hand brake adjustment...

Technical advice Q&A

Topic author
Polse7317
Posts: 719
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2012 12:41 pm
Location: FRANCE Aquitaine
France

#1 hand brake adjustment...

Post by Polse7317 » Sat Jul 27, 2019 3:34 pm

My hand brake is not effective enough so i try to adjust the pads from the disc before the cable adjustment as per the manual. It is not very easy to access… before i do a mistake is it the screw to be tightened after getting the split pin out ?

Image
Yves, happy XKE 63 fhc , w113 280sl owner
Looking for a OTS 4.2 serie 1....! :scratchheadyellow: and now have found a fhc xk 140 :lol:

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links


Robbiee
Posts: 714
Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2015 12:07 pm
Location: Derbyshire

#2 Re: hand brake adjustment...

Post by Robbiee » Sat Jul 27, 2019 4:36 pm

Hi
Yes
Remove split pin
Adjust screw with big screwdriver until handbrake pad just touching disc
Replace pin
Robbie
Robbie 1962 3.8 Coupe OSG 1962 OTS ODG

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links


Topic author
Polse7317
Posts: 719
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2012 12:41 pm
Location: FRANCE Aquitaine
France

#3 Re: hand brake adjustment...

Post by Polse7317 » Sat Jul 27, 2019 4:37 pm

Thank's will be done ….. i have just to find or make the right tool screw driver for that…. :hammer:
Yves, happy XKE 63 fhc , w113 280sl owner
Looking for a OTS 4.2 serie 1....! :scratchheadyellow: and now have found a fhc xk 140 :lol:

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

rswaffie
Posts: 1655
Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2014 7:56 am
Location: Lincolnshire
Great Britain

#4 Re: hand brake adjustment...

Post by rswaffie » Sat Jul 27, 2019 5:20 pm

Hi,
Are you going to adjust them with the irs in the car?
I’d be interested to know what tool you will use, as I want to do the same and have yet to find anything. It looks like it will need an ultra low profile flat handle with a 90 deg flat blade bit.
Regards
Richard

Previous owner and restorer of a S1 3.8 FHC Opalescent Golden Sand with Tan Trim 889504 (now sold and headed for Athens)

:swerve: :wrench: :hammer: :fingerscrossed:

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

mgcjag
Moderator
Posts: 9124
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 6:15 pm
Location: Ludlow Shropshire
Great Britain

#5 Re: hand brake adjustment...

Post by mgcjag » Sat Jul 27, 2019 6:39 pm

I think in the toolkit there is a right angle screwdriver for the job(early cars had a hex slot adjuster so used allen type key....Steve....possibly Richard Smith remakes them.....look here for tools http://forum.etypeuk.com/viewtopic.php? ... 4&start=20
Steve
69 S2 2+2 (sold) ..Realm C type replica, 1960 xk150fhc

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

madjack4
Posts: 168
Joined: Tue Aug 18, 2015 8:24 pm
Location: wakefield
Great Britain

#6 Re: hand brake adjustment...

Post by madjack4 » Sat Jul 27, 2019 9:03 pm

Hi u can buy a small ratchet that takes those small srewdriver bits ive used mine a few times perfect for the job
Regards Rob
Rob 1972 s3 roadster
Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

abowie
Posts: 4139
Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:15 pm
Location: Australia
Australia

#7 Re: hand brake adjustment...

Post by abowie » Sat Jul 27, 2019 11:02 pm

I think that that screw is pinned because there is a ratchet adjuster pawl (5) inside the mechanism that self tightens when there is excessive movement of the actuating arm, thus tightening the caliper.

Image
Andrew.
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1979 MGB (supercharged).
Adelaide, Australia

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links


Robbiee
Posts: 714
Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2015 12:07 pm
Location: Derbyshire

#8 Re: hand brake adjustment...

Post by Robbiee » Sun Jul 28, 2019 7:04 am

Hi
Yes that’s correct Andrew

Sorry Yves, I just assumed the IRS was out of the car from your photo!

If the IRS is not being removed maybe you can approach the scre head from above through the inspection panel and use some kind of flexible or short screwdriver
If you squeeze the Caliper arms to take the pressure off the scre SHOULD turn fairly easily
Robbie
Robbie 1962 3.8 Coupe OSG 1962 OTS ODG

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

rswaffie
Posts: 1655
Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2014 7:56 am
Location: Lincolnshire
Great Britain

#9 Re: hand brake adjustment...

Post by rswaffie » Sun Jul 28, 2019 8:17 am

I’ve been trying to do this via the inspection holes, using various cranked screwdrivers, thin ratchet with flat driver bit etc, but the distance between the screw head and the edge of the inspection opening is too small to allow this. I have ordered one of these to see if it will work.


Image
Richard

Previous owner and restorer of a S1 3.8 FHC Opalescent Golden Sand with Tan Trim 889504 (now sold and headed for Athens)

:swerve: :wrench: :hammer: :fingerscrossed:

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

mgcjag
Moderator
Posts: 9124
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 6:15 pm
Location: Ludlow Shropshire
Great Britain

#10 Re: hand brake adjustment...

