Handbrake Tightening
Forum rules
Many subjects will have been discussed before. Please try the search function before starting a new thread.
Check in the Know Your 2 as the information you need may already be there.
Important ! - Please make your topic title as descriptive as possible . titles with just "help" generally dont get as many answers as a title that points to the problem
Many subjects will have been discussed before. Please try the search function before starting a new thread.
Check in the Know Your 2 as the information you need may already be there.
Important ! - Please make your topic title as descriptive as possible . titles with just "help" generally dont get as many answers as a title that points to the problem
-
Topic author - Posts: 210
- Joined: 28/02/09 18:19
- Years of MR2 Ownership: 12
- MR2's Owned: 3
- Real Name: Henry
- Gender: Male
- Location: Bournemouth/Norwich
- Has thanked: 1 time
Handbrake Tightening
Hi,
my MOT is not until October, however I thought I would start to work on the advisories now; being that the handbrake does not really work.
It starts to let go on a slight incline, and again more likely to slip when the front is facing downhill.
The lever comes up all the way and feels like it would come some more if it could.
As for the fixing of it, is it possible to do with the car on axle stands? Or should I get it done at the garage?
And if it is possible, how do I go about it?
Many thanks
Bezly
my MOT is not until October, however I thought I would start to work on the advisories now; being that the handbrake does not really work.
It starts to let go on a slight incline, and again more likely to slip when the front is facing downhill.
The lever comes up all the way and feels like it would come some more if it could.
As for the fixing of it, is it possible to do with the car on axle stands? Or should I get it done at the garage?
And if it is possible, how do I go about it?
Many thanks
Bezly
2019
98' Cosmos Rev5 N/A
2013-2015
93' Red Rev3 Tubby
2007-2009
91' White Rev2 N/A
98' Cosmos Rev5 N/A
2013-2015
93' Red Rev3 Tubby
2007-2009
91' White Rev2 N/A
-
- Posts: 2935
- Joined: 18/01/10 11:58
- Years of MR2 Ownership: 7
- MR2's Owned: 6
- Real Name: Stu
- Gender: Male
- Location: Colchester, Essex
Handbrake Tightening
You need to check that the handbrake arm on the calipers freely move. You should be able to move them by hand to work the brakes.
If that's ok check the condition of the cables.
If they're ok then you need to remove the centre undertray to adjust the cables. What works for me is to put a 1mm feeler gauge between the handbrake caliper arms and the stop pins (one each side). I then adjust the handbrake until the feeler gauges fall out. I then get freely moving wheels but handbrake on after about 4 clicks.
I have done this before with axle stands.
If that's ok check the condition of the cables.
If they're ok then you need to remove the centre undertray to adjust the cables. What works for me is to put a 1mm feeler gauge between the handbrake caliper arms and the stop pins (one each side). I then adjust the handbrake until the feeler gauges fall out. I then get freely moving wheels but handbrake on after about 4 clicks.
I have done this before with axle stands.
Re: Handbrake Tightening
If all the mechanism works as it should then the cables may have stretched. Adjust in the centre.
Sent from my boot to your "censored".
-
- Posts: 3419
- Joined: 07/05/03 1:00
- Years of MR2 Ownership: 16
- MR2's Owned: 5
- Real Name: Oi... you!!
- Location: West Midlands (Stratford-on-Avon)
Re: Handbrake Tightening
when I took my car to get it's MOT last week I was shocked to find that the MOT tester had adjusted the handbrake cable for me, for free, and didn't even mention that he'd done it...
so it can't have been that hard a job, I guess you just need to jack the car up and get underneath and all will become clear
so it can't have been that hard a job, I guess you just need to jack the car up and get underneath and all will become clear
-
- Posts: 2935
- Joined: 18/01/10 11:58
- Years of MR2 Ownership: 7
- MR2's Owned: 6
- Real Name: Stu
- Gender: Male
- Location: Colchester, Essex
Handbrake Tightening
Adjusting the handbrake is the easy part with a 12mm spanner once the undertray is out the way. There's even a powerpoint presentation on it somewhere (KY2?).
The only caveat being that all the components are functioning as they should. No amount of adjusting will help if the cables and/or caliper actuators are seized or not working correctly. Seen it on quite a few 2's. Easy enough to check first though.
The OP hasn't said what condition his cables/calipers are in so just covering all bases at the moment:). Hopefully a simple adjustment is all that's needed.
If he wants a trip to Colchester I'd look at the brakes for him over my inspection pit.
