Has anyone done the impossible?
Discussion
sorry can't offer any reall good guidance but I can tell you that they can be made to work, mine is absolutely fine after LEVEN did some jiggery pokery with the cable and shoes. I know there is an adjuster you can see through the brake disk if you rotate it to a certain place, it's near where the studs come out of the bell. Then the cable runs down the transmission tunnel and splits into 2 cables above the diff I think. I know there is an adjuster there somewhere....
My understanding, having spoken to a couple of specialists, is that with properly-adjusted new cables and cleaned shoes, you can get it to work fine, but that it will deteriorate with time.
I guess stripping down, cleaning and refitting the handbrake mechanism and replacing the cables is the charm, but it's not something I've ever done (unlikely I ever will!) so I can't give you a step-by-step!
I guess stripping down, cleaning and refitting the handbrake mechanism and replacing the cables is the charm, but it's not something I've ever done (unlikely I ever will!) so I can't give you a step-by-step!
Edited by _Neal_ on Friday 23 November 14:42
I thought mine would fail the MoT on the handbrake yesterday because you have to pull it so far up to get it to work, however the MoT man was convinced it was effective. He said you only needed to prove that it worked and didn't reach the end-stop which it doesn't.
This reinforces what Joo told me, that it was actually best to have the handbrake adjusted such that it only started to engage as the lever had pivoted more towards you as you'd not have the strength to pull it upwards enough to make the brake effective. Pulling it towards you allows you to really yank on it. In doing this, mine is rock solid.
It is a crap design though. My Scooby requires no more strength to lock the wheels than my 2yo son could apply. Hell, even the Caterham could be handbrake skidded to a halt relatively easily, and they're known for crap handbrakes.
This reinforces what Joo told me, that it was actually best to have the handbrake adjusted such that it only started to engage as the lever had pivoted more towards you as you'd not have the strength to pull it upwards enough to make the brake effective. Pulling it towards you allows you to really yank on it. In doing this, mine is rock solid.
It is a crap design though. My Scooby requires no more strength to lock the wheels than my 2yo son could apply. Hell, even the Caterham could be handbrake skidded to a halt relatively easily, and they're known for crap handbrakes.
My handbrake was completely ineffectual even after scuffing up the shoes and cleaning up the brass adjuster mechanism.
It always felt 'strange'. I finally gave it some thought and worked out that the strange feeling was that there was no movement in the handbrake once it was pulled full on ie I couldn't feel any flex of the cable when yanking on the handbrake lever.
It turns out that the top of the lever is touching the console and coming to a dead halt before the handbrake has been fully applied.
So I removed the self tapper on the bottom edge of the console on the drivers side and hey presto - working handbrake.
The only down side is the front of the console is lifted up an inch or so when the handbrake is applied
Whilst its on axle stands having the front suspension and chassis repainted I'll tighten up the cable so it no longer caches the centre console.
It always felt 'strange'. I finally gave it some thought and worked out that the strange feeling was that there was no movement in the handbrake once it was pulled full on ie I couldn't feel any flex of the cable when yanking on the handbrake lever.
It turns out that the top of the lever is touching the console and coming to a dead halt before the handbrake has been fully applied.
So I removed the self tapper on the bottom edge of the console on the drivers side and hey presto - working handbrake.
The only down side is the front of the console is lifted up an inch or so when the handbrake is applied
Whilst its on axle stands having the front suspension and chassis repainted I'll tighten up the cable so it no longer caches the centre console.
THE BIG DOG said:
FOUND'EM
Hand brake shoes are from a Pug 605 NOT a 406!
Ferodo part - Part number is FSB425
Also got my wheels back from having a make over while they have been off the car.
Will take some of them when they are bolted back on!
I Like those wheels - everyone tells me I need black wheels now that my car is white. I've never liked black because it blends into the black tyre - but the silver dish on yours is just what the doctor ordered - What are they? (Size and Make)Hand brake shoes are from a Pug 605 NOT a 406!
Ferodo part - Part number is FSB425
Also got my wheels back from having a make over while they have been off the car.
Will take some of them when they are bolted back on!
Edited by THE BIG DOG on Tuesday 27th November 15:14
On the handbrake topic, mine has always worked well, bu I'm in the process of fitting all new Whishbones and uprights with poly bushes in them, this involves dismantling and replacing the brake shoes, so mine will probably stop working now!
The wheels are 19" RTM Traffic Stars 2 piece
from Vogue International
01662570777
http://www.vogueinternational.co.uk/home.html
from Vogue International
01662570777
http://www.vogueinternational.co.uk/home.html
THE BIG DOG said:
The wheels are 19" RTM Traffic Stars 2 piece
from Vogue International
01662570777
http://www.vogueinternational.co.uk/home.html
Touche!.. Are you happy with the refurb. as I'm thinking of getting mine done. If you could PM me any details on cost etc that would be really useful.. Probably keep mine silver though.. Also did you get the chrome refinished aswell?from Vogue International
01662570777
http://www.vogueinternational.co.uk/home.html
cheers
Graham
TvrJohn said:
At least from this info i have gleaned how to adjust the drums, Cheers
It may take a bit of playing with it and letting everything bed-in but I did manage eventually to get the handbrake to work reasonably well.It's way better than it was and will work fine now on all but the steepest of hills.
THE BIG DOG said:
The wheels are 19" RTM Traffic Stars 2 piece
from Vogue International
01662570777
http://www.vogueinternational.co.uk/home.html
19" - it may be the black paint but blimey they do look big. from Vogue International
01662570777
http://www.vogueinternational.co.uk/home.html
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