Handbrake issue, suggestions please.

[Porkscratching]

Hi all,

I've just done a pre MOT service on my rear brakes of my 1990 1.6 TD. The shoes are nearly new and any
has been removed. I've fitted new drums which I scratched an cleaned. Whilst I was at it I replaced the adjustment bar as the balancing bar was on the wrong way and bent the threaded bar (hence the replacement).

Everything was adjusted up nicely so I dropped the van on the rolling brake tester. The the result was; foot brake, fabulous both sides. Hand brake, NS really good, OS next to nothing.

I've had the drum off and given another clean and slight adjustment. Result: just a slight improvement.

I'm completely stumped and open to suggestions. The handbrake cable isn't very old and appears to be in good condition. I don't know how but could the compensation bar being the wrong way round have any bearing on things? And are the cables handed as i didn't fit them and hence the balancing bar the wrong way.

Thanks in advance. Max.

[captain Byrne]

Check the cable that goes to the drum. I had a similar problem, turned out I had at some point squashed the sleeve so the inner cable was trapped & not doing anything. You can get them pretty cheaply.

[Porkscratching]

Thanks Captain. I'll go through it again. This time I'll get someone to operate the brake lever and see what happens at the business end with the drum off. I'll post the results.

[Porkscratching]

I've followed what I thought as sound and logical thinking of the Captain. There's plenty of activity at the shoes. So I'm still open to meaningfull suggestions.

I'm beginning to know how Winchwieght felt!

[captain Byrne]

Have you tried jacking it up & using the adjuster on the backplate to properly adjust? There's a small hole in the backplate where you can push a small screwdriver to adjust a knurled wheel. This will push the shoes apart or bring them together depending on which way you turn it. Adjust it so the wheel starts to bite as you spin it then click it back a few notches & it should be about right.

[Porkscratching]

All adjustments have been done with the drums off. Adjustment with both wheels jacked up seems good. The only time I've used the hole in the backplate for adjustment is when there's been a lip on the drums and one needs to tighten the shoes to remove them.

New drums, newish shoes. My tame MOTer has said it'll pass as it is (which is great news) but it's doing my bonce in as to why the one side is 50% less efficient than the other (on the handbrake).

Wanting things right can be such a curse at times. Thanks for the suggestions.

Max.

I guess I'll have to except the fact that it'll pass but

[captain Byrne]

All adjustments have been done with the drums off.

I think if you you re-adjust with the drums on you'll get a much better result. Can be a pain but worth it, especially as they're heavy vans so the handbrake needs to be working reasonably well.

[Porkscratching]

Thanks for the speedy help and worthy suggestions. As I'm reliability informed it'll pass it's MOT I'll give them a while to "bed in" so's to speak and have another go later.

Fickle things, all new components you'd have thought they'd be mint first time.

[Oldiebut goodie]

I can't see how you could get the rears adjusted properly with the drums off, it will be more guesswork rather than exact. (the auto adjusters never seem to work as well as intended)

[Porkscratching]

I've never been keen on adjusting the shoes via the backplate so I tend to spend time (perhaps long windedly) adjusting the shoes and putting the drum back on to test with the two retaining bolts back in situ. With both wheels attached and off the ground they feel pretty equal. As I've said, I'll let them bed in and next time I service them I'll bite the bullet and fine adjust them via the hole in the backplate as suggested by the Captain.

It was so much easier to adjust from the backplate with a square key (perhaps Lucas or Lockheed).

I take the point about adjusting with the drums on until they lock and then backing them off but I find it such a difficult flaff in the street. Oh to have a workshop!

[captain Byrne]

I can't see how you could get the rears adjusted properly with the drums off, it will be more guesswork rather than exact. (the auto adjusters never seem to work as well as intended)

I totally agree. You really must adjust them with the drums on if you want the handbrake to work properly. It's a tad awkward but really quite simple once you get the hang of it. Take the drum off, clean the adjuster well, slap some copper slip on and make sure it rotates easily, put the drum back on & make the adjustment. Easy peasy & both brakes will work well.

[Porkscratching]

Point taken Captain. Whenever I've adjusted brakes from the backplate in the past I've always had the wheel on (as in my Mini & older crock's). Because of this, it hadn't occurred to me to fine adjust from the back with the wheel off.

Ta very muchly sir, I'll give it a whirl.