E85 2004 2.5i Parking Brake Effectiveness.

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portculisz4

Member
The parking brake on my car does not seem to be very effective, I have to put a lot of muscle into applying it to get it to stop on a reasonable slope. does any one else have this experience. Should the parking brake on these cars be effective with only reasonable pressure applied. I am tempted to replace the whole system on both sides (new pads, springs etc) if I can be sure it will improve and is worth the effort but if its a design weakness then I guess I may have to live with it.
 
Mine has recently had new brake shoes and springs, it bites very hard on tooth 4-5-6 however 1-2-3 are totally useless. I believe this is due to the adjustment, once I get it adjusted I will let you know if it improves.
 
Mine gradually loosens from 3 clicks to 6 clicks over about 2 years, and then I get it adjusted back to 3 clicks when I replace my rear pads/discs.

Not had any problems parking it on inclines, although I will park it in gear during a trackday so that I don't transfer heat into the braking system, and also after it's been washed - otherwise the shoes stick.
 
If I recall reading somewhere its around 18% effectiveness of the actual hydraulic braking system

But step one for me would be to look to see if it needs adjusting first?
 
Thanks for the feedback so far. Mine starts to lock at 3 clicks (which I believe is the MOT requirement which it has passed) but I need an extra heave to get it to hold on steeper surfaces. Not generally a problem when parking the car, but holding the car on a fairly steep slope prior to pull-away can be very difficult. Not at all like my auto electronic brake on my Disco.
 
Doesn't your car have hill start assist - or was than a facelift / M-only feature?
 
mmm-five said:
Doesn't your car have hill start assist - or was than a facelift / M-only feature?
Click to expand...

No hill start assist on mine either.

My drum, shoes and adjusters all required a full re-build and several goes at adjustment to get working properly, it's all down following the the full procedure per TIS or Pelican including the handbrake lever release and re-set with a couple of additions.
1- I'd ignore the advice about doing the daisy wheel adjustment through the wheel and take the wheel off.
2 - Adjust twice! You will find that you have set the drum tight then slackened of a little they are unlikely to have fully centred, so drive slowly whilst giving the handbrake a few good tugs to centre things (the adjustment will slackened slightly). Then re-adjust for a second time setting tight and slackening off.
3 - Finally give the shoes a few good tugs on the move to bed the surfaces in.

Job should be good (but always leave it in gear :P )
 
Never had any issues with the handbrake. Works when Ineed it. I don't use it often though and I don't think it has ever been adjusted in almost 80k miles. Though I don't do my own brakes so the garage my have done it and not mentioned it.
 
I assume there is an adjustment facility on the handbrake cable itself going to the rear drums and that this adjusted after the adjustment is done inside the drums, I haven't stuck my head under the car yet so do not know where to adjust handbrake cable.
 
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