) take off the disc which is also a brake drum and you will see two brake shoes clean all the muck and dust off with a small paint brush (don't breath it in) if the shoes don't want replacing adjust them by turning the small gear wheel till you can just slide the drum/disc back on (if there is a lip on the drum higher than where the shoes run file it off) with the drum on if it spins easy you can adjust the shoes more through a hole in the drum, with both wheels adjusted than adjust the cable if needed

[afcbadam]

arnt they ment to be between 5-7 clicks

[simpsora]

Hi,
although it is nice to have a good handbreak with just a few 'clicks' ,as far as the MOT is concerned I always thought it only had to meet a required minimum breaking effort (on rollers) regardless of number of clicks.

[T-Cut]

Originally Posted by afcbadam

arnt they ment to be between 5-7 clicks

According to Mr Haynes, the handbrake should lock the wheels and the warning logo should pop on after 3 clicks. The actual number of clicks required will depend on whether the system has been adjusted by the book and also whether the cables have stretched slightly. The adjustment of over-stretched cables is virtually impossible, as they simply stretch further. Take-up of cable slackness is done at the handbrake end and allows for no more than 25mm of thread above the adjuster nut. If more than this is needed to get the brakes to lock means new cables are required.

TC

[BigRuss]

Good idea to whip off the disc/drums to clean them out and check the braking surfaces of the drums as they can corrode badly. The surfaces of both of mine had broken up over 50% of the drum width making the handbrake useless even after adjustment.
Just another note don't know if the how to was updated but may help to read:
http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...ight=handbrake

Apologies if it has.

Russ

[sylvester]

Originally Posted by T-Cut

The adjustment of over-stretched cables is virtually impossible, as they simply stretch further. Take-up of cable slackness is done at the handbrake end and allows for no more than 25mm of thread above the adjuster nut. If more than this is needed to get the brakes to lock means new cables are required.

TC

I recall adding my two penneth to this subject some time ago and contend that handbrake cables don't stretch anything like as much as is often implied. The cables are strong enough to drag a donkey out of a ditch and would almost certainly snap rather than stretch if enough load was placed on them - I say this from considerable experience with motorcycle bowden cables. Take up of the cables on the Rover hand brake is effected not anly at the handbrake end but also by correct adjustment at the wheel and I posted a comprehensive set of instructions some time ago on the 'How To' page. The adjustment available with each cable is not just to take up slack but to assist installation which would otherwise be impossible.