Post by mgcjag » Sun Jul 28, 2019 8:30 am

If the calipers are newly restored the adjusting screw should turn quite easily..have you tried griping it in the center and turning......Steve
Steve
69 S2 2+2 (sold) ..Realm C type replica, 1960 xk150fhc

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links


Robbiee
Posts: 714
Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2015 12:07 pm
Location: Derbyshire

#11 Re: hand brake adjustment...

Post by Robbiee » Sun Jul 28, 2019 4:15 pm

Just tried that...it works...so simple

Just thinking ..maybe a small coin edge?
Robbie
Robbie 1962 3.8 Coupe OSG 1962 OTS ODG

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links


Topic author
Polse7317
Posts: 719
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2012 12:41 pm
Location: FRANCE Aquitaine
France

#12 Re: hand brake adjustment...

Post by Polse7317 » Sun Jul 28, 2019 9:49 pm

I have taken the split pin off then made a "special" screwdriver , it's Sunday…. so i can't buy one :smile:
Image

Image
and i did the same special driver with a 90° different angle
and begin to turn the screw ..... the acces space is quite narrow but i have turned the screw by +- 2 * 360°
it was more easy at the beginning with a mole grip ...as Steve said
I checked the space between the pad and the disc as the manual, but in that case the car was completely braked on the path ! so i unscrew by 1 round and the car was brake free.
I'll check the brake cable tomorow ....
Yves, happy XKE 63 fhc , w113 280sl owner
Looking for a OTS 4.2 serie 1....! :scratchheadyellow: and now have found a fhc xk 140 :lol:

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

MdR
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2016 7:51 am
Location: Holland
Netherlands

#13 Re: hand brake adjustment...

Post by MdR » Fri Aug 09, 2019 8:35 am

Hi, I experiance the same problem with my just finisched serie’s I ’66
Refurbisched the IRS and installed new pad’s.
The problem is that the new pad’s for the handbrake touch the disc only on the edge.
Your can see it clearly on your picture, the arrow marks where the machanism squeeses the pads on the disc. On the edge with a very small range that touch the disc.
Resulting; no grip
Only when the pad’s are little bit worn out (skew) the grip gets better.

My second problem is, when I don’t use my handbrake, the cable touches the driveshaft.

Regards, Marcel
Marcel

OTS serie I '66

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links


Bob.
Posts: 410
Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2015 9:05 pm
Location: North Gloucestershire
Great Britain

#14 Re: hand brake adjustment...

Post by Bob. » Sat Aug 10, 2019 12:51 pm

Hi Marcel,
The Ferodo pads I fitted to my S3 came with a chamfer on each pad to allow full contact with the discs from new. They will eventually wear parallel with use. Some other manufacturers supply without chamfers so you would have to file them to fit - not very satisfactory.
Image
Image
Image

Re the handbrake cable issue, is your cable routed through the support bracket to keep it away from the propshaft. (Sorry about quality of images)
Image
Image
Bob
'71 S3

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

MdR
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2016 7:51 am
Location: Holland
Netherlands

#15 Re: hand brake adjustment...

Post by MdR » Thu Aug 15, 2019 8:41 am

Hi Bob,

Strangely I’m missing this bracket!! ( my pictures ain’t better…)
You can clearly see the pieces of a bracket.

And about the breakpads, I order ( from David Manners? looking at the label) these a.s.a.p. and figure it out how to install them later. Not an easy job I guess


Many thanks for your info and regards, Marcel
Image
Marcel

OTS serie I '66

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

politeperson
Posts: 1387
Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2016 8:26 pm
Location: Boston UK
Great Britain

#16 Re: hand brake adjustment...

Post by politeperson » Sun Sep 01, 2019 8:08 am

As Steve says, you can adjust the handbrake calipers on the car by twisting the pin from underneath. I use mini grips and stand underneath. A proper lift helps.

I had a car with a newly fitted IRS whose wheels would not turn, slackening off the adjuster fixed the problem. Saved us having to remove the whole unit.

The mistake that had been made was that the handbrake calipers had been adjusted with new pads without the inner drive shaft/disc brake nuts being tightened. This was prior to fitting the IRS.

When the IRS was fitted to the car, the diff output nuts were tightened and the whole assemble locked solid as the brake disc trued itself to the output flange of the diff.

Another way of doing it is to remove the calipers completely by undoing the two caliper hinge pins. the whole units come out towards the front of the car with no great dramas with the IRS fitted. You do have to be careful when reinserting the pin that you dont miss the calipers completely allowing them to waggle around uselessly.

Hear is a picture of the hand brake adjusters being unwound taken from underneath the car.


Image
Finishing off an S1 roadster

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

mgcjag
Moderator
Posts: 9124
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 6:15 pm
Location: Ludlow Shropshire
Great Britain

#17 Re: hand brake adjustment...

Post by mgcjag » Sun Sep 01, 2019 8:24 am

Make sure that you put the locking split pin back in the head of the adjuster bolt after adjusting....Steve
Steve
69 S2 2+2 (sold) ..Realm C type replica, 1960 xk150fhc

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links


E600
Posts: 215
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2015 4:47 am
Location: Surrey Uk
Great Britain

#18 Re: hand brake adjustment...

Post by E600 » Mon Sep 02, 2019 6:27 am

Instead of a split pin, consider using a sprung R clip, which aids removal the next time.

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic