Vectra handbrake setup advice?

Hi,

I bought a 98 Vectra 2.0L DTH some time ago. The handbrake was only useable while the car was stationary. At any speed at all, applying the handbrake was like throwing the car into reverse gear and lead to a sudden and complete halt. It appeared superficially to be correctly adjusted and was quite free when fully released.

This summer I wanted to rectify the matter so as to have some emergency braking if it was ever required. I removed the disks and examined the central drums, one of which was quite deeply worn. I'm sure that should not be able to happen to a correctly set-up handbrake as there is only contact when using the handbrake lever unlike former drum brake designs where handbrake and foot brake both operated the shoes.

I fitted new disk/drums and handbrake shoes, released the handbrake cable from the interior lever and set the shoes to run just freely inside the drums. Then the cable was re-adjusted to come hard on at 7 clicks of the lever.

The system works much BETTER and can be applied while still rolling, but the left rear brake still comes on more abruptly than the right one and can easily be locked on while the other is still rolling.

Is there an inherent faulty design with these brakes - I have certainly heard of others with grabbing Vectra handbrakes - or is there some tecnique for setting-up the smooth operation of this item?

Any personal experience of this would be much valued.

TIA.

Tony.

Reply to
Tony
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err handbrakes are for use when the car is STOPPED. you aren't meant to use it when the car is ROLLING.

there is NO fault. The left comes on first due to the design of the cables IIRC.

Reply to
Mark Craft

As Mark says, the handbrake should only be applied when you have stopped moving. All Vauxhalls I have driven with this set-up of rear brake (shoes inside hub of rear disc) has clonked and locked the wheels if applied whilst moving.

If one side is coming on before the other, then this is likely to be a bad adjustment on one set of shoes. They should apply at the same time on a Vectra, as there are two separate cables to each rear wheel. To adjust the shoes, turn the shoe adjuster until the hub cannot be rotated by hand, then back off four clicks, or more, until the hub rotates freely without binding. The handbrake lever should come up about 4-5 clicks before full engagement.

HTH

Anthony Remove eight from email to reply.

Reply to
Anthony Britt

Agreed, but in an emergency (failure of the footbrake) you have to rely on getting some stopping from the handbrake.

In 45 years of motoring with dozens of vehicles, I have NEVER known a handbrake which can't be applied until the vehicle is completely stationary. Its previous behavior on this Vectra was uniquely harsh - nothing or a sudden complete lock-up.

That would explain the residual behaviour then. I have not had a chance to look at the hardware again with this in mind yet.

Thanks.

Tony.

Reply to
Tony

I wish Vauxhall would tell BMW the secret - the same design handbrake on my 5 Series is pathetic.

On the BMW, there are separate cables to each brake drum, so have adjustment at the handbrake as well as the drum. You adjust the drums first, then set the cables so they balance.

Reply to
Dave Plowman

Is that a 'grabber' too?

Thanks to all repliers. I will do a final re-adjustment on the lines of Anthony's advice and see if I can improve matters. From your comments, I guess I will have to live with the resulting performance.

Tony.

Reply to
Tony

No - it will not hold the car on even a moderate hill. And made less than

10% on its MOT yesterday. I was fortunate that the tester said they're all like that and passed it.
Reply to
Dave Plowman

I had to send my car back to the BMW dealer 4 times before I got an acceptable handbrake. They managed it in the end - you just have to keep pushing them.

Reply to
Tim

I've been through it all myself and am satisfied it's just poor design. Others with E39s agree - eventually. My previous two 5 Series - an E28 and E34 with a similar mechanism were much better.

Reply to
Dave Plowman

Presumably it can with care, otherwise how do you MOT it?

Reply to
Dave Plowman

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