Vectra Handbrake USELESS!

The Omega suffers the same plight too, I have to adjust my handbrake every few months or so. I too would like to be enlightened.

Dave

In the six years that I worked for a Vx dealer, I have never heard any reports of these symptoms on a Vectra. All Vx handbrakes on rear discs have always been good, possibly too good.

There was a campaign to replace the handbrake cable from the lever to the equalising bar - a piece of cable about 30cm long. This came about due to one car in Germany having a fault IIRC. The cables were then replaced on all Vectras as a precaution. Cars from MY99 on were modded at the factory.

As most of the parts on your car were replaced, I can only suggest that the adjustement procedure wasn't carried out correctly.

HTH

Anthony Remove eight from email to reply.

In article , Badger writes

Why not just park it in gear?

I haven't been driving for long (passed my test two or three months ago) and I always park in gear when I'm on a hill as a precaution, but does this cause any damage to the engine?

I know that it's better to damage the engine than to have the car roll.

I park my car on my road facing downhill every night, so it's in reverse.

--Nick.

The message from Nick contains these words:

No. Your instructor should also have taught you to park with your wheels pointing towards the kerb if facing downhill, and vice-versa.

You're not the Nick Mooney I went to school with in Otford, are you?

If it's any consolation, my E39 5 Series BMW with the same system has a pathetic handbrake too - and I've had it totally apart and checked for excess friction etc, and adjusted it by the book. You have to use *a lot* of force to hold the car stationary on the level in drive. I now never use it, but just rely on park - even at traffic lights.

Sorry, but I don't believe you. A *good* handbrake should be capable of holding the car on a steep hill when applied by a six stone weakling. And I've not come across a drum in disc one that gets near this.

Dave,

My E46 had a very good handbrake when I got it - I changed the discs but didnt change the hand brake pads because they were not very worn. ( BTW, I did degrease the drum ) . This made it much worse, however, after deliberately wearing the pads in, it has improved - but not quite to its former glory. I often wonder whether the old disc/drum had a nice grippy/rusty surface. I can hold the car on any hill I've encountered ( I am a 14 stone weakling :-).

Steve

Dont know if this is related but I had a similar incident with an old Fiat Uno releasing its h/brake when left alone. ( Old Unos have pretty crap h/brakes ). It turned out to be that the h/brake floor mount had cracked due to the excessive force needed to apply the brake. This allowed the floor to deform when applying the brake - later the floor clicked back down, releasing the brake. I had to weld and strengthen the mounting point to fix it.

Steve

Seems to work on my exhousemates & his wifes 3 series.

The last three Vauxhalls I have owned had the drum in the disc handbrake, and I have never experienced any problems with excessive effort required to apply it or ever had it not hold properly. The only times I have had problems with these handbrakes is when they are not adjusted properly, and the handbrake comes up about 12 clicks, or when the shoes have glazed up due to being driven with the brake on.

Due care to give an example of your experience with these handbrakes, rather than just dismissing mine with some theoretical statement?

Anthony Remove eight from email to reply.

Funnily, BMW recommend you drive with it on for a short distance if you're experiencing problems. It's actually in the handbook. Mine works best when it's rusty. ;-)

I must admit to not having tried the Vauxhall version, but was basing my comments on the belief that it is near identical to the BMW. And that several MOT places have said that none of these types of handbrake are more than just barely adequate.

Perhaps one of our MOT testers who read this group would comment?

Badger waffled on in a quite bewildering manner to produce...

Yup, Vectra handbrakes are always useless, bit like Vectras really...

The wheels do aim to the pavement when I park, yes.

Kent, I'm afraid.

--Nick.

The message from Nick contains these words:

That's it. If it starts to roll it'll touch the kerb almost immediately and stop.

Otford /is/ in Kent!

I would agree with that - the handbrake on the Cavalier was deadly if used whilst moving after washing the car! ;-)

Oh, I thought you meant Oxford.

No, it probably wasn't me, but you may have heard of me before because I'm famous*.

--Nick.

The message from Nick contains these words:

So famous I mistook you for the Nick Mooney who went to Otford School in the 70s!

Wasn't me love. But for a small fee I'll be anyone you want me to be.

--Nick.