Problems with Handbrake....any advice on this one please

Post by **AnimalJack** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:49 pm

I spent the day going through the brakes ready for Mot on my van and I fitted new shoes to the rear ..........its not the first time Ive done it so Im a bit puzzled where Ive gone wrong............I loosened the handbrake right off before clicking the adjuster up . The foot brake seems to be really good - but it just wont hold on a hill even on six clicks and the cables tight..............could the cylinders be worn- but if so how come the foot brake seems to be ok...(unless its only braking on the front ???)
Any advice. please ..as I am well confused on this one

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Post by **MColes** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:53 pm

Have you jacked up the van and tried spinning the back wheels when someone has their foot on the brake to see if the rear brakes work?

I never noticed before but you're in South Wales. Where abouts?

Post by **Dean** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:57 pm

Sorry to sound like I'm preaching to the converted but are you 100% sure you have adjusted your rear brakes up? Have the new brake shoes been bedded in.. ? Is the cable well greased and not sticking... ie the handbrake is pulling the lever on the cylinder right up? I think it's something simple.. ;)

Post by **simmitc** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:08 pm

Commonest causes are indeed a sticking cylinder or cable (or two!) or any combination thereof. As suggested above, jack up rear and see if you can turn the wheels by hand when the foot brake and then the handbrake are on.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:57 pm

Take drum off - and watch the cylinder movement when someone pulls the handbrake lever - and when someone (lightly) presses the pedal. It's not really possible to put the shoes on incorrectly - so it really must be down to stuck cylinders. The handbrake should be able to lock the rear wheels at 20 mph. The footbrake should lock all 4 wheels at 20 mph. There should be 4 lines of rubber on the tarmac.
It is possible for the handbrake to work ok - but the inner footbrake piston in the rear cylinder to be firmly stuck - but you say handbrake doesn't work either - so likely both pistons are seized.

Post by **Mick_Anik** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:29 pm

Or maybe the cylinders are not sliding freely in their slots. Seems like time for a strip-down and inspection.

It can't be hard to trace the cause - there's not much there :) !

Post by **AnimalJack** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:46 pm

Thanks for that- I will have another go in the morning............thats a great idea to get someone to work the pedal -and the lever with the wheels jacked up..Thanks.....I am keen to have another go now.

Post by **Mick_Anik** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:52 pm

With the wheels off the ground, they should be impossible to turn by hand when the handbrake is applied. But you may have to allow for the fact that you have new shoes, and will probably not have full contact taking place. It might be an idea do go for a run, using frequent light to medium braking, before you go for the test.
Then do a quick re-adjustment, which should be quick once you have everything moving freely.

Post by **Jefftav** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 11:12 pm

I had this problem and it turned out to be the clevis pins that attach the cables to the wheel cylinders. They had seized and the cable couldn't move the lever properly - simple fix but had me scratching my head for a while until I realised.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 11:16 pm

Good point there Jeff - hadn't thought of that one. It happens all the time on Minis - but not experienced it on my Minor. Probably because of the big dollop of grease!

Post by **jonathon** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 11:18 pm

Are the cables stretched to excess

Post by **southerly95** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:11 am

I had this prob on our 65 convertible - despite new rear drums, shoes, cylinders, cotter pins and h/brake cables. I took up all of the slack on the adjusters but the handrake was still vertical and it failed the MOT beause of insufficient grip.

Solution was I bought some half inch brass rod and created a 3/8" outer cable extension (net of male/female ends to locate in the cable), a bit fiddly to do as I had to mill a slot in it for the cable, it works well and no complaints at the MOT revisit. Handbrake comes on firmly at about 40 degrees and there is no binding when the handbrake is off.

I know this should NOT be necessary but we could not find the source of the prob - I even bought NOS cables from ebay to make sure ESM/BM stock were correct size - which they were.