Handbrake mod

Handbrake mod

Author
Discussion

pmessling

Original Poster:

2,284 posts

202 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
Whilst it has taken me about a year to actually finish this project i didn't want to start taking the car apart when i was due to move last year. Having moved in 7 months ago and now having a garage i have been able to over the winter do a few of the jobs that i was unable to do working on the drive.

The main one being a working handbrake which will stay working and not go out of adjustment just as quick.

Still got to get the uprights powder coated and finish off some of the mounts but having set it all up today it works great. Will probably need a bit of adjustment when i actually drive the car, but initial impressions are good.

I tried keeping it simple not over engineering anything and trying to keep the original cables. Which i have been able to do. All is needed is to cut the existing ends off and shorten the cable about 80mm. New mounts were welded to the uprights as were some cable guides.

I've added a spring on the cable to help return it to the off position with some rubber bellows to project from the elements.







Peter

aide

2,276 posts

163 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
Nice work Peter
I'm going to rebuild my suspension over the winter. Are you going to do a few more?
Aide

jamieduff1981

8,022 posts

139 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
Great job Peter. You have some decent fabrication skills smile

pmessling

Original Poster:

2,284 posts

202 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
I'm always willing to help people aide. I can make a list of the bits you'll need and do hubs on exchange.

jammy_basturd

29,775 posts

211 months

Thursday 2nd April 2015
quotequote all
Is there much scope to change to a brake disc without the integrated drum, which wouldn't cost the Earth?

Supateg

724 posts

141 months

Thursday 2nd April 2015
quotequote all
jammy_basturd said:
Is there much scope to change to a brake disc without the integrated drum, which wouldn't cost the Earth?
I like your thinking!
Discs wouldn't be a problem.
Custom bells would need to be made.
Shame the weight saving would be from the wrong end of the car, still its unsprung weight wink

Peter are you going to do some on the road testing? Maybe a MOT brake test readout see how it compares to standard?

Well done for a mod to make the cerb more reliable / usable

pmessling

Original Poster:

2,284 posts

202 months

Thursday 2nd April 2015
quotequote all
Yes as soon as I have four wheels on my wagon I will be finding a hill to park on. I used to test it on my drive as it was pretty steep and usually never held.

But to get some results on paper would be good

pmessling

Original Poster:

2,284 posts

202 months

Thursday 2nd April 2015
quotequote all
Given I've used the existing disk to set the whole thing up there is now the option of using a bell and disk of the same size.

spitfire4v8

3,990 posts

180 months

Friday 3rd April 2015
quotequote all
That would work even better if you could engineer it so the cable pulled at 90 degrees (or as close as) to the caliper lever (maybe by incorporating another pivoted lever?) smile

I thought you were working on a lever system to exert extra pull on the existing handbrake shoes at one point? I used to do a mod where I cut the little slave lever on the handbrake mechanism in the drum and lengthened it. The increase in length was small but every little helps. I later realised that one of the main reasons the handbrake doesn't work well is internal corrosion of the cables themselves. Replacing the cables usually makes a world of difference. Also making sure the cable is attached to the top hold on the handbrake itself. It's amazing how many cables are still running on the lower hole and so reducing effort over the cable at source.

Good work smile

pmessling

Original Poster:

2,284 posts

202 months

Friday 3rd April 2015
quotequote all
I'll check my hole position today and find out. All my cables move smoothly.

My handbrake never work very well even with new shoes springs etc. And could never trust it.

Couple of MOT mentioned it and said as long as you know. But the last Mot was a jobs worth even tho I said to him at the time.

spitfire4v8

3,990 posts

180 months

Friday 3rd April 2015
quotequote all
I remember doing a handbrake mod for a new customer once, tried the handbrake outside on the hill and it worked so well it promptly smashed the reaction lug off the alloy backplate. I had to buy a whole hub assembly off a breaker just to get the backplate. That was an awkward conversation with a new customer, having to explain how I'd broken his car!