12 replies to this topic

[NLinPEN]

This question relates to my wife's Mini. It is an early 90's model, for the Japanese (JDM) market. But I think that this question is not specific to that car model.

 

The rear brakes were not properly working. I discovered that a previous owner had not properly set the adjusters. As a result both the hand brake and the foot brake (the hydraulic brake) were not really effective. Now that I have corrected the adjusters is everything fine. With one exception: my wife does not have sufficient strength in her arm to release the hand brake. She is (barely) able to engage the hand brake. It only needs one click to be activated. But once activated she is unable to pull the lever up and push the button to release it. And I admit: this hand brake is rather heavy to operate.

 

My question: are there ways to make the lever lighter to operate?

[sonscar]

Adjust the cable to give 4 or 5 clicks?Steve..

[slidehammer]

The handbrake on Mini's are usually very good as they are working on drums and the car its self is light. It shouldn't need undue effort to put on or off. 

It might be worth checking the quadrants on the radius arms are both free and not tight / seized.

[Steam]

The adjusters are at the base of the lever 8n the car. Also make sure all the cables and quadrants and levers are lubricated and free in movement.

[NLinPEN]

The handbrake on Mini's are usually very good as they are working on drums and the car its self is light. It shouldn't need undue effort to put on or off. 

It might be worth checking the quadrants on the radius arms are both free and not tight / seized.

Please excuse my ignorance: what are "quadrants on the radius arms"? Where do I find these?

[Steam]

On thr rear subframe. Underneath the car follow the handbrake cables checking for free as you go, then where they turn 90deg and/or connect 1 into 2. There is also a lever in the rear brakes that needs to be free

[sonscar]

Adjust the cable first,easy and relatively clean to do.If you do not then the brakes may overheat,set on fire and other bad things.This is rare but can happen.Steve..

[greenwheels]

Sounds as if someone has adjusted the rear brakes by adjusting the handbrake cables.

Slacken the handbrake cable by loosening the adjuster under the handbrake lever until the handbrake has several clicks, then adjust the adjusters in the drums. That takes care of the footbrake hydraulic system. Then adjust the handbrake cable by tightening the adjuster under the handbrake lever until there are three clicks.

This assumes the handbrake cable is running freely around the place where it turns 90 degrees on the front of the rear subframe, the quadrants under the radius arms are rotating and the levers on the back of the rear brake backplate are free. Check these when the handbrake cable has been loosened before you adjust the adjuster in the drums.

[Spider]

After checking and adjusting the rear brakes, if your wife still finds it too heavy, slacken off the cables a wee bit so you are getting 4 - 5 clicks out of it. The higher the handle comes up, the more the leverage increases, but equally, you need to keep up the (normal) rear brake adjustment.

[NLinPEN]

On thr rear subframe. Underneath the car follow the handbrake cables checking for free as you go, then where they turn 90deg and/or connect 1 into 2. There is also a lever in the rear brakes that needs to be free

Thank you. I will go underneath the car and follow the hand brake cables to clean and lubricate anywhere where necessary.

[NLinPEN]

After checking and adjusting the rear brakes, if your wife still finds it too heavy, slacken off the cables a wee bit so you are getting 4 - 5 clicks out of it. The higher the handle comes up, the more the leverage increases, but equally, you need to keep up the (normal) rear brake adjustment.

Thanks, yes I was considering the same: slack off until I get a couple more clicks on the hand brake. The risk (trade off?) is that it affects the foot brake negatively. So I would need to find a compromise where the hand brake is lighter to operate and, at the same time, the foot brake still provides sufficient braking force.

[Spider]

 

After checking and adjusting the rear brakes, if your wife still finds it too heavy, slacken off the cables a wee bit so you are getting 4 - 5 clicks out of it. The higher the handle comes up, the more the leverage increases, but equally, you need to keep up the (normal) rear brake adjustment.

Thanks, yes I was considering the same: slack off until I get a couple more clicks on the hand brake. The risk (trade off?) is that it affects the foot brake negatively. So I would need to find a compromise where the hand brake is lighter to operate and, at the same time, the foot brake still provides sufficient braking force.

 

 

Actually, no. It shouldn't affect the foot brake at all if the rear brakes are adjusted correctly.

[Steam]

As Spider says will not affect brake performance. You should adjust the rear brakes as stated in the manual, I like a slight drag, and then the handbrake can be adjusted after. You do need to make absolutely certain that the rear shoes and the springs are assembled in the correct orientation and that the handbrake pivot lever in the rear hub is free and located correctly in the shoe. Haynes manual and factory manual show the correct way. See here for furthwr details.

https://www.moke.com...meaning-of-life

Hope this helps.