Handbrake issue

[PeterS]

Ski:

The e brake mechanism on the caliper should move "about 90 degrees or more" one stop is where the 10mm bolt enters the caliper body and holds the mechanism. The other stop is predicated on the pad thickness. Moving the mechanism towards the bolt makes the caliper piston retract, taking pressure off the pads and rotor, moving it in the opposite direction pushes the piston onto the pads and rotor.

Theres a spring attached to the mechanism to assist it in moving back and forth..without that spring, a properly functioning ebrake mechanism on a new or properly rebuilt caliper should also travel from the stop....Some folks have added stiffer granada springs to compensate for a sticky mechanism or cables.

I dont have a manual with me, but if the cables are free and the ebrake mechanism is working properly at the rear calipers, you will have to go the the lever/cable adjuster, which is likely located under the driveshaft and hard to access... :-(

-Peter

[Mikes2]

The spring only helps return the caliper back to it's original position against the stop. There should be equal movement on both sides when the lever is lifted inside the car. If either side fails to return to the stop, the cable is probably too tight on that side.

Bottom line is that the job has not been done correctly and should be returned to the garage. There is no need to touch the handbrake adjustment to replace discs and pads. If the garage have messed with the handbrake (and it sounds like they have), then they need to fix their handywork.

[Technogym]

Just a play in my mind...

If the parkingbrake prevents the car from rolling with the symptoms you described, is it possible that the garage have forgotten to connect one of the to cabels to the caliper? Maybe that is the "slack" you can feel in the start?

Just a thought!

VM

[Adro]

Adjusting rear brakes

As PeterS mentioned the calipers needs to be adjusted when fitting new pads. The piston is screwed back to fit the new thicker brake pads. When mounting the new pads you should adjust the brake piston so that you just can rotate the rotor with muscle power. If you at that point have more than 2 clicks on the handbrake, you need to adjust the handbrake wires. The adjustment for the handbrake is above the propshaft and a little bit of a struggle to adjust, but with the right tools and removing heat reflector plates it is not that bad...
But if it wasn´t loose before changing the pads, my guess is that the calipers hasn´t been adjusted properly.

Good Luck!

[Ski]

Thanx guys.

Will wait till after new year and take it back to them. Then again, I will probably take it to a proper garage.

[topsparky]

if your not sure ski take it to kwik fit the do a free brake check

[Ski]

I'll take it back to the place that broke it in first place me recons. failing that will leave it till a proper mechanic is doing some work on ma car.