handbrake adjustment??

[Cobra power]

My handbrake no longer engages (standard chassis). I did smell some pads burning last time I drove, but I checked: they are not yet worn.

I could off course use the adjustment bolt in the caliper, but I'm not sure if that is the solution. Because that would mean that I would have to use the adjustment bolt regularly to adjust for worn down pads.

ONe thing I notice is that when the cable is pulled the two caliperarms are pulled together until the hit the top flange of the diff, so there is no room to increase cable pull. In the build I have pulled the arms forward up to a 20-30degrees angle with the caliper, this to make room for the bridge brake pipe.

Could the orientation of the arms be the problem, the diff flange restricts
a tighter pull of the cable. A picture might help.


Thanks Patrick

[craggle]

If the arms touch the diff then either the pads are seriously worn or the arms are adjusted wrong.
I think you can adjust the bolt that pulls the two halves of the calliper together or there is an internal adjuster. Not sure how you use this though.

Attached is a picture of mine during build.

http://www.cobraclub.com/forum/attac...8&d=1167305682

Craig.

[Cobra power]

Hi Craig,

Thanks for your picture. If i look closely, I notice that the space between the arms and the diff is not very big in your setup as well. That could indicate that my brake requires more travel -> worn down pads?

I think I will start by replacing the pads and see what that does.

[TINKA]

It could be that they were set up wrong in the first place craggle's are exactly how I was told to set mine up. The 2 arms must be parallel to each other don't be tempted to tighten the cable to get them to work. Once the arms are parallel remove the split pin in the adjuster bolt and adjust this way. The actual hand brake pads should last the life of the car unless they are adjusted incorrectly and fall off with the heat. HTH:thumb: :thumb:

[dingocooke]

Sounds like handbrake caliper adjustment is needed to me.
While youre at it, it's well worth removing the adjusting bolt completely, and neatly filing a second split pin groove at 90 degress to the 1st one (so the bolt head looks like a crucifix in the top) this gives you more scope for fine adjustment, as you can now do it in 90 degree increments instead of 10 degree increments; this mod made quite a difference to the effectivness of the hand brake on my old RAM (although in true jag IRS fashion, it still wasnt good enough to be a handbrake turner!!)

[Cobra power]

Thanks, will remove the callipers and adjust.

Regards

Patrick