Handbrake Question
Author
Discussion

Black VXR

Original Poster:

750 posts

287 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
quotequote all
I have seen several posts in regard to the Handbrake on the 6.0 VXR, mine works fine apart from coming up a long way, and despite paying the garage to adjust this slack out at the last service (another story). My question is regarding the operation - One post I read here seemed to imply that the handbrake was on a kind of ratchet of some sort and that difficulties could occur at MOT time - is this true?

Magic919

14,182 posts

225 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
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They are just a small drum brake within the rear discs as far as I've gathered. I don't know where the idea of this rather nebulous 'ratchet thing' originates. It's not as if it's a pin that locks into a hole....

ringram

14,701 posts

272 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
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It is kind of full on or off though. No such thing as easing on the handbrake, it will just grab solid.

wolfracer

2,074 posts

230 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
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ringram said:
It is kind of full on or off though. No such thing as easing on the handbrake, it will just grab solid.

wish my normal brakes grabbed like the handbrake.....
Why don't I replace with a set of tiny drums instead of those big silly discs!!!

higgster5.7

308 posts

231 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
quotequote all
your lucky at least you have a handbrake mines been adjusted a few times it works great for about a week then it goes all slack again just about works when you pull right on to what must be the last notch.

wolfracer

2,074 posts

230 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
quotequote all
higgster5.7 said:
your lucky at least you have a handbrake mines been adjusted a few times it works great for about a week then it goes all slack again just about works when you pull right on to what must be the last notch.

iirc the adjuster is under the gaitor in the cabin. Someone posted the specs of how to tighten it yourself - i seem to recall it was only a hex bolt you need to turn (or similar)

higgster5.7

308 posts

231 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
quotequote all
wolfracer said:
higgster5.7 said:
your lucky at least you have a handbrake mines been adjusted a few times it works great for about a week then it goes all slack again just about works when you pull right on to what must be the last notch.

iirc the adjuster is under the gaitor in the cabin. Someone posted the specs of how to tighten it yourself - i seem to recall it was only a hex bolt you need to turn (or similar)
cheers for that il have a do at that when i get home. Is it right that it keeps going slack or have i got an issue

Del-Dredd

42 posts

215 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
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Mine went slack like that, got it adjusted during service, was ok for 2 weeks or so.

Then it would not stop car rolling backwards, forwards was little better but would stop after a 2-3 foot roll.

Had the rear wheels off and handbrake mechanisms cleaned and adjusted by dealer.
Now handbrake is like new.

Operating handbrake while still moving causes the problems.

Del

higgster5.7

308 posts

231 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
quotequote all
Del-Dredd said:
Mine went slack like that, got it adjusted during service, was ok for 2 weeks or so.

Then it would not stop car rolling backwards, forwards was little better but would stop after a 2-3 foot roll.

Had the rear wheels off and handbrake mechanisms cleaned and adjusted by dealer.
Now handbrake is like new.

Operating handbrake while still moving causes the problems.

Del
il have a look cos there the same symptoms as mine only time the handbrake gets used is big hill starts and parking sometimes so i dont know why it should have gone il adjust it up and see how it is otherwise il have to get the mrs a chock so she can jump out and stop it rolling ha

melchett

817 posts

210 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
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wolfracer said:

iirc the adjuster is under the gaitor in the cabin. Someone posted the specs of how to tighten it yourself - i seem to recall it was only a hex bolt you need to turn (or similar)


This may help:

www.hsv.org.uk/topic.asp?t=613983&f=69&h=27

anonymous-user

78 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
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Black VXR said:
I have seen several posts in regard to the Handbrake on the 6.0 VXR, mine works fine apart from coming up a long way, and despite paying the garage to adjust this slack out at the last service (another story). My question is regarding the operation - One post I read here seemed to imply that the handbrake was on a kind of ratchet of some sort and that difficulties could occur at MOT time - is this true?


The handbrake operation on a Monaro is quite different to any other car I've had. It is an "all or nothing" handbrake, i.e when you apply it, the mechanism locks the wheels solid, and allows no forward rotation whatsoever. If you apply the handbrake with the car moving forward, even at a very low speed, you'll hear a loud bang from the back as the wheels lock up! You cannot regulate the amount of resistance applied to the back wheels by only pulling the lever up a bit, like you can with a normal handbrake. I thought there was something wrong with my car when I noticd this - I jacked up the rear end, played around rotating the wheels, and found what I just described. Interestingly, if you rotate the wheels backwards, the system works as a normal handbrake - i.e you can regulate the pressure applied, and the wheels don't lock up. If the handbrake is applied at any speed, it can smash the mechanism, and you are left with no handbrake whatsoever.

Magic919

14,182 posts

225 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
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Just what you'd expect of a twin leading shoe design working (too) well.

Black VXR

Original Poster:

750 posts

287 months

Thursday 26th February 2009
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So to sum up then, its a twin leading shoe system inside a small drum - nothing to worry about as long as its adjusted correctly. So what happens at MOT time then (assuming its all working OK). The tester pulls on the hand brake on the rolling road and bang - he breaks it?

jhinchy

298 posts

223 months

Thursday 26th February 2009
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Do they use the roller type brake tester on cars equipped with LSD?
In Ireland, they dont use it on cars with lsd or constant 4x4.

Black VXR

Original Poster:

750 posts

287 months

Friday 27th February 2009
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They do in the UK - even on my Landrover... Unless you are there and ask them not to

Magic919

14,182 posts

225 months

Friday 27th February 2009
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Black VXR said:
So to sum up then, its a twin leading shoe system inside a small drum - nothing to worry about as long as its adjusted correctly. So what happens at MOT time then (assuming its all working OK). The tester pulls on the hand brake on the rolling road and bang - he breaks it?
My version. To sum up then, there is much talk about angry swans having enough strength to break a man's arm. However, I've never heard of a man suffering a broken arm in that fashion.

Black VXR

Original Poster:

750 posts

287 months

Friday 27th February 2009
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Yeah - I think you are right - all a story...

crisisjez

9,209 posts

229 months

Friday 27th February 2009
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Magic919 said:
there is much talk about angry swans having enough strength to break a man's arm. However, I've never heard of a man suffering a broken arm in that fashion.



Thanks for the heads up.........
Not long ago I was having a lovely sunday roast at a lakeside pub with Sophie when a swan came over and gave me quite an angry stare, I was quite worried at the time, but it seems I had nothing to concern myself with after all hehe

Edited by crisisjez on Friday 27th February 21:17