Hand Brake Question

faboka vrs · 17-07-2007, 14:27

Recently had my brake fluid changed by the dealers.

Now when applying the hand brake the lever is nice and firm and comes up about 3-4 clicks. But if the hand brake is off and I stamp on the brake pedal and then apply the handbrake, the lever is no longer firm and comes up alot further.

Dont remember it doing this in the past.

Ideas?

Cheers

KenONeill · 17-07-2007, 14:43

Makes no sense to me. I find that applying the hb with the hydraulics on is a good way of adjusting it when I think it's got too much travel.

ScoobyChris · 17-07-2007, 14:51

Assuming the hand brake is cable operated, the pads will clamp the disc for a given number of clicks. The foot brake (being hydraulic) can apply more pressure to clamp the disc which means that the hand brake cable is slacker at the same number of clicks and can travel further.

In fact, in the Mondeo manual, they recommend depressing the brake pedal before putting the handbrake on and I think I've seen that advice on here to help prevent cars rolling when just held on the handbrake?

Chris

KenONeill · 17-07-2007, 15:05

That all makes sense, which is why applying the handbrake with the footbrake on adjusts it tighter.

faboka vrs · 17-07-2007, 15:43

Cheers guys. Just seems strange as its never done it before. Its like it goes from 3 click to say 12.

KenONeill · 17-07-2007, 16:03

12 clicks is way too many anyway.

ScoobyChris · 17-07-2007, 16:27

12 clicks does seem a lot. Does applying the handbrake without touching the brake pedal hold the car firmly (ie if you try and drive off)?

Chris

faboka vrs · 17-07-2007, 16:47

sure does. One point turns work fine

Ok may not be 12 but its alot .

ScoobyChris · 17-07-2007, 16:54

On mine I reckon I can get 1 or 2 more clicks with the footbrake on (although I'll try that when I get in the car to double check

).... So it just had a fluid change and nothing else?

Chris

ric04vrs · 17-07-2007, 18:19

i'm just guessing here , but you may have a faulty rear caliper , there maybe something sticking inside either of the calipers , does seem very odd to have exess travel in the cable when the brake is depressed

faboka vrs · 17-07-2007, 22:35

Right. Apply handbrake = 3clicks and it rock hard.

stamp foot brake = 6 clicks

Lummox · 17-07-2007, 22:45

6 clicks is still fine.

ric04vrs · 23-07-2007, 23:24

having tried it over the weekend , it seems mine does the same thing , 2-3 clicks to just pull up handbrake , then 5-6 clicks if brake applied then handbrake pulled up , so your "fault" it seems , isn't one

KenONeill · 24-07-2007, 11:06

That range seems like "normal operation" to me. Remember that you've taken all the free movement out of the brakes when you use the footbrake, and can probably push the rear brakes harder (presuming ABS and not just a rear line limiter) with the hydraulics than with the handbrake cable.

17-07-2007, 14:27	#1
faboka vrs Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Merseyside Posts: 6,038 Thanks: 12 Thanked 46 Times in 46 Posts	Hand Brake Question Recently had my brake fluid changed by the dealers. Now when applying the hand brake the lever is nice and firm and comes up about 3-4 clicks. But if the hand brake is off and I stamp on the brake pedal and then apply the handbrake, the lever is no longer firm and comes up alot further. Dont remember it doing this in the past. Ideas? Cheers __________________ John 2004 Skoda Fabia vRS - Xenons - Heated Seats - Cruise Control - Passenger Airbag Deactivation switch - Side Airbags

17-07-2007, 14:43	#2
KenONeill Briskodian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Normally somewhere in Scotland! Posts: 11,043 Thanks: 63 Thanked 548 Times in 536 Posts	Re: Hand Brake Question Makes no sense to me. I find that applying the hb with the hydraulics on is a good way of adjusting it when I think it's got too much travel.

17-07-2007, 14:51	#3
ScoobyChris Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Andover Posts: 18,194 Thanks: 15 Thanked 335 Times in 289 Posts	Re: Hand Brake Question Assuming the hand brake is cable operated, the pads will clamp the disc for a given number of clicks. The foot brake (being hydraulic) can apply more pressure to clamp the disc which means that the hand brake cable is slacker at the same number of clicks and can travel further. In fact, in the Mondeo manual, they recommend depressing the brake pedal before putting the handbrake on and I think I've seen that advice on here to help prevent cars rolling when just held on the handbrake? Chris __________________ Holding up the traffic in a little Italian..........

