Chim handbrake

[Revchimp]

Just a quick enquiry, before I dive out to the garage with spanners etc.
My recently accquired Chim has a 'weakish' handbrake, leave her on the drive in neutal, handbrake on an she begins to roll back, or at least the brakes start creaking, (Ok I could and perhaps should leave her in gear but..)any suggestions as to adjustment on this. Lever comes up about four clicks and despite pushing hard on brake pedal and then applying H'brake it still seems rather weak.. or am I just being picky?

[Podie]

Engage first, it's good practice.

Besides, it's a TVR.... TADTS

[Mark.]

They have a handbrake!

[Quietlybonkers]

I agree, mine's a pain too. Three clicks and the car still rolls. Foot on brake and get the fourth click and it is firmly on......and I strain my shoulder every time akin the thing off again. I guess we both need to fiddle with the adjusters, or engage a gear.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Never ever use mine. It's more of an ornament than a tool.

[TJC46]

Quietlybonkers said:

I agree, mine's a pain too. Three clicks and the car still rolls. Foot on brake and get the fourth click and it is firmly on......and I strain my shoulder every time akin the thing off again. I guess we both need to fiddle with the adjusters, or engage a gear.

Fiddle all you want.....it wont make a blind bit of difference! "They all do that sir"
Changed mine out last winter for a new cable and not much better. It doesnt seem to matter how i try to adjust it, you still have to press the pedal and then engage the handbrake. I even tell the mechanic at MOT time to do the same so it will pass.
I must admit mine does actually work if you press the pedal first.
Its also worth messing about with how the cables on each side are attached to the lower rear wishbones.It seems best to have a nice smooth curve in the cable as it attaches to the caliper.

[Simon says]

No they don't stock genuine Ford/Motorcraft/Lucas pads have the best friction coefficient at low temperatures and this equals a good working handbrake, mine was crap previous to this change and the way I looked at it the Sierra & Granada never had st handbrakes (well as good as disc braked rears can be) I got exactly what I was after and even my MOT tester was impressed and he knows how poor these cars can be in that department

[Pink_Floyd]

Simon says said:

Sierra & Granada never had st handbrakes

I think that one of the big differences is that on the sierra / granada the handbrake was in line and below the driver making it much easier to pull up with a lot of force. In the chim it is in front and off to the left so you can't apply much lifting power to it.

[tonym789666]

The basic problem is the position of the handbrake lever. It is so far forward of the driver that it is mainly your wrist that you use not like in the Sierra where you pull it up with your arm. I have found that if you slacken the adjuster off so the lever comes up more you can get more pressure on the lever because you are using your arm and not your wrist.

[Simon says]

Pink_Floyd said:

Simon says said:

Sierra & Granada never had st handbrakes

I think that one of the big differences is that on the sierra / granada the handbrake was in line and below the driver making it much easier to pull up with a lot of force. In the chim it is in front and off to the left so you can't apply much lifting power to it.

Agreed, but that's the thing I don't need a lot of leverage now in fact I forget it just works until I jump into another RV8 Tiv my point is you don't have to put up with a crappy handbrake if you chose the right parts

Edited by Simon says on Wednesday 17th October 20:58

[peaktorque]

My handbrake was not existent when I first got my car.

The lever pivot bolt had sheared off in the chassis - repaired that - it still didn't work - found the o/s calliper seized up - repaired - still not working - cable frayed and jamming in the sheath - new cable fitted (easy to do) - adjusted it all up and now it works as it should (still leave it in first though just to be safe )

[Simon says]

Oh I should add I have NOS calipers & handbrake cable I had in stock for 12 years & genuine Ford/Motorcraft discs fitted a couple of years ago now, so my rear braking system is exactly as Ford intended manufacturers can spend fortunes on developing things like this so that's good enough for me

[Quietlybonkers]

Clearly you need a strong left wrist to own a Chimaera......I thought that only applied to Grief owners?

[Bassfiend]

tonym789666 said:

The basic problem is the position of the handbrake lever. It is so far forward of the driver that it is mainly your wrist that you use not like in the Sierra where you pull it up with your arm. I have found that if you slacken the adjuster off so the lever comes up more you can get more pressure on the lever because you are using your arm and not your wrist.

Obviously I must have had a lot of wrist excercise ... Oh well, I guess all those people were right after all.

Phil

[Revchimp]

Cheers for all the advice and banter.
Seems its a case of: 1) live with it and always leave in gear ( which I tend to do anyway) 2) Find some time to limbo dance underneath and get at the adjusters. 3)Wait until the rear pads need changing and switch to those recommended.

Tangentially, see that Str8six have the previous love of my life up for sale(-sorry Mrs F!) see below:

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Will post some pics of the Chim when I can
Cheers all