Slack hand brake cable - advice please

[Rusty Moskvitch]

I washed and polished my 4200 on Saturday and later put her away in the garage. On Sunday morning, I started her up and when trying to reverse out found the brakes had stuck 'on'. I have experienced this previously following washing or returning from a drive in the rain but this time the brakes (one at least one of them) was really stuck *******. Eventually, by giving it a good squirt of power in first gear I managed to get the brakes to free off. The trouble is that the hand brake, which had been adjusted for only a modest amount of hand lever movement, now has a massive amount of movement to the extent that the handle moves right up to its maximum and the brake is hardly 'on' at all. Has anyone experienced this and what is the reason and remedy? I hasten to add that I never use the hand brake in my garage - leaving it in gear is all that is needed. I know the hand brake is poor in any case but now it is almost non-functioning. I am hoping to drive to Prescott on Sunday and cannot get it looked at before then - so I hope it is safe to drive. All well - informed advice will be much appreciated.

 

[conaero]

Oh, yes, that old chestnut.

What you have done is ripped the friction material off the shoes and its now flapping around in the drum. It can wrap round on itself too and lock the wheel up so best to get them relined.

Do a search on here for Belfast Brakes, they reline them for £35 all in, including return postage.

They are a pig to set up but easy to fit.

One other thing it could be is that the handbrake cable has come free of the pull lever in the drum.

 

[CatmanV2]

And don't use the handbrake, except for MOT

C

 

[Parisien]

It happens everyone eventually.......sometimes back plate and other internals damaged too....sew hat shows up on strip down

P

 

[Grinzzz]

And don't use the handbrake, except for MOT

C

Au contraire. Well perhaps not "use" as such. Just give it an exercise now and again. Easing it on when moving it at low speed works well. Not using it ever is what did for mine. Can do a fair bit of damage as I discovered when the wheel seized tight on a bend.

 

[Parisien]

Gee Grinzz........not a pleasant thought.

If they get wet, best to dry 'em out a little before putting away, ie pull on for a few seconds when moving might heat them up and drive out moisture


P

 

[nfm]

Got that t shirt. Good guide on here on how to fit the shoes.

 

[JonH]

its all part of the initiation ceremony to maserati ownership.
It can cost a lot to get them fixed, but very satisfying, cheap and not too difficult to DIY, just frustrating to have it up on axle stands whilst awaiting relining.

 

[Rusty Moskvitch]

Thanks folks. Actually managed to get them looked at this afternoon. Left side shoe lining all crunched up. Will be fixed next week. In the meantime not using the hand brake, as usual.

 

[Parisien]

If you need good 2nd hands parts then try David Askew a sponsor on here


P

 

[Rusty Moskvitch]

Thanks Parisien. I have used him previously.

 

[Rusty Moskvitch]

2 sets of new shoes fitted at a cost of about £80 + vat. They look utter sh1t - worth about £20. Not what I would call a top quality product.

 

[davy83]

you want to adjust it so there is lots of movement in the handbrake so the shoes sit as far away from the drums normally, and don't leave the handbrake on after the car is wet or been washed. I also agree you need ot use it once in a while to stop it all seizing up. Worth Checking Eurospares for new replacement shoes as they are not expensive either (probably why they are ****).

 

[hodroyd]

The "shoes" are not brilliant, they don't do that much work normally..!! Keep them and the drum clean by periodic application of the handbrake when doing around 10mph, this cleans off the shoe surface and the rust build up on the drum..!!

 

[RSM Masser]

Posted before on one of the several handbrake issue posts
Belfast Brakes have my 2001 3200 shoes ready for relining cost about £40, postage was only a couple of ££s second class

 

[hodroyd]

That's reasonable for our cars..!!