Handbrake Uneven Pull query

[ty222]

Hi All

So last year i posted a thread : https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?topic=71245.msg856512#msg856512

My brand new calipers, pads and handbrake cables weren't doing the job.

i have now gone back to this but with a little more investigation i have found it seems to be one side isnt doing its job.

If i jack the car up and put it into gear with the handbrake on i can get it to spin one wheel with moderately low revs.

i take a look near the handbrake itself and i can now see that the working side, seems to pull through more than the non working side. Does anyone have any ideas one why the working passenger side may start a tiny bit further back but then pulls through and applys the handbrake more than the drivers side please? i reaaaly want to drive this car as its a waste sitting there in my garage.

https://youtu.be/T_27mP3QM6w

i am willing to try anything anyone has to offer!

[Gaz mr-s]

Reports on the quality of aftermarket cables varies considerably. Accuracy of length may be a factor. Remove your centre console & see if they are being pulled equally.  A few years ago I saw pics of someone who had this issue & used cut washers (angle grinder possibly) to 'shim' the outer cable & make the pull more equal.

But park the car in gear anyway.

[Joesson]

@ty222 said:

https://youtu.be/T_27mP3QM6w

Probably not what you intended but all the YouTube tells us is ":This video is private"

[MrChris]

I have just replaced both my handbrake cables with aftermarket ones from Autodoc. It is crucial you check the details of the parts. There is a very slight unequal balance in how they pull through but are fairly even. Before this, my cables were evidently quite old and the imbalance was much more pronounced.

So first thing: check the cables are the correct ones. Pre-FL and FL are different.

I'd also be checking everything on your brakes, here's a couple of easy ones:

- On your rear calipers: do the "crank arms" rest on the metal "pins" of the caliper when the cable is slack?
- You can take off the cables at either end and check you have free movement. This is really important: on my new cables, I could VERY easily move the cables with one thumb and it would spring back in to place on its own.
- Check the cables generally in the front of the car - is everything "seated" correctly?
- Can you see that the cables are attached to the car? You will need to get under it to check this properly.

[Joesson]

@ty222
Having recently refurbished my brakes, with new calipers on the rear and self renovated on the front, with original brake cables that  were freely moving I can only say that I first of all ensured that  the new caliper pistons were fully retracted and rotated to the correct orientation. I backed off the cable adjustment to give floppy cables. I applied the foot brake several times to bed the brake pads into position, spinning the wheels to present a different section of pad, and then tightened up the adjustment, which did so evenly, to six clicks.
That is to say I followed the How To on here.
The handbrake worked/ works as it should. Now that the pads have been used and now fully bedded in there are now eight clicks to fully on.
Not too much of a problem to correct as I did not refit the front fixing screws to the interior tunnel trim.
I can only suggest that some part of the procedure was not followed.

[Bossworld]

Your screenshot from the previous thread shows pattern parts for a PFL car and that the car is a 2000 model? If so, that should be OK, but while some people have had success with aftermarket cables, conversely I don't think we've had a thread where someone's had (unresolvable) issues with a Toyota cable setup.

The cable routing on these cars is horrible (in terms of the bend) which IMO contributes to some of these uneven siding issues. I experienced issues like you described with my first set of aftermarket cables. The second set were better but suspect they'll need replacing on the car again for the next MOT - having only been on for three years, and will be going for OEM Toyota this time (or my mum will at least seeing as it's no longer my car).

Pleased to see MrChris got sorted so hopefully some of the tips will get you back up and running.

[ty222]

Hi all

thanks for the sharp replies, i will take a look at some suggestions, i have now fixed the video link

https://youtube.com/shorts/T_27mP3QM6w?feature=share

in terms on play, when i remove the cables from the handbrake end there is 0 play in the they are very stiff instantly.

Everything in the front is seated correctly.
My pads 100% are touching the disks prior to the handbrake
my car is pfl and so were the ordered parts, but they were from an ebay seller, so you never know, they did match my previous ones though for length.

on my last thread someone suggested loosening off the adjustment - pumping the brake and then adjusting correctly. I followed it but still no joy. Its only recently i discovered it was only one side that could be the issue.

[Gaz mr-s]

The difference in pull of those is very slight, - I've seen a lot worse.

[Gaz mr-s]

"in terms on play, when i remove the cables from the handbrake end there is 0 play in the they are very stiff instantly."

Not sure what you're meaning?

[ty222]

"in terms on play, when i remove the cables from the handbrake end there is 0 play in the they are very stiff instantly."

Not sure what you're meaning?

Hi gaz thanks for taking the time to reply, I've made a short video showing the movement at the Handbrake end, is this incorrect?

https://youtu.be/66wK60fRDro

[Joesson]

Hi gaz thanks for taking the time to reply, I've made a short video showing the movement at the Handbrake end, is this incorrect?

https://youtu.be/66wK60fRDro

No show again

[ty222]

https://youtube.com/shorts/66wK60fRDro?feature=share

I've taken a further look added some adjustment got it down to a tough 4 clicks and it's still the same maybe slightly better and the cable are coming through much more so I'd say now it's the actual pressure being put on the brake.

It would do the job if I got a lenient mot

[Gaz mr-s]

Hi gaz thanks for taking the time to reply, I've made a short video showing the movement at the Handbrake end, is this incorrect?

https://youtu.be/66wK60fRDro

That doesn't have any relevance. I think you said the caliper levers return to their stops. Those cables look 'free' so that's not an issue.

[Gaz mr-s]

https://youtube.com/shorts/66wK60fRDro?feature=share

I've taken a further look added some adjustment got it down to a tough 4 clicks and it's still the same maybe slightly better and the cable are coming through much more so I'd say now it's the actual pressure being put on the brake.

It would do the job if I got a lenient mot

The self-adjust on these calipers is very poor.  I know an engineer who thinks that a shaft against a plate that are poorly matched is the problem.  And I think because of that some believe that it takes 7 clicks before the self-adjust does anything.  As said above what you have inside the car looks good.

[ty222]

Agreed, I feel it has to be a cheap caliper issue now if those cables look ok, buy cheap buy twice. Lesson learnt I think. I'll see if I can get a good mot'er

[Gaz mr-s]

I'd get other opinion. Try manually operating the levers to see how comparable they are.

[mr2garageswindon]

2 weeks ago using genuine cables as I always do, put the car on the brake rollers and only had around 80 kg per side brake force even after winding in and resetting calipers.
Ordered a pair of calipers (pagid) fitted them and re test on rollers much better.

[Bossworld]

2 weeks ago using genuine cables as I always do, put the car on the brake rollers and only had around 80 kg per side brake force even after winding in and resetting calipers.
Ordered a pair of calipers (pagid) fitted them and re test on rollers much better.

Any to avoid in particular? I went Brakes International but your post has me wondering if that might be the root cause of the issue.

[Ardent]

I bought 2 rear calipers from brakes International. Budweg calipers. All tickety boo here. No issues.

[MrChris]

I'm using Ridex calipers on the rear, also no issues. Although they're currently double in price compared to what I paid so maybe wait until they're back down if you go for these.