Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I am about to rebuild my front and rear brakes. Lots of good advice in the archives about what to do when you get the calipers off, but I can find anything about how to disconnect the emergency brake from the calipers. Thanks, Dan

The search will probably come up with more useful answers if you search for "handbrake" rather than "emergency brake".

Dan,
Have read of this thread ....it may help.
post176471.html

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried parking brake, but not hand brake. I also included caliper in the search and found this.

http://thelolaregistry.com/Projects/LOT ... ebuild.htm

My intention is not to rebuild the 'handbrake' as it actually is adjusted and working fine, believe it or not.

So is removing the hinge or pivot pins, still the easiest method? I really just want to remove the calipers from the car, so that I can replace seals and possibly pistons. I am not even planning to separate the two sides of the calipers. In theory, I could remove the caliper with the hand brake assembly still attached, but it would need to be separated from the rod assembly that connects to each side and the pull up front.

Thanks, Dan

Dan,
Just remove the split pin then the clevis pin, from memory the clevis pin is a small diameter and the "arm" has a small bush to accommodate the pin, be careful not to loose the bush.

Brian, I was just coming to the conclusion that there must be a simple connection between the rods and the operating lever that I am just not seeing. Your illustration is perfect. Thanks, Dan

Brian, Thought you would get a kick out of this. Once under the car, where I could get a clear view, I found that the split pin and clevis pin had been replaced by various nut and bolt combinations, different on each side. Bushings were still there though. It's always an adventure. Thanks for your help. Dan

collins_dan wrote:Once under the car, where I could get a clear view, I found that the split pin and clevis pin had been replaced by various nut and bolt combinations, different on each side. Bushings were still there though. Dan

Ah yes....that sounds "par for the course"........ those DPO's .... glad the bushes were still there, they are a bit fiddly to make up.

The bushings are the same. Size as a throttle barrel ....just cut them in half at the screw hole and drill them 10/32 diameter

I always take the handbrake add-ons off still fastened to the rear callipers. The actuating rod ends (as far as I recall) in a U shaped piece of metal which is fastened to the handbrake lever with a pin and R pin or split pin. Though this might have been replaced by a small nyloc nut and a bolt.

I have an 'R' clip through the clevis pin - makes things easier still.

But, no bushing - I assume (never assume) it goes through the handbrake actuating arm hole and rod link arm/ actuating rod end.

Calipers are off at the mo, may make something up if necessary... or get a bigger clevis pin.

R clips...they spoiled a day out..suspension failure..please try split pins...

John

I found a short length of old stainless tube. Cut to the right length, it made perfect replacements for the missing bushings
Peter