Any tips on improving the handbrake performance?

[kbear]

I have a test on the car coming up and I don’t think my handbrake is up to the job any more.

I know there have been threads on this boring subject in the past but the search isn’t working so I’m digging it up again.

Is there anything I can do to improve the action? I’ve had the centre console off and the whole leaver assembly out and this is working fine, not catching anywhere. The adjuster just in front of the diff is ok, hand brake starts after 2 clicks when you pull the leaver.

Is there anything to be gained from taking the rear pads out and winding the callipers back in again to free up the mechanism?

Any tips appreciated...

[DarkMatter]

At the bottom of the handbrake lever, underneath the tunnel, is a quadrant shaped guide through which the cable slides. I totally slackened the cable, pulled the cable from the guide, greased the guide then replaced the cable and adjusted. That made my handbrake much better, but I also have it adjusted to be fully on at 4 notches because that gives be better leverage.

[steve-V8s]

Yes check the sliders are free to move on both sides but the main thing is to allow the self adjusters to work correctly. I made mine work simply by making some slack in the cable by undoing the adjuster. The self adjusters in the callipers then took up the slack and the handbrake now works fine. It is apparently a fairly common ford arrangement and won’t work if the cable is too tight.

[Hedgehopper]

Whilst applying the handbrake put your foot hard on the brake pedal, this is good for one more notch on the ratchet.

[HRG.]

Hedgehopper said:

Whilst applying the handbrake put your foot hard on the brake pedal, this is good for one more notch on the ratchet.

I would say two clicks isn't enough to allow it to bite properly.

[lockhart flawse]

Use 2 hands...

L.F.

[spend]

HRG. said:

I would say two clicks isn't enough to allow it to bite properly.

I think it needs more than that for the adjuster mechanism to ratchet and automatically take up slack against the pads?

Over-tightening the handbrake cable does seem to be a very common misconception... which causes an awful lot more harm than good

[RichB]

HRG said:

I would say two clicks isn't enough to allow it to bite properly.

Agreed, it used to be a common misconception that tightening it up made it better; it doesn't. You need 3 x clicks (never tried 4) to make it work because you get better leverage.

[HRG.]

I think mine is about six clicks to fully on. The sixth one is hard to get, but worthwhile... lol

[kbear]

cheers for the tips, this is exactly what I was after!!

I think I miss lead you with the 2 click thing though. Its two clicks before the handbrake takes up slack and starts to grip, with a good pull its up to 4 or 5 clicks in total I think, but I never count. On the weekend I'll check the cable sliders and guides and back off the adjuster a bit. The comment above about giving the auto adjusters enough slack to be able to ratchet also makes sense.

Further to this: Does anyone have any pics of the mod where you modify where the cable connect to the hand brake leaver? I think I read on here somewhere that someone had managed to move the connector down closer to the pivot point giving you much more leverage (and a few extra clicks I guess)

[griffter]

It's worth periodically manually turning the adjuster cam on each caliper. Have a look at the caliper, see how the spring turns the cam and turn it in the assisted direction by hand. Even if it only moves a fraction it can make a big difference to the feel and action of the handbrake.
Over time the adjuster mechanism stiffens and the spring weakens, so the self adjustment is less effective.

[LordGrover]

[steve-V8s]

LordGrover said:

I have one of those but it is made of wood and wedge shaped.

[Ballistic Banana]

LordGrover said:

And I'll raise you too



BB

[spend]

Ballistic Banana said:

And I'll raise you too



BB

Nah! you need Ford caliper upgrades they are much heavier than that weedy thing

[Ballistic Banana]

I would suggest not using the two handed method as you'll break the bolt that helps it work



You Live and learn

BB