handbrake was ok but not now

[Jared]

HI all, had a caliper put on about 6 months ago (one was fine the other needed changing) and a tech reset the system with the footbrake pumping etc and the handbrake was "OK" but over the last 6 to 8 month the handbrake has gone weaker.
Can I reset the system without going under the car and playing with the cables without needing to take it to the garage.

[Carolyn]

Once adjusted, the handbrake should automatically stay adjusted.  You can remove the centre console, slacken off the cables and pump the brake, preferably with the engine running and then re-tension the cables.  If this does not reult in an improvement, the cables may be causing the problem, they could be stretched or sticking.

That does mean you need to disconnect the cables at both ends and see if lubrication and working them back and forth gets them moving smoothly.

If not, it's new cables time.

see: https://www.mr2roc.org/index.php?topic=68798.0

[Jared]

thanks for the reply, when you say slacken the cables off do you mean from under the center console

[Carolyn]

thanks for the reply, when you say slacken the cables off do you mean from under the center console

yes.

[Gaz mr-s]

Do you know or did he say if the rubber gaiters at the ends of cables were intact?

[Jared]

Did not say but if I can't get a result I can have him to check them out before next mot 

[Gaz mr-s]

If they're burst you need to fix them asap if the car is being used on wet roads.

[Joesson]

My car is on SORN at the moment but due a MOT so gave it a "run" up and down the drive.
The handbrake required 8 clicks after being unused for 6 months and that may not suit the Tester , so taking my own advice and, in part, that of Carolyn in the "How To adjust the handbrake" I gave the foot pedal a steady 20 firm pumps.
Handbrake now  on 6 clicks.
I have long thought that brakes  benefit from a little work out and this exercise reconfirmed my thoughts.

[Petrus]

I have long thought that brakes  benefit from a little work out and this exercise reconfirmed my thoughts.

Much like the ´auto adjust´ ratchet on good old drum brakes there is no adjustment by the Spyder system unless the brakes are applied.

[Jared]

My car is on SORN at the moment but due a MOT so gave it a "run" up and down the drive.
The handbrake required 8 clicks after being unused for 6 months and that may not suit the Tester , so taking my own advice and, in part, that of Carolyn in the "How To adjust the handbrake" I gave the foot pedal a steady 20 firm pumps.
Handbrake now  on 6 clicks.
I have long thought that brakes  benefit from a little work out and this exercise reconfirmed my thoughts.

Do you need to do this with key in or out engine running or not etc

[Joesson]

Do you need to do this with key in or out engine running or not etc

That was with the engine running to get the full boost from the brake servo.
I refurbished the front calipers and replaced the rear calipers around three years ago and do much too low a mileage pa and so I believe the brakes are well set up.
The work out suggested can be applied to any car, the operation resets the self adjusting function of the cylinders overall and in the case of our cars, in particular, helps reset the handbrake.

[Gaz mr-s]

Suggestion.  Removing the console to get to the adjuster locknut is a pita. By using a washerover the threaded rod & a nyloc nut, you can get a socket on it from above. A thin-walled deep 3/8th drive socket is easier to get down than a 1/2" drive.  It can be made easier still by cutting a u-section in the flat-ish rubber which allows easier movement of the socket.
 

[Ardent]

Once centre console screws are out. Leave them out. Esp the fronts. Rears no problem to put back but 4 screws, 2 screws or no screws. It doesn't move.

[Jared]

My console is loose so I can just lift up any time to do this just need to have a hour or so to figure it out and go from there

[ruud2boy]

Once centre console screws are out. Leave them out. Esp the fronts. Rears no problem to put back but 4 screws, 2 screws or no screws. It doesn't move.

The centre console in mine was wobblier than jelly on a spacehopper before I fastened the screws up. I'm thinking I need to get it off again to have a look at the handbrake. It flips between feeling taut and secure to having a inch or two of free play vertically and loose side to side.

[Ardent]

Mine moves like a limpet in a glue factory.