Happy New Year or Hogmanay as my friends in Scotland say
Was looking at my handbrake and saw the two cables attached either side that disappeared through a hole obviously to the underneath of the car.
How does the handbrake work? and is it easily fixable if they go wrong?
Cheers
Mark
Hahaha - Hogmanay is the night leading up to New Year... The cables pull levers - which force a little piston out in the hydraulic cylinder - which forces the two shoes out against the rear drums ! Simples..... And yes - easily sorted...... It should be able to lock the rear wheels on a dry road at 20 mph........
As Roy says, easily fixable, but better to maintain it and avoid the problems. Make sure that you grease the cables - if they are the cables without grease nipples, then buy a set of the proper ones ready to fit when the current ones seize or break. If leaving the car unused for a long while, then leave it in gear with the handbrake off - that way, the pistons (or more accurately the actuators) stay in the cylinder where they are less prone to corrosion. Operate all brakes every couple of weeks.
Ha yes!
My boss is from Shetland and my colleague is from Glasgow. So they both put me straight about Hogmanay and have invited me for a Burns night dinner .
Thanks for all the info on handbrake, just mine feels a bit loose, like the tension has gone slightly. The car still brakes when in use though!
Cheers
Mark
To set the rear brakes correctly - you should slacken the handbrake cables, then tighten the adjusters in the rear drums till the shoes are dragging slightly - and then you tighten the cables again to put the handbrake where you want it. If you can - it's worth taking the drums off, cleaning out the dust (care - it may be asbestos if old shoes) check the cylinders are not leaking - and can slide freely in the backplate. and if you have an assistant, are working when they gently press the pedal down a short distance for you.
Last edited by bmcecosse on Fri Jan 10, 2014 11:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
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