Handbrake again!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Still don't know how it passes an MOT then, does anyone?  s:? :? s:?

[Tem]

It is 'mini-shoes' within the disc hub.

I'm pretty sure it isn't.

I've had the disc out of the car and I'm pretty sure there was nothing inside it.

Also, why would the handbrake wire be attached to the caliper, if it didn't use the same pads as the caliper?

Sorry, but I don't trust your mechanic  s;) s;)

[Anonymous]

Sorry, but although I don't really rate the parts people for their knowledge, I have no reason to doubt the mechanic in replying to a straightforward question.  I have also had reassurances from non-Toyota mechanics that the handbrake is indeed of the mini-shoe method.

[Tem]

Sorry, but although I don't really rate the parts people for their knowledge, I have no reason to doubt the mechanic in replying to a straightforward question.  I have also had reassurances from non-Toyota mechanics that the handbrake is indeed of the mini-shoe method.

Think about it...do you think the mechanic has ever really looked at MR2's rear brakes? Or maybe he just assumed it's the same as in the grocery getter Toyotas, to not lok stupid in customers eyes? Honestly, most mechanics don't have a clue about MR2...

There's a cable connected to the rear brake calipers, that comes from the handbrake. Normally a spring keeps it open (you can see the spring behind the caliper, it's pretty big), but once you pull the hand brake, there's a rod inside the caliper, which pushes the piston forward, which engages the brakes. Very similar to normal brakes, except it's mechanical.

You don't have to take my word for it, you have the car, check it out yourself and prove your mechanic wrong. Maybe he will say "I don't know" next time, instead of guessing. Ask your friend to pull the hand brake, while you're looking at what happens. The spring will expand and the brake will engage. If you still don't believe it's using the caliper/piston, you can unbolt the lower bolt of the caliper and swing the caliper up (like you were changing the pads). Then pull the hand brake and watch the piston come out.

Just don't try to push it back in, you have to screw it back in.

Either your mechanic is wrong, or we have different brakes  s8) s8)

[Anonymous]

Sorry, but although I don't really rate the parts people for their knowledge, I have no reason to doubt the mechanic in replying to a straightforward question.  I have also had reassurances from non-Toyota mechanics that the handbrake is indeed of the mini-shoe method.

Have to agree with Tem, dont assume because your mechanic has said so that its the way it is.  Hell, my local Mr T havent heard of rusty discs, bubbling alloys, or laquer blemishes.  But funny how they are quite happy to replace under warranty when pushed.

Tem is right, I am sure they are all great, but most of the time they will tell you what you want to hear, regardless of if its fact or not.  They dont really notice the difference between a 2 and a yaris, its a piece of metal to them anyway.

I have heard of rear brakes that are actually "drums in discs" (or the other way round), I think some of the Beemas have them, I thought the Celica had them, but I am SURE the 2 doesnt have them.

[Peter Laborne]

Think about it...do you think the mechanic has ever really looked at MR2's rear brakes?

I am often left wondering if they have ever looked at MR2's at all.

Some of you may remember the time when I needed to get new wiper rubbers. I parked lass than 10 yards from the service guy (who was a Toyota mechanic), with my 2 clearly visible through the window....in fact he saw me arrive and my 2 was the only one he could see. When I asked for what I needed his first words were "we only stock parts for Toyotas". When I told him that it was an MR2 Roadster he asked what year. Then he tried to tell me that there were big differences in the wiper blades between the 00 and 03 versions.

On and on this went, him giving me stupid 'facts', and me telling him what was what. Eventually he asked me the most stupid question of all "Do you require a rear wiper blade rubber as well?"

[Anonymous]

here i tell u guys my secret tips to adjust the handbrake.  s:) s:)  

1. loosen ur handbrake cable adjuster to fully loose.
2. with engine running, press ur brake (foot brake) for 50 times.
3. re-adjust ur handbrake adjuster to ur desired level.

and, viola.. the problem is solved. at least it works for me..

[Anonymous]

Whilst I see that that this thread is going off track, I have to say: I just cannot believe the effort that is going into not only disbelieving that the '2' may work in a certain way, but also in trying to pooh-pooh a Mr T mechanic.  I have had much good gen from this forum, for which I am eternally grateful, but I find it incredulous at the not believing something that cannot be seen.  I understand where the cable goes, but, being an engineer (working on an aircraft that sometimes amazes me in the ingenuity of the designers) am not so untrusting of a Mr T mechanic when, as I said, asked a direct question, nor of other mechanics, none of which are 'mine'.  The earth is round after all...  My apologies should I have offended anyone.

[Anonymous]

It looks like the discussion on the handbrake problems has come to a conclusion for now unless anyone else has dedicated info to add.

