Gaz Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 My handbreak that hasnt worked for over a year has now come time to be fixed. I sussed out what was wrong and it is... On the rear axle passenger side is a little mount welded on factory.. This little mount has a fabric strop type peice of material that goes to the actual handbreak cable. This peice of material is ripped clean through. The material cant come off the handbreak cable end as it has no bolts etc holding it on.. It can however come of the diff side. Ive brought a new handbreak cable but it doesnt have this part on it.. So.. if I could get it off then I could put a new peice of material/ a road cone ive got handy in its place. What do you guys have? I cant remember seeing it on other escort diffs Ive had.. Is there a problem with solid mounting it? Any other ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sholdowa Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 Wow! I can see again!!! Thanks. The flexible mounting allows the handbrake cable to work purely as a bowden cable, and not have a fixed point at both ends. I expect it'll have something to do with the automatic adjustors and the handbrake lever position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted October 13, 2007 Author Share Posted October 13, 2007 So your saying I shouldnt need the material bit fixed to the diff? Which would mean that the snapped peice of material isnt my shit handbreak problem? Adjustment on the adjustment right by this is full wound tight yet lacking handbreak hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sholdowa Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 A tie wrap should do the same thing- stop the cable flapping around under there. The usual reason that escort handbrakes don't work is the autoadjustors. And the worst part of getting them to work properly is getting the drums off in the first place! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted October 13, 2007 Author Share Posted October 13, 2007 Ahh yeap good idea.. So simple, why the hell didnt I think of that! Ive had the drums off and chucked new shoes in a few months ago. Adjusted them all up inside drum so they were just off contact when rolling.. The handbreak still wont engage the brakes very well. The brake pulled right up and you can still get out and move the car by pushing. Ill have another fiddle today with the cable tie etc idea.. See if this improves it. Cheers dude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted October 14, 2007 Author Share Posted October 14, 2007 Could'nt be arsed fixing dodgy with cable tie so I made a new rubber mount out of part of a road cone. Works as good as new if not better. Handbreak now works mint too. Mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My name is Russell Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 Yup i can 2nd that the road cone did good you got a sharp handbreak now you will have to save some of that cone for mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteretep Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 got any pics for it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted October 14, 2007 Author Share Posted October 14, 2007 Will get some. Damn failed WOF on handbreak and excess travel in brake pedal. Ratshit for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclejake Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 Excess travel will be the rear shoe adjustment - assuming your piston/MC bore ratios are correct. Those fabric straps are on Mk2 Cortinas as well - I have a spare diff housing in the shed you can rob parts from if required - but I think the straops on my ones will be poked too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted October 15, 2007 Author Share Posted October 15, 2007 Excess travel will be the rear shoe adjustment - assuming your piston/MC bore ratios are correct. Yeap thats what I thought but its adjusted right.. (as far as I know how to adjust right). What I did.. Pulled drums off and adjusted the windy thing. Put drums back on and got it so that it was just not holding the wheel when I turn by hand. This is right? It doesnt help it nor does it make the handbrake any better. Those fabric straps are on Mk2 Cortinas as well - I have a spare diff housing in the shed you can rob parts from if required - but I think the straops on my ones will be poked too Made one now so all sweet in that area. I am thinkings of trying to adjust one more time and if that doesnt fix handbreak and travel problem then I may look into the brake booster linkages. They may have play in them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclejake Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 I am thinkings of trying to adjust one more time and if that doesnt fix handbreak and travel problem then I may look into the brake booster linkages. They may have play in them? Don't forget to adjust the rears with the handbrake off. Get them so they are JUST scraping the drums. It could be the linkages but I doubt it. If the shoes are adjusted correctly the handbrake will also improve. Stretched handbrake cables are also a possibility. If you need a hand bring it down to the big dirty shed one night and I will have a look for you.... just give me a day's notice. EDIT: Adjusting rear shoes with the drum off is like shagging a chick wearing a pair of tight jeans. If you are using the "self adjusting" set-up then the handbrake is what adjusts the shoes - but they rarely work very well. I cut holes in my backing plates and do it with a screwdriver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted October 15, 2007 Author Share Posted October 15, 2007 I am thinkings of trying to adjust one more time and if that doesnt fix handbreak and travel problem then I may look into the brake booster linkages. They may have play in them? Don't forget to adjust the rears with the handbrake off. Get them so they are JUST scraping the drums. It could be the linkages but I doubt it. If the shoes are adjusted correctly the handbrake will also improve. Stretched handbrake cables are also a possibility. If you need a hand bring it down to the big dirty shed one night and I will have a look for you.... just give me a day's notice. EDIT: Adjusting rear shoes with the drum off is like shagging a chick wearing a pair of tight jeans. If you are using the "self adjusting" set-up then the handbrake is what adjusts the shoes - but they rarely work very well. I cut holes in my backing plates and do it with a screwdriver Yup sorry meant to say I took the wheel off not the drum off. I have new pads in there and also a new handbrake cable I can try if my last effort fiddle doesnt do it. I figured it could be stretched but spacers should fix. Will look into tonight.. New cable only $40 so no loss if it goes with car.. If I cant fix tonight shall I bring it round with ya book Wed night? Gaz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclejake Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 Wednesday is probably cool. I have some shit going on earlier that evening so we couldn't start on it till 8.15pm or so and the guy next door goes ape if the roller door goes up too late. Let me know how you get on - you shouldn't even take the wheels off really. Assuming you can get at the adjusters. I can probably come to you tomorrow night if you have somewhere to jack it up with a light source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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