Handbrake woes (Mk2)
Discussion
Hi all,
Wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar - if I tweak the 'infamous' rear adjusters (4mm allen key jobs) to the 'just catching' point, I get nice short handbrake travel and a firm brake pedal. Over time (a couple of short trips), the handbrake travel increases very noticably and the brake pedal becomes mushy at the top of the travel. When I apply the handbrake with my foot on the brake pedal, I can feel it come up very slightly.
I've replaced pretty much everything in the rear brake system since buying the car (UK 1998 MK2 1.8is) in 2009 - pads, discs, calipers, handbrake cables. Had a bit of a nightmare with some 'pattern part' calipers, both of which sprung leaks, currently on one original, one MX5parts refurb - which seems to have been a genuine part originally. Reason for replacement in the first place was that one of the originals was seized when I first replaced the pads.
I have my suspicions that it's something to do with where the handbrake actuator lever rests when the handbrake is off. With the pattern part calipers, whatever I did, one side would always rest against the stop. Last time I spent yet more of my life under the back of the car (new rear pads), I adjusted the handbrake cables so that both sides had a small gap between the lever and the stop, but to no avail.
Short of buying a pair of new, genuine calipers at cost of almost £500 (i.e. no way!), I don't know what else to do - I'm sure there must be a trick to it I'm missing somewhere. Any advice much appreciated!
Wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar - if I tweak the 'infamous' rear adjusters (4mm allen key jobs) to the 'just catching' point, I get nice short handbrake travel and a firm brake pedal. Over time (a couple of short trips), the handbrake travel increases very noticably and the brake pedal becomes mushy at the top of the travel. When I apply the handbrake with my foot on the brake pedal, I can feel it come up very slightly.
I've replaced pretty much everything in the rear brake system since buying the car (UK 1998 MK2 1.8is) in 2009 - pads, discs, calipers, handbrake cables. Had a bit of a nightmare with some 'pattern part' calipers, both of which sprung leaks, currently on one original, one MX5parts refurb - which seems to have been a genuine part originally. Reason for replacement in the first place was that one of the originals was seized when I first replaced the pads.
I have my suspicions that it's something to do with where the handbrake actuator lever rests when the handbrake is off. With the pattern part calipers, whatever I did, one side would always rest against the stop. Last time I spent yet more of my life under the back of the car (new rear pads), I adjusted the handbrake cables so that both sides had a small gap between the lever and the stop, but to no avail.
Short of buying a pair of new, genuine calipers at cost of almost £500 (i.e. no way!), I don't know what else to do - I'm sure there must be a trick to it I'm missing somewhere. Any advice much appreciated!
nfo said:
When I apply the handbrake with my foot on the brake pedal, I can feel it come up very slightly.
Going to keep an eye on this topic as I've noticed my Mk1 does this too. Not dramatically however, and to be quite honest it's not really bothering me too much, but would be nice to know the reason behind it! 
Not sure if this is directly related to your problem , but on my mk1 the handbrake was impossible to get right until I loosened the cable at the lever end (in the cockpit).
Start by loosening that right off (there's a large vertical hex thing next to the lever), then tighten up the rear caliper adjusters until they just start to get tight, then loosen them 1/2 turn, then do up the handbrake lever cable until it feels right. Once I did things in that order it worked perfectly and the travel etc.. has remained the same since.
Start by loosening that right off (there's a large vertical hex thing next to the lever), then tighten up the rear caliper adjusters until they just start to get tight, then loosen them 1/2 turn, then do up the handbrake lever cable until it feels right. Once I did things in that order it worked perfectly and the travel etc.. has remained the same since.
For a start, as JSS says, before you touch the callipers you should slacken off the cable at the handle end. Once you have set the callipers using the allen key you then readjust the cable at the handle.
The allen keys are only really pre-adjusting the handbrake mechanism on the rear callipers though, they don't do anything magical. As the pads wear down the callipers automatically adjust the handbrake mechanism to compensate so don't expect it to feel the same after you've driven it for a bit as it was when you set it. if it needs adjusting again do it at the handle, not the calliper.
The allen keys are only really pre-adjusting the handbrake mechanism on the rear callipers though, they don't do anything magical. As the pads wear down the callipers automatically adjust the handbrake mechanism to compensate so don't expect it to feel the same after you've driven it for a bit as it was when you set it. if it needs adjusting again do it at the handle, not the calliper.
I had this with my MK1, if, after you have checked the proper adjustment of the handbrake and this does not fix the problem you will need to ascertain which calliper it is. This will be obvious as when you come to tighten the adjuster one may have to be screwed in a lot more than the others. If this is the case I have the get a second hand calliper. This sorted the problem as the mechanism inside the piston for the handbrake was knackered.
I was told that there are a load of dodgy gold callipers that were going cheap on eskip. Guess what, that’s exactly what I had on mine.
I was told that there are a load of dodgy gold callipers that were going cheap on eskip. Guess what, that’s exactly what I had on mine.
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