Quick Handbrake Question...

Discussion and technical advice for 84-89 AW10 & AW11 MR2. 3A-LU, 4A-GE, 4A-GZE.

Moderators: IMOC Moderators, IMOC Committee Members

Post Reply
NoSkill
Posts: 28
Joined: Sun Mar 26, 2006 10:50 pm

Quick Handbrake Question...

Post by NoSkill »

Hi, I did use the search but can't quite find an answer/mention of my specific symptomns,

Basically the car failed it's mot today on just an inefficient handbrake, I was expecting exhaust as well and 'possibly others' so it's better than I was expecting :D

Guy at the garage has recomended new/recon calipers and cables, and I'm not sure it needs all that (if the calipers were needed surely the normal brake efficiency would be too low?)

Anyway, the thing that makes me a bit more curious than just cables And/or calipers, is the lever itself, since the winter where the cables did seize overnight a couple of times, i've been able to move the handbrake lever about a third of the way with no clicking or anything, then it starts clicking and the handbrake starts working.

It does also hold, most of the time, recently (for the first time) it wasn't quite able to hold the car on a hill, the car was slipping back down very very slowly combined with the sound of the discs/pads from the rear.

So, anyone got any idea's as to whether I need everything, just cables, or even just an adjustment?

Cheers, Josh.
kaiowas
Posts: 1953
Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2005 3:06 pm
Location: Norfolk
Contact:

Re: Quick Handbrake Question...

Post by kaiowas »

Have you gone through the full process for resetting the handbrake mechanism?

Remove caliper from pads
Wind back pistons until they're fully back in the caliper
Wind them back out far enough for the slot to line up with the pin on the back of the pad
Put caliper back on properly
Pump footbrake a few times to seat pistons on the pads.
Try handbrake

Whilst you're in there it's worth disconnecting the cables from the calipers and ensuring that both the cables and the levers on the calipers are relatively free (as they've already been sticking new cables might be in order)

Do that first and if it doesn't help then you'll need to go under the car right in the middle behind the plastic undertrays and adjust the cable to take up the play in the lever.
LimeyMk1
IMOC Committee
Posts: 11200
Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:28 am
Location: Gosport

Re: Quick Handbrake Question...

Post by LimeyMk1 »

While you've got the calipers off check the sliders for free movement, if they're jammed you'll need to pull them apart but Monkeymax has done a superb writeup for reconditioning them in the Knowledge Base (link up top).

Also ensure that the pads are not jammed/tight in the carriers, I've found this can be a cause for bad brake performance. You may need to remove the carriers and pad clips for a good clean up. :thumleft:
NoSkill
Posts: 28
Joined: Sun Mar 26, 2006 10:50 pm

Re: Quick Handbrake Question...

Post by NoSkill »

kaiowas wrote:Have you gone through the full process for resetting the handbrake mechanism?

Remove caliper from pads
Wind back pistons until they're fully back in the caliper
Wind them back out far enough for the slot to line up with the pin on the back of the pad
Put caliper back on properly
Pump footbrake a few times to seat pistons on the pads.
Try handbrake

Whilst you're in there it's worth disconnecting the cables from the calipers and ensuring that both the cables and the levers on the calipers are relatively free (as they've already been sticking new cables might be in order)

Do that first and if it doesn't help then you'll need to go under the car right in the middle behind the plastic undertrays and adjust the cable to take up the play in the lever.


I haven't yet, the cables were replaced (not by me though, by a toyota independant/'specialist') a couple of years ago, and they've worked fine so I assume that was done.

Guess I'll leave ordering any parts till I've had a good look over the weekend, hopefully it is just the adjustment and/or resetting the handbrake mechanism...
NoSkill
Posts: 28
Joined: Sun Mar 26, 2006 10:50 pm

Re: Quick Handbrake Question...

Post by NoSkill »

Just picked the car up now and there are two things mentioned on the fail sheet, the first is the 'parking brake efficiency' which I expected, the second that he didn't mention on the phone (although it explains why he suggested changing the calipers) is that the 'offside rear mechanical brake component has restricted free movement'

I'm guessing this is the bit where the cable attaches/moves to activate the brake? So does this imply the caliper is broken, or could that failure also be caused by a seized cable on that side?
LimeyMk1
IMOC Committee
Posts: 11200
Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:28 am
Location: Gosport

Re: Quick Handbrake Question...

Post by LimeyMk1 »

NoSkill wrote:Just picked the car up now and there are two things mentioned on the fail sheet, the first is the 'parking brake efficiency' which I expected, the second that he didn't mention on the phone (although it explains why he suggested changing the calipers) is that the 'offside rear mechanical brake component has restricted free movement'

I'm guessing this is the bit where the cable attaches/moves to activate the brake? So does this imply the caliper is broken, or could that failure also be caused by a seized cable on that side?


The restricted free movement part sounds very much like a seized slider, hoik the caliper off and have a poke. :mrgreen:
Post Reply

Return to “MR2 MK1 1984-1989 NA & SC”