Handbrake

[Joe Cozy]

I just re-read my service sheet from Mole Valley. Carried out 6k service and in addition refit discs and supply new brake pad set (rear)

my handbrake is still v weak. anyone else have a dodgy handbrake?

[YI8TVR]

Mines just called a hand. But if you keep pulling it up to get a grip it will brake.

[suffolkfox]

The handbrake on Cerbs can be generously descibed as inadequate, and more often useless, mostly due to the difficult angle and height it sits at not allowing a proper pull at it, unlike most other cars. I personally took the advice of other PH'ers and never use it. Instead I leave the car in gear when stopped. There are also additional reasons for this, other than the car rolling away. If you are heavy on the brakes and then apply the handbrake once stopped there are tales of the rear brake discs warping due to the rapid cooling diferential. Also, if the car is left parked for some time (over the slippery season) the handbrake can seize on.

Some members have fitted the Leven replacement handbrake sleeves, a side effect of which is that it lengthens the handle slightly and hence increases the leverage applied. I also believe there is a modification available but don't know the details.

See here for more comment
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=14442&f=6&h=0&hw=handbrake

(edited to include link)

>> Edited by suffolkfox on Tuesday 2nd September 14:32

[kojak69]

Most handbrakes on cerberas are useless. I try not to park on a hill (which living in sheffield is hard), otherwise i'd find it at the bottom. If you live in London, I'd have thought its fairly flat.

[mike_e]

Joe Cozy said:

I just re-read my service sheet from Mole Valley. Carried out 6k service and in addition refit discs and supply new brake pad set (rear) my handbrake is still v weak. anyone else have a dodgy handbrake?

Common problem. My handbrake works but you do have to apply a great deal of force to get the wheels to lock on a steep slope.

Fitting new pads won't have any affect, the handbrake is a completely separate mechanism. It's actually a drum brake mounted inside the rear disk hub.

You can adjust the handbrake fairly easily, you'll find two adjusters mounted above the diff. Just follow the cables back from the disk hubs.

Mike

[williamball]

Cerbera handbrake is fine. You just have to know how to use it as its location and activation techinque are different to most cars.

It's not in the normal position - it's the forward of the 2 levers on the transmission tunnel. (The rear one if just for looping the handles of your take-away bag over when there's not a passenger). You have to push this lever left then forward while pressing the left pedal. You then switch the engine off and release the left pedal again. Of course it only funtions when the engine's not running, but other than that, it holds just fine.

WB