Handbrake

[cdraper]

Being polite the handbrake on my Elan +2 is "not the best one" - I have been woundering if anybody has looked for and found a more modern calipier that can be fitted that incorporates an up to date handbrake system?

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[nebogipfel]

I can't help you on an alternative caliper but the problem is not that the handbrake doesn't work but that it only works briefly after you have adjusted it until the pads wear slightly. It usually works just long enough to get the MOT :rolleyes:

A friend of mine puts small compression springs on the handbrake pad rods so that they are physically held off the discs when you are not actually using the brake. He claims that not only does the brake continue to work but the pads last far longer.

I cannot vouch for the method but intend to try it when my own car is eventually on the road.

Hope this helps

[bvt]

seen a guy who remade the handbrake callipers himself.. and the new ones used half a ford cortina pad... he threw the diagrams away as he feared if someone copied them he could be sued if anything went wrong.. neat idea.. was quite simple design and could easily be reverted to std...

[dmreeceuk]

I have also seen a guy add a hydraulic handbrake lever in the normal brake circuit. He then had fantastic 4 wheel handbrake. The lever was located on the side tunnel in easy reach. The only prob then is you still need the otherhandbrake for the MOT as it has to be a different system to the regular brakes incase they fail.
Dave

[worzel]

Re the point about fitting springs to hold the pads off the discs- I can vouch for its effectiveness- once properly adjusted mine tends to be an effective brake for about 6 months or so. Another point- keep the old backing pads and have a brake specialist bond on some very soft linings- cheaper than exchanging with a dealer.

John

[cdraper]

Fitting pull off springs seems a great idea - have looked at the car and manual and am totally unclear as to where such springs should be fiitted. Any cahance of an "idiot's guide"'? Do the go round the rods - would a spring on the cable attachment do the same job?
Thanks in anticipation.

[rgh0]

Pull off springs already exist. The little L shaped metal strips that fit in the hooks on the back of the pads are the orginal pull off springs.

They are just hard to adjust. When fitting new pads you need to bend the springs back a little so they hold the pad off the disc when the cable is released. You need to keep the springs on each side balanced otherwise one pad comes off and the other is pulled on. You also need to ensure the pivot points are not siezed up otherwise you will struggle to get it all to work.

Not a great design but with care and attention you can get them to work reliably between adjustments at routine seerving frequency.

Rohan

[nebogipfel]

Rohan, I agree they should work but I'm not sure they do for very long

Re the "Idiots guide" If memory serves they are small compression springs and sit over the handbrake pad adjusting rods so that the brake compresses them as it is applied.

Perhaps John (blackwell) can confirm this if he uses the same system.

I think Rohan has hit the nail on the head if everything is perfect the pads probably sit clear of the disc sufficiently to prevent pad wear. The downside with the Elan setup is that the pads have to run very close to the discs to obtain an adequate handbrake unfortunately close often ends up being too close! The Elan handbrake mechanism is a bit rattly and wobbly at best. The extra springs act as "belt and braces"

[cdraper]

I have fitted springs over the rods as suggested - I sourced the springs to <a href='http://www.assocspring.co.uk/' target='_blank'>http://www.assocspring.co.uk/</a> who have a super on line site - the springs I chose were D12670 @ ?3,10 each - they arrived in Germany two days after odering. I have no connection with this firm!! Too early to stay if they actually work but it all fits togeather rather well.
Chris Draper

[type26owner]

Having little or no parking brakes on four wheel disc brake performance cars is common. My Maserati Biturbo would roll away on the slightest incline with the miniature drum parking brakes fully engaged and working to perfection. My solution is simply to just carry two wooden chock blocks and always use one. The other is a spare since driving off and leaving it behind happens every once in awhile. :blink: The Elan is super convenient in that the chock can be retrieved from the driver's seat since it sits so low. Parking brake never wears out if it's not ever used.
-Keith

[S4ever]

Chris,
Have you applied the springs ?
Your experiences ?

Any improvements to the handbrake mechanics is useful.

/Erik

[patrics]

Hi,
The handbrake will perform well if adjusted properly but the problems not only lie with disc to pad clearance but in all the pivot points which tend to wear heavily and so consume so much of the available travel. It takes a lot of effort - welding etc to rebuild the handbrake but it is worth while. Obviously with all pivots in good condition then the pads can be set further from the disc with out running out of travel.
Regards
Steve

[cdraper]

It is far too early to say if fitting the springs has helped the handbrake rapid wear problem. The next mod I am considering is the replacement of the handbrake rod ends with small "Rose" type joints - has anybody tried this one?
Chris Draper

[cdraper]

I have now fitted small ball joints to the handbrake rods. At the calipier end an 8mm joint, into which is screwed a 8mm bolt drilled and tapped for 5mm thread. The rods are 5mm and the inner ball joints 5mm. For the first time the handbrake is really powerfull - have only done about five miles so do not know if it will remain so!! Certainly my old rods were very worn and taking up nearly all the travel!!
If interested the ball joints were about 4 euros each.