hand brake cable adjuster

Post by **poppet** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 5:22 pm

Hello
Does anyone know if universal handbrake cable adjusters are still available?
Liz

Post by **simmitc** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:08 pm

I've always used fingers on the nuts (oh err missus) unless they're a bit stiff, in which case an open ended spanner. If I'm missing the point, then what exactly is a UHCA?

Post by **MarkyB** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:47 am

I don't think universal handbrake cable adjusters are still available.
If you mean devices to shorten the cables and hide the effects of wear and poor adjustment.
It is worth noting that the rear brakes should be adjusted using the snail cams before the handbrake cables are adjusted.
If the handbrake doesn't work properly after this you need to find out what parts are excessively worn.

Don't get hung up on the idea that it should work after 4 or 5 clicks the test now is for effectiveness not the number of clicks.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:07 pm

Cable adjusters like that are not allowed for MOT!
The handbrake cables have plenty of adjustment on the long threaded section at the lever.

Post by **poppet** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:23 am

Hi
Thanks for the reply's.
We were just wondering, as you used to be able to get them 'many moons ago' - thought they might even be illegal now.
Liz

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 2:23 pm

No where to put such a thing on a Minor anyway. Almost all the cable is enclosed.

Post by **MarkyB** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 6:53 pm

I'm sure I've got one somewhere. If I find it I'll put a picture on here.
I think they date back to before the rolling road type brake testers when they took the car for a drive with some kind of deceleraometer in the passenger footwell.
Then they used to insist on a certain number of clicks on the handbrake to pass it.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 11:50 pm

Tapley meter! Can still be used if they have no data for weight of vehicle.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 9:44 am

Tapley meter! Can still be used if they have no data for weight of vehicle.

my MOT place uses the tapley on most of my cars (except for the moderns)

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 10:33 am

It's a much 'easier' test with the Tapley - so well done there Ray!

Post by **MarkyB** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 9:51 pm

I'm really surprised to hear that a Tapley meter is still acceptable.
I remember many years ago my MOT guy moaning about how much money he'd had to pay for the rolling road brake tester and later the gas analyser then the computer and internet hook-up that he had to have to keep on doing MOTs.

It may make for an easier MOT with a Tapley meter but I bet a minor could pass with quite badly seized rear brake cylinders as long as the hand brake part was working well enough.

With the rolling road set-up they can tell you if any wheel is marginal or not working at all.
At the end of the day I'd rather have this information.

Post by **PSL184** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 10:29 pm

Most MOT stations I've used don't have a 4 wheel drive roller so they have all had to do my Landrovers on a Tapley meter....

Post by **MarkyB** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:35 pm

I've never seen a 4 wheel drive roller. How would it cope with different wheel bases?
Two wheel rollers are the norm. Drop the front wheels in and test, then drive forwards till the back wheels drop in and test the rears and hand brake.
Are the places you use computerised?

Post by **PSL184** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:40 pm

Yes, all are now computerised, I think. One place does have a 4 wheel roller and one set of rollers is motorised and slides back and forth to account for difference in wheelbase. This is a specialist 4wd garage though and is a bit far from me to go to now since we moved house. The problem which I'm sure you know is that with some 4wd systems there is not a centre diff and therefore you cannot spin the front wheels on the rollers unless the rears are spinning too.....