The 'E' Type Forum

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 ?

Hi
Yes
Remove split pin
Adjust screw with big screwdriver until handbrake pad just touching disc
Replace pin
Robbie

Thank's will be done ….. i have just to find or make the right tool screw driver for that….

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

If the calipers are newly restored the adjusting screw should turn quite easily..have you tried griping it in the center and turning......Steve

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

Just thinking ..maybe a small coin edge?
Robbie

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



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 ....

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

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.




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)

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

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.

Make sure that you put the locking split pin back in the head of the adjuster bolt after adjusting....Steve

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