Hydraulic handbrake?

[Matasb]

Hello fellas,

My MR2 Roadster's standard handbrake is not working so aggressively that it could help me in autocross races.

I did some searching here and there, but it seems that it is kind of complicated to make stock handbrake work properly (lock the rear wheels while driving with sticky tyres).
Stock handbrake holds the car pretty well, but it won't lock the wheels, even when I adjust it. The main brake itself works fine, seems like cables needs to be replaced.
I'm afraid, that after some time it will start struggle again, so that is one of the reasons why I want hydraulic system.

However, after some searching I found out that hydraulic handbrake is one of these rare mods for a Roadster. Like, unicorn rare.  s:roll: :roll: s:roll:  

Maybe someone here has some experience with hydraulic handbrake in MR2?
Was it worth doing?
How did it react with the main brake? Was it possible to operate handbrake at the same time, when main brake was being used?

[jonty]

Maybe check Kenny Cheiu's drift MR-S? I don't know of anyone else drifting an MR2, and didn't know you'd need the handbrake for auto cross... Best of luck!

[Wabbitkilla]

Mot fail on a road car, handbrake has to be mechanical.

[shnazzle]

I wonder how electric handbrakes work. Do they just have  a little motor that pulls a cable? It does sound like it

[MilesH]

I have one fitted instead of the normal handbrake. I use it off the line in a race so I can always guarantee it will never stick on or won't be partially released.

I spliced into the rear brake lines and it works perfectly with no effect on the main brakes. let me know if you need anymore info.

[Wabbitkilla]

I wonder how electric handbrakes work. Do they just have  a little motor that pulls a cable? It does sound like it

They have the same eccentric mechanism as cable handbrakes but the motor servo turns the shaft instead of the lever normally pulled by the cable. That's basically it, they obviously have some circuit to stop them when the brake is applied.

[Matasb]

... and didn't know you'd need the handbrake for auto cross... Best of luck!

Well, autocross here is something like gymkhana you have in UK. Not so extreme, but many many tight bends and lots of U turns. MX5s are dominating there and I was wondering how the roadster could compete against miatas.

Mot fail on a road car, handbrake has to be mechanical.

Lots of road legal "fun" cars here have hydraulic handbrake. The only important part is to keep the standard handbrake as well. However, it seems like the Roadster doesn't have many space for additional lever, so finding the right place will be an issue, too.

[Wabbitkilla]

Mot fail on a road car, handbrake has to be mechanical.

Lots of road legal "fun" cars here have hydraulic handbrake. The only important part is to keep the standard handbrake as well. However, it seems like the Roadster doesn't have many space for additional lever, so finding the right place will be an issue, too.[/quote]

  s:lol: :lol: s:lol:   teaches me for not checking your location    s:lol: :lol: s:lol:  
Well it has been done before as above, not pretty but works   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

[MilesH]

Well it has been done before as above, not pretty but works   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

:p :p

[J03]

Not pretty? Jesus H, MilesH that's pure car porn right there my friend!   s:shock: :shock: s:shock:

[MilesH]

Not pretty? Jesus H, MilesH that's pure car porn right there my friend!   s:shock: :shock: s:shock:

I'm glad somebody has taste!  s:) s:)  Nic must just be getting old  s;) s;)

I forgot to add in my earlier post, you will have to disable or remove the abs to make a hydraulic handbrake work.

[M.R.]

I forgot to add in my earlier post, you will have to disable or remove the abs to make a hydraulic handbrake work.

Quote from elsewhere: "if you are plumbing the line in after the abs pump in the rear line then the abs wont even be able to do anything. It'll pump the pedal like mad if your braking as well as using the handbrake but as your physically tapping into the lines after the pump there isn't anything the abs can do about it so you will still lock the wheels. "

So no need for removing or disabling ABS.  s:wink: :wink: s:wink:   But I assume you need 2-cylinder hydraulic handbrake to keep lines separated so ABS can work correctly when not using hydraulic handbrake.

