Hand Brake Equalizing Bar

[shortbloke]

Afternoon all,

We recently had the rear brakes changed, drums, shoes, back plates etc. But the hand brake is still very poor, only just about works on the 5th click.

I know (from reading on here) that most handbrake problems are caused by poorly adjusted rear brakes and not the cable itself, BUT, I noticed the equalizing plate in the middle of the van from the hand brake cable sitting at a 45-60 degree angle, rather than sitting nice and horizontal.

Am I right to assume it should sit absolutely horizontal? I.e. Evenly balanced?

I (probably wrongly) thought one of the secondary cables was stretched so have replaced both cables to be sure. But once I had ran the cables through I noticed that grommet things in the cross section are different sizes making one of the cables an inch or so short on one side, is this normal?

Any help or comments appreciated.

Pic to follow shortly...

[Ian Hulley]

It's common for the handbrake rear cable retainers to pull out of the trailing arms ... if someone has re-attached this but made the distance unequal that would explain your problem. The cables have to have the roughly same distance to pull.

Ian.

[Aidan]

it's angled because the distance is unequal though the cables are the same length on a 2wd the main cable is not central to the van is it ?, yncros have different length rear cables and the bar is still angled, there is a pressed swelling where the threaded bit goes through the bar and this gives the angle, nut is obviously perpendicular to the thread acts against the angled swellings flat face

[PEET]

They're meant to sit pi55ed... Looks wrong tho don't it??!

[shortbloke]

thanks guys. looks seriously wrong lol!

Will get them rear brakes all properly adjusted up and then give the cable a minor tweak then hopefully jobs a goodun. will be back screaming for help if it all goes wrong.

[shortbloke]

Does anyone have access to a camera and a van with a good handbrake???

I would love to see what the equalizer plate/balance bar jobby looks like on another van that has no issues with the rear brakes/hand brake?? ..also want to make sure I have it round the right way!?!

Thanks...