Handbrake issues

Post by **ek9sid** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 5:12 pm

Hi guys.

Recently I've put on new discs and pads on the rear as well as new sliders (both sides). Today I've adjusted the handbrake cables as per the manual. But the handbrake is still pants. When you apply it (whilst driving) it feels like it's doing next to nothing. There's a very slight dragging feeling when it's applied whilst driving. But that's it.

Question:

Are handbrakes on preludes just plain jobby? Or am I missing something? Worrying as I have an mot next week

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 5:20 pm

dont try it while your driving its always pants stop the car apply the handbrake then try to drive off slowly not ragging it

Post by **ek9sid** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 5:51 pm

I'll give that a try in the morning as she's tucked away for the night

Post by **vanzep** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 5:56 pm

I had the handbrake properly adjusted on 5th Gen the other week and it was fully on at just one click but it may be that due to the fact it has has a new cable on side as they do stretch over time or it could be that your new rear discs and pads need time to bed in properly. Id live with it for a couple of weeks and then readjust it again.

Post by **ek9sid** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 6:01 pm

Yeah. Will try what merc said and then will leave it till after the mot. Hopefully they don't expect much on the parking brake when testing it

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 6:04 pm

it should hold the weight of the vehicle i dont know how much torque they put on the rollers

prelerepairman · Post by **prelerepairman** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 7:16 pm

If you've serviced the calipers are you sure the little slug below the circlip below the piston assembly inside the unit hasn't worn down or got seized up in salty dried up grease. If you pull the handbrake crank on the brake unit you should be able to see or feel the piston rising ever so slightly.
Assuming you set the piston snugly into the new pad and located the centering pimple on back of pad into the cross shaped slot on head of piston!
Bed in the pads.

Post by **ek9sid** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 7:52 pm

I've not serviced the calipers. Just the carriers as they were seized solid on the drivers side. The mechanism outside the back of both of the calipers are working (I have seen them move when my colleague applied the handbrake), so I can only presume the piston is moving as it should (I haven't checked this though).

The little lug thing on the pads are inside the groove on the piston.

The discs and pads have been on for around 1500 miles where the sliders were done around 50 miles ago. Pads were in good condition with plenty of meat left on them (they appear to be wearing evenly too) and no major scores or blemishes on the discs.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 8:01 pm

They aren't fantastic handbrakes by any stretch, but they do work when properly set up.
I have found that they take a good time for new pads to bed in - re-adjusting lots of times in short succession.

Also check that the handbrake cable clevis pins aren't seized (where the end of the cable attaches to the lever on the caliper). They often are and if seized, you can adjust the handbrake lever to get the 'clicks' in spec all you like, but it doesn't actually pull the lever on the caliper fully. Normally gripping the flat on the top of the pin (properly) with a pair of mole grips allows the pin to be twisted free.

Post by **ek9sid** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 8:56 pm

Thank Iain. I'll check this out tomorrow