Handbrake Tip

[Klive]

A useful handbrake tip.
Don't adjust these cars too tight. You want more than a couple of clicks on the lever for it to activate, otherwise you're at risk of the shoes rubbing continuously and then delaminating. This can have serious consequences if you haven't realised that it's happened.
It's difficult to realise if you've backed off the adjuster sufficiently with the wheels off the ground as they're tight to turn anyway. If you're not sure then take the car for a comfortable drive where you're not applying the brakes too much. If you have a sensitive bottom you may feel or even hear (with your ears, not your bottom) a slight consistent vibration from the rear that varies with speed. If you do it could mean your shoes are rubbing.
Another way is when you come to a gentle stop after your gentle drive, touch the drum part of the discs. BE VERY CAREFUL, if they have been rubbing or you've just slowed from a zillion mph then they will take your skin off. (It's the way they work by converting kinetic to thermal energy, but that's enough of the physics lesson.) If one drum is much hotter than the other then the hot drum's shoes could be rubbing. If both drums are very hot then both could be rubbing.
If your equipment is in good order and they are adjusted correctly then the handbrake will hold the car, even on a hill, and you'll have many less stressed moments when it's either parked or more importantly, in for the MOT.

 

[nfm]

Good tip, also don't park up after a wash when the brakes may be wet. The judder to release when you drive it later could stress the pad / shoe bond. Dry the brakes off 1st by a short drive / gentle low speed pull of the handbrake when moving.

 

[CatmanV2]

Good tip, also don't park up after a wash when the brakes may be wet. The judder to release when you drive it later could stress the pad / shoe bond. Dry the brakes off 1st by a short drive / gentle low speed pull of the handbrake when moving.

Or don't use the handbrake....

C

 

[StuartW]

I never used mine in my 3200 (manual)

 

[greeny12]

I never used mine in my 3200 (manual)

Likewise - after my first and only 'stick and judder' I now always park the car and leave it in first gear with the handbrake off.

 

[Ebenezer]

After mine getting stuck and incapacitating the car in the mddle of the road (As a result of other disco lights coming on becasue of front wheel bearing sensor issues), resulting in ignominious trucking to the South coast followed by "They cost how much?..." "Park Off" is engaged religiously before removing the key!
Eb

 

[D Walker]

Or don't use the handbrake....

C

I do both, quick spin, apply brakes and handbrake then park it up in garage with hand brake off and chocked!!!

 

[conaero]

Another vote for 1st gear over the handbrake, mine actually works well, so I want to keep it that way for the MOT.

 

[D Walker]

Another vote for 1st gear over the handbrake, mine actually works well, so I want to keep it that way for the MOT.

This is going to sound stupid - do you just turn engine off while in gear to leave it in 1st - Do you have to make sure you start it with foot on the brake!!

 

[mjheathcote]

It automatically selects neutral when you start, if left in gear when your turn off.

 

[D Walker]

It automatically selects neutral when you start, if left in gear when your turn off.

Thanks for that - I really should get the hand book out!!

Will keep the chocks though!!!

 

[2b1ask1]

Hand brake on on the drive (absolutely needed!), not in the garage. With SM rear disks, Belfast shoes and a new cable it works a treat; I do need to fit my new handbrake lever sometime though!

 

[nfm]

Sorry for confusion, my example included never using handbrake - I found I was getting rear wheel binding post wash with handbrake off and assumed it was a tight enough fit to cause issues.

 

[JonH]

Official guidance is always turn ignition off in 1st, so disc brakes are applied, assuming foot is on brake pedal. If you are in neutral when you switch off, you will notice an alarm sound. It will automatically apply disc brakes. When restarting, select neutral before turning ignition. No problem if you don't, it will do it automatically, again with an alarm sound.

Another vote for never using hand brake, having had the delaminating issue on day 10 of ownership sometime back.

This is going to sound stupid - do you just turn engine off while in gear to leave it in 1st - Do you have to make sure you start it with foot on the brake!!

 

[CatmanV2]

Official guidance is always turn ignition off in 1st, so disc brakes are applied, assuming foot is on brake pedal. If you are in neutral when you switch off, you will notice an alarm sound. It will automatically apply disc brakes. When restarting, select neutral before turning ignition. No problem if you don't, it will do it automatically, again with an alarm sound.

Another vote for never using hand brake, having had the delaminating issue on day 10 of ownership sometime back.

4200 can automatically put its brakes on. That's news to me. Is it part of the MSP?

You are correct that there is an alarm if you *don't* leave it in gear

C

 

[D Walker]

4200 can automatically put its brakes on. That's news to me. Is it part of the MSP?

You are correct that there is an alarm if you *don't* leave it in gear

C

Really - i can't recollect hearing it, will try it tomorrow.

 

[spkennyuk]

Really - i can't recollect hearing it, will try it tomorrow.

The manual for the 4200 tells you to park it in gear. If you don't and you turn the ignition off with the car in neutral you will hear a sequence of beeps. it's 11 or 13 beeps in total. They are not very loud but you will hear them. The 4200 doesnt apply the brakes if you dont put the handbrake on. The brake will engage when you restart the car and select a gear or reverse as part of the hill hold function.

If you leave the handbrake off and leave the car in neutral with the ignition off the car will roll if on a slope. Likewise if you park up in gear on a slope with the handbrake off then take your foot off the footbrake it will roll forward a couple of inches and brake against the engine.

I will hold my hands up if i'm wrong but there is no evidence on my 4200 facelift 2007 model of an automatic brake system other than the hill hold system when your in gear with the ignition on. My drive is on a slope so I do let the car roll forwards without starting the car after washing it etc.

If you have left it parked in gear and you forget to put it in nuetral then yes it will select neutral for you. I think your foot has to be on the footbrake though hence the brakes are engaged.

 

[CatmanV2]

Hi spkenny. I thought the hill hold used clutch slip, otherwise your experience matches mine precisely.

I do hope this is limited to cars

C

 

[spkennyuk]

Hi spkenny. I thought the hill hold used clutch slip, otherwise your experience matches mine precisely.

I do hope this is limited to cars

C

Well we have both had the joys of taking 4200 arm rests apart and hiding a small blue parrot in our cars and we have both driven round Bruntingthorpe but I was slightly quicker than you were ! (I may have dreamed that part) so we seem to share a few car experiences at least

As for the hill hold function it could well be done with clutch slip as you suggest. I'm not sure how that bit works but it certainly acts as an automatic brake/hold function. I just had vision from the earlier post of someone thinking they could park in neutral and walk away and the car would automatically apply the brakes for them.

 

[Klive]

If I remember well, when you take you're foot off the brake pedal to pull away the brakes do not release for 1.4 seconds. That is the hill hold function. I never tested it with a stopwatch or tried to move my foot any quicker than that, but it is a little frustrating at times when trying to manoeuvre slowly.