Hand brake not working

Discussions relating to MX5 Tyre choice, Wheels, Brakes Suspension components and other items to keep you going around corners, stuck to the ground or stopping on a dime.

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warrior
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Hand brake not working

Post by warrior » Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:03 pm

Help....... The handbrake in my wives MX5 is not working.

I have...
Adjusted the handbrake lever
Brake pads are new
Adjuster in rear callipers is fine
Greased the sliders on all callipers.....

When I wound out the adjuster on one of the rear callipers the adjuster bolt came right out with the hex key, would that be the problem? Is the bolt buggered?

The brakes work perfectly.

The handbrake works but I wont get a warrant with it.

What next?
warrior

bgnz
Tentative sideways sliding....
Tentative sideways sliding....
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Post by bgnz » Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:22 pm

I did my rear pads a few weeks back and it took about a day or two for the handbrake to settle in, as long as your warrant isn't due now I can't see it being a problem?

And yes the adjusters do come right out, but I put mine back in with no issues.

I think it just needs to settle in and self adjust or something.

warrior
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Post by warrior » Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:53 pm

I did not replace the pads, they were done 6 months ago. The handbrake use to be ok but has gotten worse so that is why I checked everything.
warrior

bgnz
Tentative sideways sliding....
Tentative sideways sliding....
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Post by bgnz » Sat Aug 02, 2014 9:21 pm

Ah sorry I read the new bit as them being new...
I've had problems with cables before (on mr2's), the grease dries out after a good few years. Might be worth taking the off and checking they're free, then either lube or replace?

Not much left really!

warrior
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Post by warrior » Sat Aug 02, 2014 9:39 pm

Yeah thats what i was thinking
warrior

bgnz
Tentative sideways sliding....
Tentative sideways sliding....
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Post by bgnz » Sat Aug 02, 2014 10:37 pm

Yeah I've not really checked the mx5 cables before, but I know the MR2 has a 3 piece affair, with one cable going most of the way then a bracket thing and 2 small ones going off it. Like a Y and what happens with too much regularity, one of the legs to the wheels siezes, so your handbrake works pretty much only on one wheel.

Haven't currently got an mx5 manual but worth checking by jacking both wheels up and seeing if one spins when the handbrakes on?

WideOpenThrottle
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Post by WideOpenThrottle » Sun Aug 03, 2014 9:59 am

Don't worry about the hex bolt coming out..thats normal, just put it back in and wind it in until the wheel locks then back it off 1/4 of a turn and then do the same to the other side.Take out any cable slack on the handbrake lever so that you have a few clicks before it locks the brakes.
Last edited by WideOpenThrottle on Sun Aug 03, 2014 10:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
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warrior
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Post by warrior » Sun Aug 03, 2014 10:00 am

Good idea
warrior

WideOpenThrottle
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Post by WideOpenThrottle » Sun Aug 03, 2014 10:07 am

Then if your handbrake still doesn't hold {like my race pads don't until they get warm] then your rear pads may be glazed/worn or in need of replacement.
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marcellarius
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Post by marcellarius » Sun Aug 03, 2014 1:56 pm

The handbrake cable setup is a 3 piece affair; a short cable goes from the lever to a sprung balancer sitting at the back of the transmission tunnel. From there, a cable comes off to each wheel.

At each caliper, there are some adjusters that can be used to take up slack in the cable. These should be set so that when the handbrake is pulled, the balancer pulls both sides evenly. If the tension isn't even, the balancer may just pull the loose side meaning less handbrake actuation on either side.

I've never been happy with the performance of my handbrake; I think my cables are in need of replacement and probably a caliper rebuild to reduce friction.

WideOpenThrottle
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Post by WideOpenThrottle » Sun Aug 03, 2014 3:02 pm

I personally wouldn't adjust the cable adjusters by the callipers unless I had access to a brake machine as you will be purely guessing as to the correct balance. In both NA & NB manuals that I use there is not any reference to this procedure as part of the handbrake adjustment.
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1990 Landcruiser
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marcellarius
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Post by marcellarius » Sun Aug 03, 2014 5:08 pm

In the Rod Grainger manual (Veloce Publishing) it says:
Reconnect the cables at the brakes, setting the adjuster/locknuts so that the compensator lies at right angles to the front cable. The compensator will take care of small imbalances between the two rear cable adjustments, but it helps if the initial setting is correct.

WideOpenThrottle
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Post by WideOpenThrottle » Sun Aug 03, 2014 5:16 pm

Sweet...so if the compensator already lies at right angles then don't alter the cables as part of the handbrake adjustment! Something I will keep an eye on in the future.
1989 NA 1650
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1990 Landcruiser
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