The only caveat being that all the components are functioning as they should. No amount of adjusting will help if the cables and/or caliper actuators are seized or not working correctly. Seen it on quite a few 2's. Easy enough to check first though.
The OP hasn't said what condition his cables/calipers are in so just covering all bases at the moment:). Hopefully a simple adjustment is all that's needed.
If he wants a trip to Colchester I'd look at the brakes for him over my inspection pit.
-
- Posts: 848
- Joined: 29/01/11 18:53
- Years of MR2 Ownership: 9
- MR2's Owned: 1
- Real Name: Jan Olsson
- Gender: Male
- Location: Leicester
- Been thanked: 1 time
Re: Handbrake Tightening
As the handbrake is so out of adjustment I wonder whether it has had new pads on the rear and the calipers haven't been set right? check out the ky2 for the correct procedure (maybe in the mk1 section as the rears are essentially the same.
1991 rev 1 T Bar n/a 3sge import. A work in progress!!!
-
- Posts: 2935
- Joined: 18/01/10 11:58
- Years of MR2 Ownership: 7
- MR2's Owned: 6
- Real Name: Stu
- Gender: Male
- Location: Colchester, Essex
Re: Handbrake Tightening
Good point. Especially if someone not familiar with these brakes did the job.
-
- Posts: 1474
- Joined: 20/04/11 23:18
- Current Model: None
- Years of MR2 Ownership: 23
- MR2's Owned: 1
- Real Name: 2023 i30N Hatch 6MT
- Gender: Male
- Location: Tauranga >>> New Zealand
- Been thanked: 1 time
- Contact:
Re: Handbrake Tightening
Basically the cable never needs adjusting. The calipers are self adjusting and if things are going astray in this area the calipers need a rebuild and the two cables to the calipers are stuffed and ceasing. If the handbrake feels loose thats because the cables are ceased and are not releasing and your driving around with the rear brakes on. Easy to tell just try pushing the car on a flat surface or feel the rotors after a short drive after not using the brakes at all or jack and try and spin the wheels.
-
Topic author - Posts: 210
- Joined: 28/02/09 18:19
- Years of MR2 Ownership: 12
- MR2's Owned: 3
- Real Name: Henry
- Gender: Male
- Location: Bournemouth/Norwich
- Has thanked: 1 time
Re: Handbrake Tightening
Cheers for the feedback guys.
I really don't think they are sticking as it's not like they are not releasing, just not gripping hard enough. You could probably push it when then handbrake is on at full tilt though.
Stu, I may take you up on that offer as I'm in Norwich and often drive to London to see my better half; will PM you.
Cheers
I really don't think they are sticking as it's not like they are not releasing, just not gripping hard enough. You could probably push it when then handbrake is on at full tilt though.
Stu, I may take you up on that offer as I'm in Norwich and often drive to London to see my better half; will PM you.
Cheers
2019
98' Cosmos Rev5 N/A
2013-2015
93' Red Rev3 Tubby
2007-2009
91' White Rev2 N/A
98' Cosmos Rev5 N/A
2013-2015
93' Red Rev3 Tubby
2007-2009
91' White Rev2 N/A
-
- Posts: 2935
- Joined: 18/01/10 11:58
- Years of MR2 Ownership: 7
- MR2's Owned: 6
- Real Name: Stu
- Gender: Male
- Location: Colchester, Essex
-
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 15/05/19 15:48
Re: Handbrake Tightening
Hi Stu, i am also based in and around Colchester! What colour 2 do you have as i have only seen a few passing in and around town!stuMR2lee wrote: ↑20/05/14 9:47 Adjusting the handbrake is the easy part with a 12mm spanner once the undertray is out the way. There's even a powerpoint presentation on it somewhere (KY2?).
The only caveat being that all the components are functioning as they should. No amount of adjusting will help if the cables and/or caliper actuators are seized or not working correctly. Seen it on quite a few 2's. Easy enough to check first though.
The OP hasn't said what condition his cables/calipers are in so just covering all bases at the moment:). Hopefully a simple adjustment is all that's needed.
If he wants a trip to Colchester I'd look at the brakes for him over my inspection pit.
-
- Posts: 2935
- Joined: 18/01/10 11:58
- Years of MR2 Ownership: 7
- MR2's Owned: 6
- Real Name: Stu
- Gender: Male
- Location: Colchester, Essex
Re: Handbrake Tightening
Hi, not had a 2 since our MK3 got written off last December. Got a Lexus SC430 at the moment which belonged to my late wife