Handbrake is loose

[Chris4877]

past couple of weeks my rear brakes have been squeaking and getting worse, past couple of days the squeaking has stopped and now feels like my brakes are slightly stuck.

My handbrake is loose and if i just find my biting point the car doesnt move forward, front end lifts as if the handbrake is on but little power and will drive.

is it just a case of taking them off and using one of them machines to push the brake cylinders (I think there called cylinders) back. Ive done a search and some people talk about using some weights on the handbrake mechanism, is this worth it.

cheers

 

[Chris4877]

Handbrake is goosed, I can drive it exactly the same with it on as it is off, doesn't roll though whilst its off

 

[Muttley]

Are the pads worn out? How much friction material is there left.

You say you have an LCR, so it should be no surprise that your engine can overcome the handbrake.

If they are stuck the rear disks will be getting hot. Are they?

You said

"is it just a case of taking them off and using one of them machines to push the brake cylinders (I think there called cylinders) back. Ive done a search and some people talk about using some weights on the handbrake mechanism, is this worth it."​

I don't know where to start with this.

I know of no machine that could fit the description you give, nor could I find any reason to need a machine for such a function.

The rear brake calipers have two separate mechanisms for applying the brakes, the footbrake hydraulics and the handbrake, which is mechanical.

The handbrake mechanism self-adjusts to keep the handbrake lever movement from getting too large. Because of this, when replacing brake pads, the rear pistons must be rotated and pushed in at the same time. This is done with a brake windback tool.

Retracting the pistons into your calipers will not help you at all. If the self-adjustment is still working, they will come back out to their appropriate rest positions. If it isn't working, you need new calipers.

 

[andy68]

Try a good clean up and bit of copperslip on sliders and readjust i had similar problem and good clean and adjust sorted it
To adjust
1) With the engine running, apply the footbrake hard, which takes free motion out of the rear brakes.
2) Now apply the handbrake, which should pull the handbrake rachets round a bit.
3) Now release the footbrake, relieving the service brake pressure on the rear pads.
4) Now release and reapply the handbrake. It should be much "tighter".

 

[Chris4877]

Pads are fine, loads of tread left. The brake wind back tool was the machine I was on about haha. I don't need to give it any real power to move it but if I raise the clutch to biting point the front end raises just like if you try and set off when the handbrakes on but can feel a little resistance . I recently, past two days, have noticed a burning smell after driving, no doubts it's the discs getting hot. The handbrake leaver is really loose as well, goes up and down with no effort

 

[Chris4877]

Try a good clean up and bit of copperslip on sliders and readjust i had similar problem and good clean and adjust sorted it
To adjust
1) With the engine running, apply the footbrake hard, which takes free motion out of the rear brakes.
2) Now apply the handbrake, which should pull the handbrake rachets round a bit.
3) Now release the footbrake, relieving the service brake pressure on the rear pads.
4) Now release and reapply the handbrake. It should be much "tighter".

Obviously not had chance to clean but just attempted the adjust and it made no difference, think I'll just take it to the garage

 

[Muttley]

Most likely the handbrake adjusters have seized on one or both calipers. It's sometimes possible to free them up, but a garage will probably just want to replace the calipers.

 

[Chris4877]

I'll be taking it to awesomegti, I trust them enough that they won't do anything unless it needs it, I've just put a watch on some rear calipers on eBay just in case though

 

[PSX]

Quick thought, I re-adjusted my LCR handbrake mechanism last weekend and it's only a single 13mm nut on the back of the caliper that holds the lever on. You can tighten this nut up (with handbrake lever fully down in the cabin) and then work the mech back and forth by simply moving the spanner. Might be enough to free the mechanism (and possibly the only thing you can do without a caliper rebuild, I did try some plusgas spray but doubt that had much effect)

Alex