Handbrake Cable Stretch

[BUNDERA]

I adjusted my hand brake the other day so it was nice and tight only several notches and she would hold on a steep incline.

A couple of days later I noticed that it was quite slack again and you needed to really com on to it to hold it on a hill.

Once I got home I once again toook off the cover to my hand brake and added a couple of spacers (as there was no more thread to tighten it up on).

Several days after that i have noticed that the same thing has happened.

What is likely to be causing this? It cant have stretched this much...

The rear brakepads are only 6 months old.

Any ideas will be most appreciated.

Regards,
Nick

[robbie]

are the rear brakes adjusted?

[BUNDERA]

yeah they are, I checked that, but still it shouldn't happen over such a short time.

[NICK]

and you needed to really com on to it

so you have to come on to it as hard as you tasmanians come on to your sisters?



I would say the self adjusters arnt working

[antt]

not having a go at toyota's, but the handbrakes on their 4wd's SUCK!

i don't think i've ever driven, or ridden in one that has worked properly for more than a fortnight, they always bugger up

[Drafty]

My 80 series handbrake needed adjusting before every trip away, toyota handbrakes are sh!t.

[BUNDERA]

there are so many spacers on it now that it is beyond funny!

It cant be stretching this much!!

Once it becomes slack, it doesn't seem to get any worse, but a couple of weeks after you tighten it, it becomes as loose as NICK's Mum

Any other ideas.

[Wendle]

there are so many spacers on it now that it is beyond funny!

It cant be stretching this much!!

Once it becomes slack, it doesn't seem to get any worse, but a couple of weeks after you tighten it, it becomes as loose as NICK's Mum

Any other ideas.

PM '80 series' on this board. He has a trick with a little bit of spring steel that makes the tojo handbrake as good as any other. It is something to do with the self-adjuster doodad. He is a bit reclusive, though, you mighn't get an answer real quick..

[bj on roids]

what is the story with his reclusiveness?

i only see him when you're in town and he disappears again

[Wendle]

I put him back into the freezer, then thaw him out again when I need a lift from the airport.

[bj on roids]

ROFLMAO

i am actually picturing this, he just climbs in nonchalantly, you close the door, and wind a big wheel like on submarines, and depart, a slight, almost tear in your eye, and then depart, hoping to return to give your liver a flogging right before the next event.

[BUNDERA]

2nd try at this post...


I have just pm'd him, thanks for the help Wendle/BJ.

Will tighten it up again tonight before the trip this weekend.

Tah.

[robbie]

post all results here nick, so I know how I can fix mine

[Bundytime]

if u r doing lots of mud driving, it won't take much to wear the rear shoes down enough to stop the handbrake working well.
Also on the bundy's when on full downward wheel travel the handbrake cable restricts travel. This can also restrict the effectiveness of the handbrakeon different angles.... i unbolted mine from where it is mounted to the diff. (the part where it runs through a rubber mount)
Just keep winding out those adjusters............

[BUNDERA]

Afer the hardest days 4x4ing I have ever done on Saturday, I had no hand brake what so ever (foot brake works semi-ok cos the fronts are ok). As soon as this happened I knew it couldn't be some little adjustment or stretch.

It is funny bundytime that u mention this cos I only thought of the ammount of mud I have been through in the lask 6 weeks today and the wear it would have caused.

(I havn't been on here the last few nights and I didn't see your post until now)

I took the drum off to inspect the selfadjusters and to remove any clumps of mud around them (as I have been through mud holes everyweekend for the last 1-2 months, ranging from halfway up the doors to major water crossings).
To my suprize the self adjusters were all the way out and there was only aprox 2mm left on the brake shoes.

I only replaced the brakepads around 4-5 months ago so I didn't think it could be those, but as Bundytime said the mud is a killer (all the grit is like a low grade sand paper).

It now makes sense that after every weekend (after mud driving) the hand brake needed adjusting cos they were being cained.

Anyway this is turning into a short story so I am goona stop here. But I will say, at the moment down here in Tassie (Southport lagoon to be exact) there is some hardcore wheeling to be done. Awesome stuff. Make sure u take at leat two cars and have 2-3 highly rated snatch straps

Take it easy all and have a good week.
Thanks for all ur ideas.

Regards,
Nick

BTW are there any brand of brake shoes that are longer lasting than most and can handle quite bit of mud and water??

ohh and are drum brakes more likely to wear down quicker than discs ones?

[Bundytime]

no all shoes last about the same, well i don't know of any others that last longer in mud...........

Drums r shit and u r lucky u got 6 months out of them, i go through a set a month in winter. Disc's would b sweet but not legal..........yet

[BUNDERA]

That is a lot of brake pad ("a set a month").

I was actually thinking that disc rears would be a bloody good mod, but money perhibits that (as well as the legal issues that u mentioned).

I am getting the new shoes tomorrow along with my new backing plate/bearing retainer for the drivers rear (to stop that oil leak that I mentioned to u :wink: ).

Thanks for all your help,

Regards,
Nick