Hydraulic handbrake

Author
Discussion

MaxRothery

Original Poster:

201 posts

113 months

Monday 19th October 2015
quotequote all
Hi there

I'm looking to fit a hydraulic handbrake to my car and have been reading up on the fact it's not MOTable, but could you in theory use an electric handbrake like in modern cars alongside a hydraulic set up?

E-bmw

9,240 posts

153 months

Monday 19th October 2015
quotequote all
The reason that a hydraulic handbrake will not pass an MOT is because if there is a leak the handbrake comes off, so quite simply there is NO WAY A CAR WITH AN HYDRAULIC HANDBRAKE WILL PASS AN MOT.

That applies whether it is electrically operated or not.

Robb F

4,570 posts

172 months

Monday 19th October 2015
quotequote all
You can have a hydraulic handbrake whilst still having the mechanical one so that would be fine for MOT.

TheEnd

15,370 posts

189 months

Monday 19th October 2015
quotequote all
Yep, it's solely an hydraulic system that causes issues.

Drifters tend to keep the original and have a hydro fitted for skids.

(remember, call it a "hydro" and "skids")


The newer push button stuff on cars that don't have a lever are electro-mechanical I believe, they use a solenoid or motor to clamp the rear discs.

MaxRothery

Original Poster:

201 posts

113 months

Monday 19th October 2015
quotequote all
TheEnd said:
Yep, it's solely an hydraulic system that causes issues.

Drifters tend to keep the original and have a hydro fitted for skids.

(remember, call it a "hydro" and "skids")


The newer push button stuff on cars that don't have a lever are electro-mechanical I believe, they use a solenoid or motor to clamp the rear discs.
That's kind of what I mean, like could you fit a hydraulic override system onto a electrical handbrake so you have mechanical for parking and the hydro for skids

stevieturbo

17,271 posts

248 months

Monday 19th October 2015
quotequote all
Dont complicate things.

If you want a hydraulic handbrake just install one.

But leave the mechanical handbrake there too.

Simple, job done.

MaxRothery

Original Poster:

201 posts

113 months

Monday 19th October 2015
quotequote all
stevieturbo said:
Dont complicate things.

If you want a hydraulic handbrake just install one.

But leave the mechanical handbrake there too.

Simple, job done.
So could I run two calipers, one with a mechanical linkage and one with just the hydraulic part

TheEnd

15,370 posts

189 months

Monday 19th October 2015
quotequote all
I think how it works is the hydro cuts into the rear brake lines, so (depending on the car type) your original handbrake will work on shoes inside the brake disc hub, and the hydro will pump up the normal hydraulic lines for the rear calipers, so it's like stamping on the brake pedal, but it only works on the rear wheels.

MaxRothery

Original Poster:

201 posts

113 months

Monday 19th October 2015
quotequote all
TheEnd said:
I think how it works is the hydro cuts into the rear brake lines, so (depending on the car type) your original handbrake will work on shoes inside the brake disc hub, and the hydro will pump up the normal hydraulic lines for the rear calipers, so it's like stamping on the brake pedal, but it only works on the rear wheels.
My car just has drum brakes and will be converted to discs so idk how that will work. They disc kit comes with a cable for the handbrake but I'd like a hydraulic one for skids and stuff

stevieturbo

17,271 posts

248 months

Monday 19th October 2015
quotequote all
MaxRothery said:
My car just has drum brakes and will be converted to discs so idk how that will work. They disc kit comes with a cable for the handbrake but I'd like a hydraulic one for skids and stuff
So just fit a hydraulic handbrake.

Why are you trying to complicate it ? You dont need two calipers

As long as the caliper has a hydraulic line, the hydraulic handbrake will work in conjunction with the normal braking system.


Robb F

4,570 posts

172 months

Tuesday 20th October 2015
quotequote all
Mechanical and hydraulic handbrake are completely separate. You can have both no problem, no other modifications to calipers etc.

You also don't need one for drifting, I wouldn't bother until you're more experienced.

MaxRothery

Original Poster:

201 posts

113 months

Tuesday 20th October 2015
quotequote all
Robb F said:
Mechanical and hydraulic handbrake are completely separate. You can have both no problem, no other modifications to calipers etc.

You also don't need one for drifting, I wouldn't bother until you're more experienced.
Fair enough, I'll not fit one

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

256 months

Saturday 24th October 2015
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If you want a decent handbrake, leave the drums brakes on.

tapkaJohnD

1,945 posts

205 months

Sunday 3rd January 2016
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I presume this is for the Triumph Spitfire you have started other threads about?

I fitted a hydraulic handbrake to my Triumph Vitesse, by putting a master cylinder in the line to the rear brakes, modifying the lever to actuate it and retaining the cable (as above).
The MoT man said he couldn't tell if the handbrake was actuated by hydraulics or cable, so passed it, annually!

If you do this as I did, reinforce the hump of the transmission tunnel where the M/cylinders sits behind the lever - it needs it.

John

PaulKemp

979 posts

146 months

Monday 4th January 2016
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Having owned a Spitfire many decades ago and still having nightmares from the liftoff oversteer and the huge camber change WHY O WHY would you want to lock the rears up???
As I remember if pushing on hard round the lanes if mates in Fords lifted off I had to press on regardless or suffer uncontrolled oversteer as the back came up and the wheels tried to tuck under.
SHUDDER

tapkaJohnD

1,945 posts

205 months

Saturday 9th January 2016
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Paul,
You are not supposed to lift off in corners!

The problem is inherent to the swing axle design, not just the Triumph Spitfire.
See VWs, early Porsches and Mercedes, Chevvie Corvair, etc.etc.
Triumph overcame the problem with their swing spring design, which AFAIK was unique to the marque.

Have to say, though, that I fitted the hydraulic version because I couldn't get Triumph's cable version to work very well!

John

MaxRothery

Original Poster:

201 posts

113 months

Thursday 25th February 2016
quotequote all
tapkaJohnD said:
I presume this is for the Triumph Spitfire you have started other threads about?

I fitted a hydraulic handbrake to my Triumph Vitesse, by putting a master cylinder in the line to the rear brakes, modifying the lever to actuate it and retaining the cable (as above).
The MoT man said he couldn't tell if the handbrake was actuated by hydraulics or cable, so passed it, annually!

If you do this as I did, reinforce the hump of the transmission tunnel where the M/cylinders sits behind the lever - it needs it.

John
its a 1500TC dolomite so it doesn't have swing arm suspension, just a solid axle