[Tem]

I just cannot believe the effort that is going into not only disbelieving that the '2' may work in a certain way, but also in trying to pooh-pooh a Mr T mechanic. I have had much good gen from this forum, for which I am eternally grateful, but I find it incredulous at the not believing something that cannot be seen.

I don't care about the Mr T mechanic, so let's just stick to the facts, shall we?  s;) s;)

If the '2' worked that way, I'd believe it. But it doesn't.

And it's not a thing you cannot see.

1) You can remove the disc and see there is nothing inside it.

2) You can also remove the calipers and notice the wire only attaches to them and it's not possible to use that wire to engage anything else.

3) While having the calipers disconnected, you can engage the handbrake to notice the caliper piston moves, but the wheel doesn't lock.

4) You can open the caliper to see there's a rod inside the caliper, which is engaged by the wire and which pushes the piston out.

5) If there were mini brakes inside the disc, it would work without the caliper, right?

6) Toyota Factory manuals confirm the above.

Please reconsider this matter, ignoring the mechanic and just looking at the facts.

It looks like the discussion on the handbrake problems has come to a conclusion for now unless anyone else has dedicated info to add.

True, but this other matter is still open  s;) s;)

[Anonymous]

here i tell u guys my secret tips to adjust the handbrake.  s:) s:)  

1. loosen ur handbrake cable adjuster to fully loose.
2. with engine running, press ur brake (foot brake) for 50 times.
3. re-adjust ur handbrake adjuster to ur desired level.

and, viola.. the problem is solved. at least it works for me..

Please tell my why. I have some problems wit my handbreake, and no time to work in the car. If I say to my mechanic to do that, he is going to ask me why. So tell me please.  s:oops: :oops: s:oops:

[Anonymous]

Whilst I see that that this thread is going off track, I have to say: I just cannot believe the effort that is going into not only disbelieving that the '2' may work in a certain way, but also in trying to pooh-pooh a Mr T mechanic.  I have had much good gen from this forum, for which I am eternally grateful, but I find it incredulous at the not believing something that cannot be seen.  I understand where the cable goes, but, being an engineer (working on an aircraft that sometimes amazes me in the ingenuity of the designers) am not so untrusting of a Mr T mechanic when, as I said, asked a direct question, nor of other mechanics, none of which are 'mine'.  The earth is round after all...  My apologies should I have offended anyone.

I don't think you have offended everyone, however the point of a club like this is to share actual experiences.  This is exactly what has been offered.  Before I joined I would always have trusted the mechanics at any dealers, however, there are always other peoples experience which at the least should make you question things.

For instance - a very valued member here driving down the motorway when his calipers "fell off" at high speed - and the reason for this - well the "trusted mechanic" at Mr T FORGOT to put the holding bolts back into the calipers!.

OK, so many, if not most of these people know their stuff, but remember, they are trained to work on Toyota cars, and not neccersarily the MR2 Roadster. As such they will guess when asked questions sometime.  I work in IT and specialist in Lotus Domino and IBM Websphere, however people assume that I know everything about IT, including desktop issues - I dont, but I will always blag if someone asks.

[Anonymous]

here i tell u guys my secret tips to adjust the handbrake.  s:) s:)  

1. loosen ur handbrake cable adjuster to fully loose.
2. with engine running, press ur brake (foot brake) for 50 times.
3. re-adjust ur handbrake adjuster to ur desired level.

and, viola.. the problem is solved. at least it works for me..

Please tell my why. I have some problems wit my handbreake, and no time to work in the car. If I say to my mechanic to do that, he is going to ask me why. So tell me please.  s:oops: :oops: s:oops:

first u have to know that the handbrake mechanism is all mechanic, no hydrolic there at all. therefore its not self adjusting. as the brake pads wear, the handbrake will also be loose.

1. loosen the handbrake cable will release all the handbrake wire tension.
2. press the pedal for 50 times will push the caliper piston to the disc. without doing this, u will only put all the tension to the cable not to the disc.

then u retighten the handbrake cable adjuster to ur desired clicks.

[Tem]

2. press the pedal for 50 times will push the caliper piston to the disc

I get everything but the 50 times...? Why not just once...?

[Anonymous]

i dunno. thats what my teacher has taught me. hehe..  s:lol: :lol: s:lol:   anyone..?

[Peter Laborne]

i dunno. thats what my teacher has taught me. hehe..  s:lol: :lol: s:lol:   anyone..?

It's quite simple and removes stupid questions. The truth is that you pump it a few times to build up the pressure.

But then you could ask, how many is a few times? Well, it varies from car to car......so 50 is a good enough figure and certainly well high enough to cover all types of vehicle.