Bah Just failed my second MOT on the handbrake.

After it failed the first time I fixed everything except the handbrake, I just put standard beetle wheels on as they are much smaller the handbrake works much better but no, it still failed.

With the handbrake on I cant move the buggy, with the car jacked up the wheels still dont turn, however they achieved only 13% and the MOT requires 16%.

I have a empi rear disc conversion with a separate arm for the handbrake, the cables are all new from speedycables (although could be shorter ) but other than that its the best handbrake I have ever had in a buggy.

Anybody got any ideas what I am doing wrong? Or shall I try MOTs at other places until I get lucky and it passes?

mine was marginal at the rear on its last MOT, but they passed it, I'm worried for my next MOT......I have rear discs too.....are your pads bedded in?.....take a close look....

are you running a bias bar (twin brake master cylinders) in the peddle box?......if so check you actually have brake pressure at the rear, my fug was like this, as the fronts kept locking up!.....once adjusted the bias bar correctly it stopped perfect!........if single master cylinder still check for brake pressure at the rear, as the master cylinder could be duff which means the rears have never bedded in!

try taking some sand paper/emery cloth to the inner and outer glazed surfaces of the discs, to rough it up a little...... a common trick in racing.......take it out for a drive and really slam the brakes on, even try pulling up the handbrake - gently!.....dont get rear ended by another motorist!!!!

what grade of pads are you running? it might be worth getting some EBC soft compound pads.......as I suspect the pads you are running are too hard and designed for a much heavier car......could you not get a bit more adjustment on the two handbrake cables? - but dont wind them in too far as the brakes will be permanently on!

hope that helps :rolleyes:

I have a CMAX with an electronic handbrake just a switch be interesting to see how that fares with an MOT due next year.

You can't apply it above 4mph so no good for hand brake turns.
It will only release when you depress the clutch and ignition is on

that's progress??

It eats pads but does seem to work well.

Thanks Knighty thats a big help :D

Another MOT monday so if it fails that i will try some new pads, that gives me today to try and bed the ones i have in a bit. I have jamar pedals and just fitted a servo on the rear circuit because of the big wheels so happy with the brakes now, just the handbrake to go!

Yay! Passed the MOT and back on the road. All it needed was a big strong MOT tester to pull the handbrake on hard enough for a pass. He did saythe lack of weight of my buggy meant the wheels slipped on the rollers which would give a lower reading.

Just glad I decided to take it to another garage or I could be working on it all summer.