Parking brake question (Full Version)

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mik -> Parking brake question (Oct. 20 2007 22:02:01)

After well over 3 years off the road, my van is almost back together again. I've just finished rebuilding the brakes though and the parking brake is rubbish. The normal hydraulic brakes seems to work but the parking brake will barely hold the rear wheels even after a hefty stamp on the pedal.

All the brake components are new, front and rear with the exception of the front section of the parking brake cable which I know isn't seized as I tested it whilst I had everything apart. Oddly it seems to hold better against forward movement than reverse which I can't quite figure out either.

Any ideas anyone? I've only got to get some new tyres fitted and I'd like to book it for an MOT but there's no way it will pass at the moment.

Thanks in advance
Mik



DanC -> RE: Parking brake question (Oct. 22 2007 16:39:09)

maybe parking brake shoes warn?



rustyroger -> RE: Parking brake question (Oct. 22 2007 19:11:33)

 The old parking brake cable may well turn out to be the problem, under load it may be binding. Dont forget when the cable is tightened it is compressing the outer sheath - a hard thing to replicate.
Don't take this the wrong way but is everything set up properly?, as an MOT tester I came across a lot of parking brakes that didn't work because they had been incorrectly adjusted.
Dont expect anything wonderful from your parking brake - a lot of American iron had marginal systems at best. It works better holding the wheels going forward because the system is a twin leading shoe arrangement.
Good luck!



mik -> RE: Parking brake question (Oct. 22 2007 22:15:28)

The adjuster in the cable affects how many notches I can get on the ratchet but not the amount of effort I can get at the wheels. Everything else is set up properly as far as I can tell.

It did occur to me after I posted the question the other day that I fitted brand new drums which probably had a coat of storage oil on them (doh!) so I'll take them off and clean them up next time I get chance. Hopefully I'll have time to check the whole system over again at the weekend. Also of course I have brand new shoes on brand new drums so some bedding in wouldn't go amiss - except I have to get the MOT before I can drive it anywhere seriously...

I don't need any spectacular performance from it. Just enough to pass the MOT. At the moment, with the rear axle up on stands I can usually turn the rear wheels by hand with some effort. Even I can tell that isn't good! [:D]

I'll let you know how I get on

Thanks
Mik



hemiguy -> RE: Parking brake question (Oct. 23 2007 9:45:31)

just clean everything up....are you sure your old cable isn't stretching? I had to adjust the parking brake on me old pontiac every month as it was stretching like mad.

Odd you mention about holding forward better than back as me dodge does that!



Colin -> RE: Parking brake question (Oct. 28 2007 17:50:30)

Drive to the mot station with the parking brake on...it'll bed 'em in quicker.
Before entering the station adjust 'em up fully so there "on" all the time and then some.
Once you've passed and got a ticket undo them.



mik -> RE: Parking brake question (Nov. 13 2007 20:42:42)

Heh. I cleaned the drums with panel degreaser and it made a big difference (note to self, new metal parts come with storage oil on them, best to clean them before fitting! [sm=banghead.gif]). The parking brake isn't great now but it doesn't need to be, I think it is good enough for the test. Thanks for all the advice people. Got my new tyres fitted too so I'm gonna see if I can get an MOT appointment this week or early next.



JOHN S -> RE: Parking brake question (Jan. 10 2008 22:56:41)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Colin

Drive to the mot station with the parking brake on...it'll bed 'em in quicker.
Before entering the station adjust 'em up fully so there "on" all the time and then some.
Once you've passed and got a ticket undo them.


Got to agree fully with you on this. My parking brake had not been used for a long while so on the way to the test I kept increasing the pressure till it started to pull the engine down, released it and repeated all the way there, it cleaned em up great and it flew through the test.



SVTRick -> RE: Parking brake question (Jan. 12 2008 19:36:00)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Colin

Drive to the mot station with the parking brake on...it'll bed 'em in quicker.
Before entering the station adjust 'em up fully so there "on" all the time and then some.
Once you've passed and got a ticket undo them.


Just remember you can fail a test for brake bind (Drag) as well[8|]



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