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Handbrake operation

Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2016 7:53 pm
by KiwiDave
How does our handbrake work? Is the caliper piston mechanically moved onto the disc?

I thought that maybe my handbrake mechanism on the carrier was sticking. Now I suspect it may just be a sticking piston.

I've removed the caliper, wound the piston back, used the brake pedal to move the piston out as far as I dare to then cleaned what I can with brake cleaner. Wound the piston back again, reassembled everything and applied the handbrake several times. No more sticking as yet.

I have a spare set of front and rear calipers and carriers so I may just get a set refurbed.

Re: Handbrake operation

Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2016 8:15 pm
by A7RXY

Re: Handbrake operation

Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2016 8:31 pm
by spirit r
My experience all over the years:
They forgot to tell you: cleaning the inside of the handbrake cable (WD40)and put some graphite greese or fluidfilm for rust protection on all moving parts and the cable inside.

Re: Handbrake operation

Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2016 9:22 pm
by ian65
that guide that Dibs posted above is excellent.... if the piston is sticking you can remove it from the caliper
without dismantling the handbrake mech.... the piston just unscrews off that threaded thing so you can polish up the piston, clean up the bore, drop a new seal in there, screw the piston back in and you should be good to go..... strip the handbrake mechanism on the back of the caliper at your peril though... I did once and ended up binning the caliper..... could I **** get it back together again. :(

Re: Handbrake operation

Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 1:10 pm
by KiwiDave
Thanks to all three of you for your sound advice th: th: th: