C5 x7 handbrake mot fail

[jgra1]

Hi all. Yesterday my hand brake failed the mot ..
I always felt the handbrake was spot on .. so went home and jacked both wheels and tried to turn with over a meter of extension tube..nothing moving..
I went to a local garage and sure enough one side was perfect and the other was intermittent? Some times it passed sometimes it didn't...
What should I look for ?
Thanks for ideas ..diagrams and any help

John

[qprdude]

I'll be looking forward to some answers on this one too John. I'm almost sure mine will be the same. Brakes squeak like mad sometimes and the brake can be a bugger to release without a few revs at times.

[myglaren]

There are posts around describing the problem - handbrake mechanism in the calliper is a recognised problem.
Chris (citroenmad) did fix his by dismantling, cleaning and greasing it. Only a temporary cure though.
Also the handbrake cables corrode in the guide tubes and exacerbate the problem.
Only real fix is new callipers and tubes+cables.
Just had to do mine. New discs, pads, cables guides and callipers. ~£550 with a few other bits thrown in.

[lexi]

I know that my old calipers can be got cheap on exchange, although X7 may be more expensive. Worth taking slack up in cables anyway.
I have not done it yet myself but have it planned. I think you put on the 5 clicks to handbrake, then get access to the rear handbrake console.
Tighten both cables up on the nuts,then try it. I think some of the calipers get abused when fitting pads. There are processes to follow with the mechs and levers on those calipers, some of which I suspect get missed on brake servicing.
A strip and clean for your Mot may be all that's needed John.

[Paul-R]

I don't have any answers only a couple of questions.

The first - is the X7 an ordinary handbrake or electric?
Secondly - references to the guide tubes are certainly valid for the Mark I and facelift but are they for the X7?

[Gibbo2286]

I know that my old calipers can be got cheap on exchange, although X7 may be more expensive. Worth taking slack up in cables anyway.
I have not done it yet myself but have it planned. I think you put on the 5 clicks to handbrake, then get access to the rear handbrake console.
Tighten both cables up on the nuts,then try it. I think some of the calipers get abused when fitting pads. There are processes to follow with the mechs and levers on those calipers, some of which I suspect get missed on brake servicing.
A strip and clean for your Mot may be all that's needed John.

That may be wrong, always start at the wheel, make sure the calliper levers go back to the stop freely and only adjust the cables when everything else is correct, adjusting the cables when the lever is not 'home' will lose the mechanical advantage and therefore make the brake less effective.

[jgra1]

Thanks all. This is the electric hand brake..operating the rear wheels..all a lot cleaner back there.. its just an off / on device..

Just had a look underneath and all look ok. Cables tighten and release fine.. only thing of note so far was one of the actuators on the caliper (the good side) moves slightly less than the other side -about 2mm less. When in the on position .. a tiny difference and possubly down the different pad wear on both sides..
The disks look really bad and the pads are low.. I may just do a pad / disk change first and a clean up..
Will take some pics
Anything odd about c5 rear pads? Assuming they are a wind up jobby.

Edit Just seen your post Paul .. no guide tubes and easy to access handbrake system all sitting at the back..

[bobins]

Thanks all. This is the electric hand brake..operating the rear wheels..all a lot cleaner back there.. its just an off / on device..


Anything odd about c5 rear pads? Assuming they are a wind up jobby.

Only that one on each side is specifically an inboard pad and the other is specifically an outboard pad* - if you see what I mean.

*- At least they are that way on the manual handbrake versions !

[jgra1]

Thanks bobbins

[Stickyfinger]

There is a very specific procedure for the rear brakes I understand.....if you do not follow it you can toast the system I belive......(and I do not have a copy of said procedure)

With the cost of some of the components that is one job that will be a Dealer visit for me at the moment.

[myglaren]

Apologies- just realised that yours is an X7 John. altogether different to mine.

[bobins]

There is a very specific procedure for the rear brakes I understand.....if you do not follow it you can toast the system I belive......(and I do not have a copy of said procedure)

There's times I'm glad I don't have the whistles and bells on my X7
I've looked up the extra procedures for the electric parking brake - over and above what you'd normally do for a conventionally fitted handbrake, this is what you need to do for the electric version......

Begins:
Precautions to be taken
Before any operations ; Place the electric parking brake in the removal position ; Using a diagnostic tool.
After any adjustment ; Carry out the electric parking brake calibration procedure ; Using a diagnostic tool.


Place the electric parking brake in the removal position ; Using a diagnostic tool.
CAUTION : After switching off the ignition: wait 15 minutes before disconnecting the battery, to ensure that the initialisations of the various ECUs are memorised.
Disconnect the battery.

Operations to be carried out after the repair
Carry out the electric parking brake calibration procedure ; Using a diagnostic tool.
Activate the electric handbrake control.
Check the immobilisation of the wheels.
Ends.


On TEVES brakes equipped cars, the small caliper bolts are done up to 28NM

[Stickyfinger]

= dealer job

[jgra1]

Yikes..

[daviemck2006]

Make mental note to myself, don't buy an x7 with electric handbrake

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