17-07-2007, 15:05	#4
KenONeill Briskodian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Normally somewhere in Scotland! Posts: 11,043 Thanks: 63 Thanked 548 Times in 536 Posts	Re: Hand Brake Question That all makes sense, which is why applying the handbrake with the footbrake on adjusts it tighter.

17-07-2007, 15:43	#5
faboka vrs Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Merseyside Posts: 6,038 Thanks: 12 Thanked 46 Times in 46 Posts	Re: Hand Brake Question Cheers guys. Just seems strange as its never done it before. Its like it goes from 3 click to say 12. __________________ John 2004 Skoda Fabia vRS - Xenons - Heated Seats - Cruise Control - Passenger Airbag Deactivation switch - Side Airbags

17-07-2007, 16:03	#6
KenONeill Briskodian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Normally somewhere in Scotland! Posts: 11,043 Thanks: 63 Thanked 548 Times in 536 Posts	Re: Hand Brake Question 12 clicks is way too many anyway.

17-07-2007, 16:27	#7
ScoobyChris Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Andover Posts: 18,194 Thanks: 15 Thanked 335 Times in 289 Posts	Re: Hand Brake Question 12 clicks does seem a lot. Does applying the handbrake without touching the brake pedal hold the car firmly (ie if you try and drive off)? Chris __________________ Holding up the traffic in a little Italian..........

17-07-2007, 16:47	#8
faboka vrs Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Merseyside Posts: 6,038 Thanks: 12 Thanked 46 Times in 46 Posts	Re: Hand Brake Question sure does. One point turns work fine Ok may not be 12 but its alot . __________________ John 2004 Skoda Fabia vRS - Xenons - Heated Seats - Cruise Control - Passenger Airbag Deactivation switch - Side Airbags

17-07-2007, 16:54	#9
ScoobyChris Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Andover Posts: 18,194 Thanks: 15 Thanked 335 Times in 289 Posts	Re: Hand Brake Question On mine I reckon I can get 1 or 2 more clicks with the footbrake on (although I'll try that when I get in the car to double check ).... So it just had a fluid change and nothing else? Chris __________________ Holding up the traffic in a little Italian.......... Last edited by ScoobyChris; 17-07-2007 at 18:34.

17-07-2007, 18:19	#10
ric04vrs I parked up 1st Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: not near enough to the Ring Posts: 6,159 Thanks: 31 Thanked 187 Times in 181 Posts	Re: Hand Brake Question i'm just guessing here , but you may have a faulty rear caliper , there maybe something sticking inside either of the calipers , does seem very odd to have exess travel in the cable when the brake is depressed __________________ not so bored now

17-07-2007, 22:35	#11
faboka vrs Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Merseyside Posts: 6,038 Thanks: 12 Thanked 46 Times in 46 Posts	Re: Hand Brake Question Right. Apply handbrake = 3clicks and it rock hard. stamp foot brake = 6 clicks __________________ John 2004 Skoda Fabia vRS - Xenons - Heated Seats - Cruise Control - Passenger Airbag Deactivation switch - Side Airbags

17-07-2007, 22:45	#12
Lummox Cupra Bush King Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 22,335 Images: 2 Thanks: 22 Thanked 739 Times in 621 Posts	Re: Hand Brake Question 6 clicks is still fine. __________________ Unit 18 Automotive Services www.unit18.co.uk Remapping Service now available, PM for details.

23-07-2007, 23:24	#13
ric04vrs I parked up 1st Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: not near enough to the Ring Posts: 6,159 Thanks: 31 Thanked 187 Times in 181 Posts	Re: Hand Brake Question having tried it over the weekend , it seems mine does the same thing , 2-3 clicks to just pull up handbrake , then 5-6 clicks if brake applied then handbrake pulled up , so your "fault" it seems , isn't one __________________ not so bored now

24-07-2007, 11:06	#14
KenONeill Briskodian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Normally somewhere in Scotland! Posts: 11,043 Thanks: 63 Thanked 548 Times in 536 Posts	Re: Hand Brake Question That range seems like "normal operation" to me. Remember that you've taken all the free movement out of the brakes when you use the footbrake, and can probably push the rear brakes harder (presuming ABS and not just a rear line limiter) with the hydraulics than with the handbrake cable.

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