kiwi_110 Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 The handbrake on The Kids Freebie has never been that good in the time we've owned it. The handle would only come up two clicks and the Freebie would still creep on a hill. Finally got around to pulling off the drums and having a decko. Found the handbrake cable adjustment wound right up to the max under the centre console. Drivers side shoes fouled with with fluid leaking from the slave cylinder. Sprang for new slave cylinders and shoes and refitted today. Bled the cylinders and reset the shoes to the drums and wound the handbrake adjustment until I had a bit more movement in the handle. Still quite dissappointed in the holding of the handbrake on a hill though. Does not actually seem to be any better than before. Does anyone else have a problem with the handbrake effectiveness (or inneffectiveness!)?? Ray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickcc Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 As you state not a very good parking brake, main problems seem to be sticking on and adjusters not working. I fitted new shoes and drums, wheel cylinders were OK, lubricated all the moving parts and repaired the self adjusters (bent the spring steel back in line) which cured the sticking brakes but didn't do much in the way of improving efficiency. I know the rear brake design was changed on later models but this still doesn't seem to have solved the problem, just grateful that I bought the automatic model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 Mine is rubbish too, have new shoes for it been meaning to get round to it for the last 15k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Litch Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 No problems at all, holds on the steepest of hills and without the need for massive amounts of pulling on the handbrake lever so they aren't ALL bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi_110 Posted September 30, 2011 Author Share Posted September 30, 2011 No problems at all, holds on the steepest of hills and without the need for massive amounts of pulling on the handbrake lever so they aren't ALL bad. Ok, thanks, maybe the drums have glazed on ours, I might try re-surfacing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickcc Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Cleaning up the drums will only be a temporary solution, if it works at all, as after a few brake applications they will just become glazed again. Most of the braking effort, about 80%, is supplied by the front discs so your rear drums will always become glazed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim_roberts Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Mine works fine as well (1999 2.0l diesel) and even holds the caravan on a slope! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybelfast Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 I had the same problem with my handbrake. It failed the MOT. The solution was two new handbrake cables. Straight away the handbrake felt like new. Hope this helps. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 Just had mine serviced by Terry Finlay, asked him the question and he told me the auto-adjusters on the shoes seize up, quite easily remedied & freed up it seems 'cos now it's really excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickcc Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 The adjuster ratchet on later models also bends out of line (just thin spring steel) which makes the adjuster fail to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
springer1 Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 Mine is rubbish, I have to pull it on hard to work. The wife can't release then and she can't pull it on hard enough! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Litch Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 Mine is rubbish, I have to pull it on hard to work. The wife can't release then and she can't pull it on hard enough! Then fix it so it doesn't need to be pulled on so hard? It is only lack of maintenance that makes them ineffective. When the main dealer was looking after my wife's 2006 TD4 the handbrake got progressively less effective, a quick strip, clean & adjust and it has since been perfect. In addition it is also light in operation, so much so that my wife can lock it on & release it without any real effort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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