Seized hand brake

[smuudge]

Hello all, went to reverse the car out of the drive at the weekend and the handbrake/brakes? appear to be seized on.....been running it without any problems since Brands Hatch so can anyone shed any light on the problem/quick fixes b4 i contact MV...


Many thanks
BEN

[worty]

There probably just stuck.Happens sometimes when the discs/pads are damp. For the future suggest you leave hand brake off and just leave it in gear. They should free , up you just need to give it a few revs to unlock them. Beware nearby walls doors etc just in case it jumps forward.
Once free just check that both the inner and outer caliper are working. If not your local garage should be able to free them off with a rubber hammer.
HTH
Paul

[Obes]

A little tap on the calipers should sort it mate.
If not just drive, they'll soon jump off. Even if it means dragging a wheel out of the garage!
Did you put it away wet ? that normally does it.

[smuudge]

I didnt want to burn the cluth out as i was giving it some to try and release them. Will try again tomorrow with the knock method if I dont have any joy...thanks guys.

[m12_nathan]

Is it just one rear wheel or both?

[adrian w]

on the subject of handbrakes does anybody else have a floppy handbrake lever?, the handbrake works fine but when off the lever is floppy for the first two inches of travel.

Anyone know a cure. Viagra might work on me but not an M400

[joust]

A "sharp" movement (bit like doing fast getaways) upwards on the clutch pedal with around 2500rpm unsticks them.

Be ready to hit the brake though when the do unfreeze themselves, and make sure you are pointed "straight" out!

J

[Mr Noble]

I had this a few weeks back after putting it away wet.

Had to drag the NS front out of the garage leaving nice tyre marks down the drive, then gave the disc a few taps with a piece of wood and a hammer, then a good clutch dump at 3k rpm set it free.


Beware though, after this, the first time you brake, there will be some serious wiggling and grateing noises, its fine but you have to scrubb the discs clean again slowly.

HTH
G

[robp]

If you have to put the car away in the garage with damp discs and you arn't going to use it again for awhile, a simple tip is to go back into the garage the following evening, gaze lovingly at your pride and joy, and then just rock it forward and back a foot or so thus releasing pads from discs. Easy on day 1, impossible on day 7. You can also sing it a quick lullaby if you want, although I havn't found that helps too much with sticky pads. Generally this is less traumatic than the foot sideways off clutch technique that you have to use after a week or so of pads bonding to discs.