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Help. My handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: May 15th, 2013, 9:51 am
by Hook
A couple months ago, I had the back of the car up in the air. Out of curiosity, I tried to turn the rear wheels by hand and one was fine, while the other actually turned with some effort.
Vehicle is a 1993 AE101 Corolla with the non-abs rear disc brake conversion done.

I'd always noticed that my e-brake never actually stopped the car, but rather slowed it down gradually. It worked fine on most inclines, but not all. No, biggie. I simply took out my handy rear piston adjustment tool (see pic) and adjusted both sides until I got what I wanted, then adjusted it at the handbrake cable end.
Image

Now it appears as though they need adjusting AGAIN.

I inspected the cables and there doesn't appear to be any signs of stretching. The ends don't extend far outside the sheath to suggest that. But the adjustment at the handbrake end is at maximum, so if anything needs turning again, it's from the piston end.

Am I doing something wrong somewhere?
How do I inspect/repair the self-adjustment mechanism?

Re: Help. MY handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: May 15th, 2013, 11:40 am
by stev
:shock: boy what kinda hard question u asking :P normally u suppose to be giving answers. lol

trying to understand whats going on....the handbrake lever tight but the wheel itself is still able to move?

also u said rear disk brake conversion, when last u bleed ur braking system?

Re: Help. MY handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: May 15th, 2013, 12:01 pm
by wagonrunner
OP. im assuming your adjustment was done with the usual?

let out all slack from lever.
put lever down.
then do adjustment at the back where the wheel will make 1/4 to 1/2 turn after a being released.

Re: Help. MY handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: May 15th, 2013, 1:23 pm
by Hook
Yup. Everything was done according to normal handbrake adjustment procedure.
Drop handbrake, adjust each side, adjust handbrake lever.

But for some reason, after a couple weeks, it's back to where it was.

I was told a that if I reverse hard and yank the e-brake a few times it'll adjust itself. True talk?

Re: Help. MY handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: May 15th, 2013, 1:52 pm
by wagonrunner
no clue about that one.

but seeing applying the brake while rolling backwards can help for drum brakes
http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/brkjob/adj.html

in the same manner the piston should keep close to the rotor in the front, not sure what's the problem in the back. usually rear disc and cable conversions are not known for working well.

In OEM form it's fine though. so i'm lost.

Re: Help. MY handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: May 15th, 2013, 8:33 pm
by toyolink
I seem to remember someone having a similar problem and solving same by replacing the e-brake shoes.
Whats the general condition of the shoes in terms of wear?
It appears that once the shoes are worn beyond a particular level,the adjust procedure only improves holding capability very temporarily.

Re: Help. MY handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: May 16th, 2013, 1:09 am
by Hook
Rear disc brakes yo.
The one that doesn't carry brake shoes on the inside of the hat, so the e-brake is spring-loaded. Brake pads are new.

Re: Help. MY handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: May 17th, 2013, 11:18 am
by Bigmanbandy
I had similar problem, I bought new cables and greased the self adjusting sliding pins to the top. Getting a suitable high temp grease is the key. Works very good but pads don't wear evenly. I will buy brand name pads next time around.

Re: Help. MY handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: May 17th, 2013, 11:36 am
by Hook
I think it's the pads. Only brand I found them in this rounds was OHK. The Akebono pads they came with had a small tab at the back that was supposed to fit into the groove of the piston to prevent the piston from rotating and thus retracting. The OHK pads don't have the little tab at the back.

I marked the piston position this time so I'll know if it rotates next time it feels loose...unless it makes a full rotation.
If any Camry SV20 (Gracia) owners know where to get rear disc pads with the tab at the back as shown below, lemme know ASAP.

Image

Image

Re: Help. MY handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: May 17th, 2013, 12:14 pm
by toyolink
Hook wrote:I think it's the pads. Only brand I found them in this rounds was OHK. The Akebono pads they came with had a small tab at the back that was supposed to fit into the groove of the piston to prevent the piston from rotating and thus retracting. The OHK pads don't have the little tab at the back.

I marked the piston position this time so I'll know if it rotates next time it feels loose...unless it makes a full rotation.
If any Camry SV20 (Gracia) owners know where to get rear disc pads with the tab at the back as shown below, lemme know ASAP.

Image

Image

OK! Didn't target correct assy and now assuming BZG Levin assy it appears the challenge may start from pad set to reqment to service full assy and refit new spec. pad and do reset adjustment procedure.
In terms of pad set you have enquired about I sure can help and will pm accordingly.

Re: Help. My handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: May 17th, 2013, 12:27 pm
by Hook
:lol: I can't translate that meng...whatchujussay?

Re: Help. My handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: May 17th, 2013, 1:35 pm
by stev
toyolink just gave me a headache. lol

Re: Help. My handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: May 17th, 2013, 1:45 pm
by Bigmanbandy
I have an extra box of new pads. I think that they have the small tab in the back. Schnider or is it silver, is a black box brand.

Re: Help. My handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: May 17th, 2013, 1:46 pm
by toyolink
Sorry folks did what I can.

Re: Help. My handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: May 22nd, 2013, 10:17 am
by nortel
Hook wrote:A couple months ago, I had the back of the car up in the air. Out of curiosity, I tried to turn the rear wheels by hand and one was fine, while the other actually turned with some effort.
Vehicle is a 1993 AE101 Corolla with the non-abs rear disc brake conversion done.

I'd always noticed that my e-brake never actually stopped the car, but rather slowed it down gradually. It worked fine on most inclines, but not all. No, biggie. I simply took out my handy rear piston adjustment tool (see pic) and adjusted both sides until I got what I wanted, then adjusted it at the handbrake cable end.
Image

Now it appears as though they need adjusting AGAIN.

I inspected the cables and there doesn't appear to be any signs of stretching. The ends don't extend far outside the sheath to suggest that. But the adjustment at the handbrake end is at maximum, so if anything needs turning again, it's from the piston end.

Am I doing something wrong somewhere?
How do I inspect/repair the self-adjustment mechanism?


Hook,

I wanted to find out,

Where did you buy the rear caliper piston adjustment tool?

Thanks

Re: Help. My handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: May 22nd, 2013, 11:04 am
by Hook
Lots of parts places have that. I got mine at RevTek Auto Supplies on St. Michael Rd. in Tacarigua.
It's a universal thing, so it doesn't fit exact to the grooves on the piston, but it works well enough.

Hopefully you only have to use yours once :lol:

Re: Help. My handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: June 13th, 2013, 10:01 am
by ruff neck chicken
i dont have the adjusting problem but my hand brake never holds that well. the lever is firmly up but brake isnt holding very tight. adjusted it a few times and never got better :(

Re: Help. My handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: June 13th, 2013, 10:31 am
by Hook
My adjustment stays now. Looks like I hafta make a thread here for it to solve itself. Car ears musbe was ringing :lol:

Re: Help. My handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: June 13th, 2013, 11:49 am
by ruff neck chicken
all offa sudden it stays? what about how tight the brake holds?

Re: Help. My handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: June 13th, 2013, 12:01 pm
by Hook
It locks at about about four clicks and holds pretty well on a 30 degree incline. Not enough to do a handbrake turn, but it works.

Re: Help. My handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: June 13th, 2013, 12:07 pm
by ruff neck chicken
hmmm, same as mine. i park on an incline so i'm always paranoid my car is going to roll away.

Re: Help. My handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: June 13th, 2013, 2:27 pm
by Hook
rear disc brakes as well?

Re: Help. My handbrakes always need adjusting.

Posted: June 13th, 2013, 2:45 pm
by ruff neck chicken
yes but not a conversion i gots me a GT.