Hand Brake Question.

[Titus A Duxass]

Hi all,
How much free movement do you expect with a hand brake.
I'm talking about the amount the handle moves until you can feel the brakes starting to work?

I've got a brake binding problem and there is no "free" movement when I apply the hand brake.
I'm fairly positive that it's not the front as they were renewed a year ago.

I cannot remember when the rears where done but I suspect the the rear brakes are past there best.
Will worn brake shoes cause a lack of "free" movement, my thinking is that if the shoes are worn you have to adjust them so that they are "closer" to the drums. This might take up all the "free" movement.


Cheers
TAD

[Aidan]

if the adjustment is out then usually due to compound adjustment by mechanics who don't really understand that you adjust the shoes then the handbrake so if you go back to all off on the cable and do the shoes and then do the cable you should get it as good as it will get, so undo the M6 nut so fully slack on the central adjuster then adjust up the brakes either side so you are happy they are as close as you can run them without drag then adjust up the central nut to get full handbrake at 4 clicks

if the shoes and drum are worn it will get hard to adjust as well so worth doing an inspection and measuring the drums are still in spec and that handbrake cable ends are properly seated

[Titus A Duxass]

Cheers Aidan.
Will give it a whirl at the weekend.

[Titus A Duxass]

Strange!

I lifted each wheel and none of them are binding when cold.

Looks like I'll have to strip the back brakes and take a look.

[Wychall]

Might be worth checking that there isn't something wrong in the handbrake operation that is causing the strange feel at the lever. Seized cables etc?