handbrake adjustment

trevorwillcox · Post by **trevorwillcox** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 7:40 pm

I've just been for a WOF today and failed because my handbrake was too weak on
the right hand side only. I've checked the adjuster on the caliper (it was
siezed but I managed to free it up) but it still feels weak to me. Any ideas
on what else I should be looking at.

Thanks
Trevor

Post by **zorruno** » Sun Jun 08, 2003 11:24 am

Hi Trevor

Your right side calliper piston may be leaking if it is a problem on one
side only. You can buy a replacement seal kit from Mazda.

With regards to adjustments, did you pull the callipers apart fully and
regrease the slider pins?
How many turns of the adjuster (assume you adjusted the little hex nut
thingy) did you back it off once the pad drags the rotor?
You can also tighten the cable on the handbrake lever, this can sometimes
help to pick up a bit of cable slack, but adjust the pads as much as you can
first.

I've always found the handbrake to be pretty weak anyway, but it should
definately balance on both sides.

you could try a search on the web site - there are a couple of discussions
here
http://www.mx5club.org.nz/cgi-bin/htsea ... +imbalance

Trevor Willcox · Post by **Trevor Willcox** » Sun Jun 08, 2003 12:26 pm

Thanks zorruno, I did all that yesterday but still felt that the handbrake
was weak.
However today I went for the recheck and passed okay, now the right side is
slightly stronger than the left.
I think it must just be that the MX5's handbrake isn't as good as my other
car.

Trevor

[...]

Post by **simple** » Tue Jun 10, 2003 11:27 am

I've just been for a WOF today and failed because my handbrake
was too weak on the right hand side only.

I had this problem: on mine it was the bowden cable (the cable like a
bike brake cable) running from the handbrake equaliser (under the
middle of the car) to the caliper. The rubber boot at the caliper
end had torn & come off the cable, letting assorted crap into the
cable and resulting in corrosion & binding.

I spent some time fiddling with it by myself and doing general brake
maintenance, but couldn't find the problem. The cable was moving,
but not enough. Might have been more obvious if I'd had someone to
play with the handbrake lever while I watched the caliper end of
things. I also had difficulties with the hydraulics on the other
rear brake, so I took it in to Sterling Brake & Clutch, in Onehunga.

The handbrake failed at an earlier WOF, but on recheck it was OK. It
was on the next WOF that it refused to play nice. With both wheels
off the ground, gearstick in neutral, & handbrake on, one wheel was
nicely braked, whilst the bad one could be turned by hand.

Karl.