[doodlepugg]

An mr2 roadster has got to be better for autocross/gymkhana than an mx5, once set up right. There's just so much more grip when pulling off, there's no way any mx5 I've owned or been in can top it. Just have to overcome the 'numb' turn in by using weight transfer and swinging the heavy back end around.
You could make carriers to hold dedicated calipers just for the hydro?

[MilesH]

I forgot to add in my earlier post, you will have to disable or remove the abs to make a hydraulic handbrake work.

Quote from elsewhere: "if you are plumbing the line in after the abs pump in the rear line then the abs wont even be able to do anything. It'll pump the pedal like mad if your braking as well as using the handbrake but as your physically tapping into the lines after the pump there isn't anything the abs can do about it so you will still lock the wheels. "

So no need for removing or disabling ABS.  s:wink: :wink: s:wink:   But I assume you need 2-cylinder hydraulic handbrake to keep lines separated so ABS can work correctly when not using hydraulic handbrake.

That's interesting to read, thanks for posting that! I hadn't thought of that.

[MilesH]

An mr2 roadster has got to be better for autocross/gymkhana than an mx5, once set up right. There's just so much more grip when pulling off, there's no way any mx5 I've owned or been in can top it. Just have to overcome the 'numb' turn in by using weight transfer and swinging the heavy back end around.
You could make carriers to hold dedicated calipers just for the hydro?

Wilwood do a lovely set that could be used that give you a separate carrier as you mention. Pricey though, so I opted for the cheaper solution  s:) s:)

[Matasb]

You could make carriers to hold dedicated calipers just for the hydro?

That would be lovely, but for now - way too much work. Maybe kind of a project for the next season...  s:) s:)  
Tomorrow is my first autocross/gymkhana race so this time I am going with the standard handbrake (= basically without it). Hopefully the track will not be that tight.

And yeah, the biggest thing to master with this car, as I tried out, is to swing that heavy butt around in tight corners, where I can't carry a lot of speed/inertia to initiate the slide.

BTW, if anyone has some pics with hydraulic handbrake installed to MR2 Roadster/Spyder/MR-S, please share it here  s:) s:)

[DoctorsDad]

I do autosolo in the uk against mx5s and I manage without a hydraulic handbrake by setting the car up to oversteer with a very stiff rear arb. I can hold my own against lightly modded club cars but the bext mx5s are 10% quicker.

[jdmlove1]

Sorry.. its an old thread.. I just wonder if any1 installed inline hydro ebrake for the spyder? How we install it without interfere with ABS?

[shnazzle]

Sorry.. its an old thread.. I just wonder if any1 installed inline hydro ebrake for the spyder? How we install it without interfere with ABS?

It's definitely been done... If only I could remember who did it!

[Gaz mr-s]

I don't think road-legal though....?

[1979scotte]

I don't think road-legal though....?

Who knows what the rules are like in Bahrain?

[jdmlove1]

I don't think road-legal though....?

Who knows what the rules are like in Bahrain?

yah who knows!

[Petrus]

I don't think road-legal though....?

Even if you would keep the OEM handbrake and ABS, it would still be illegal as it is a non homologated brake sytem modification.
If you would do a hidden replacement you´d still pass the test. With an abvious parallel system however... not.

I think the mechanical brake requirement archaic and on our MR it definitely is not an emergency brake whereas an hydraulic one would be, thus imo safer, but it is the law.

[jdmlove1]

turned into a legal/illegal thread!! I just want to know if someone did it and can give tips.

[Petrus]

turned into a legal/illegal thread!! I just want to know if someone did it and can give tips.

On itself it is not complicated.
T the two lines going to the back into 1, put the hydraulic lever/cilinder in, T the line into two again. Presto.
To sort the ABS simply pull the fuse.
If the fault light bugs you, take the facia out and tack a piece of black electrical tape to the rear of the symbol.