Handbrake not holding on one side

[Craigjm]

Car needed new pads and discs all round so I decided to get the calipers refurbed and painted at the same time. Had it all fitted today and the foot brake works fine and the handbrake holds great on the passenger side but not at all on the drivers side so it slides. Any ideas? I haven't replaced the cables and they are in good condition. They were tied up for a week or so while the car had no brakes having the calipers refurbed

[normanh]

Are the cables showing free movement back to the handbrake adjuster? Might be the O/S has seized?

Norman

[Ardent]

@Craigjm
Was it working before?

[Craigjm]

Yeah they were working fine before and the passenger side is working fine now. With the one that isn't working it pulls on the caliper the caliper just doesn't react. It works fine in normal
Braking though

[Ardent]

Sounding like they may not have put back the little pin (parking brake strut) that acts on the piston when the crank arm is activated.

Put a socket on the crank arm and move it.  If the piston is not moving therefore not clamping the disc. Suggests issue with the refurb.

[Craigjm]

Yeah I have also messaged the guy that did the refurb as it crossed my mind something is missing when he put it back together.

[1979scotte]

Who did the refurbishment?

[Joesson]

If the calipers were reassembled correctly then it could be the alignment of the caliper piston with the pad.
The caliper piston has two Vee groves that must be set to a vertical position for the pegs on the back of the pads to engage.
The piston is moved by the handbrake lever mechanism rotating the screw inside the caliper. If the pad pegs are not engaged in the caliper piston slot the rotation is not effective in moving the piston, it will simply rotate.
To check, ensure piston Vee grooves are vertical, check pegs are in position on rear of pad facing the piston.

[MrChris]

Sounding like they may not have put back the little pin (parking brake strut) that acts on the piston when the crank arm is activated.

Put a socket on the crank arm and move it.  If the piston is not moving therefore not clamping the disc. Suggests issue with the refurb.

Good advice from all but @Ardent's advice that I've quoted is key.

Do the following:

• Remove the handbrake cable from the caliper.
• Check for free and easy movement of the cable.
• If the above is okay, follow the steps outlined in Ardent's message - when you move the lever on the caliper, it should clamp the disc.

Let us know how you get on after these steps.