306 HANBRAKE ON DRUMS

[creon]

mot is getting closer so far both shocks, disc a pads on the front and a new cat fitted along with wipers but im slightly worried about the handbrake.

it holds well but the problem is the balance, one wheel seems to hold more than the other and whilst adjusting the nut by the hanbrake lever one cable seems more taught than the other. i hope it is an easy fix that someone can suggest or point me in the right direction as i dont want to take the drums apart at last minute without knowing they will reassemble with no glitch.

the rear wheel bearing were both meant to have been replaced last mot so drums must of been off thus ridding of any accumulation of dust, but then again it might have been binding slightly.

where is my first port of call on handbrake, ive got a 32mm socket in the post but hopefully i dont want to go down that route at last minute before the mot, id rather chance it.

cheers

[spider]

If its working better on one side than the other then the causes can only really be seized / unadjusted shoes on one side (the handbrake arm can seize in the shoes a bit) or more likely the handbrake cables themselves.

Look at the handbrake cables where they pass around the rear axle area, they can bulged here which is a sure sign.

[citronut]

you can not get more pressure on the shoes by adjusting the cables,

you should adjust everything else before doing the cables, as all that does is shorten the lever travel only,

more offten than it will probably a cable, or as Andy says the lever arm of the shoe/s,

or even the pawl of the adjuster mechanism between the shoes has gone awall, so one adjuster will not adjust itself up

[creon]

thanks reassurance that the only way is to get the drum open. ill check the cables first but after turning the nut on handbrake itself at least it holds on a few clicks rather than all the way. im gona put it in for mot as the balance might not be too bad but who knows. at least ill then have ten days to play about and cables are only £9ea in ecp right now.

one thing ive noticed on passenger side seems to catch a bit but a few strikes with a mallet on drum and it frees, is this a clue to whats going on?

[spunkymonkey]

With hand brakes, ALWAYS start at the drum and "work forward".

Strip the drums, clean them out, and make sure the adjusting mechanisms are free and working (as far as possible).

Auto adjusters are a continual trouble point on drums btw. When refitting, slacken the handbrake cable fully (so it wont interfere at all) and move the adjusters manually so that the drums will just slide on over the shoes. Press the brake pedal a few times to centralise, remove the drums and adjust a little more if they've loosened. That way, if one of the adjusters is sticking, at least they'll be adjusted ok for now.

Incidentally, balance isn't a fail point on the MOT for handbrakes if you car has a dual line footbrake (which it does). the only reasons for fail are total effort too low (minimum 16%) or one side having "little or no" braking effort - basically, not working at all.

[spider]

Although someone may shout, once they were working *properly* I'd get an assisant to hold the brakes on (to expand the adjuster) then adjust them a little bit through the bolt hole.

This way you could get them about perfect without any binding too and they would not adjust themselves up too far either. Works best on a 206 (assuming the clips don't fly off) or most 306's, some designs (the 106 teeth design for instance fitted to some 306's) this does not work, needs the 'star wheel' type.

I've never ever had any complaints or issues doing that.