Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[terry paget]

In over 20 years, I never ever saw the hand brake shoes on any of my Senators or Omega 

I put it down to infrequent use 

You would see them when you change your rear discs.

They only do any serious retardation during MOT tests or in an emergency. The reason we strip them down is the actuator, depicted above, rusts and seizes up, destroying the 4:1 mechanical advantage.

The forum guide recommends stripping the handbrake down every 2 years; I doubt many members do that.  Haynes says you need to remove the hub and bearing to replace the brake shoes; forum members don't do that either.

I do it when the handbrake needs a mighty heave to hold the car on a hill; that's a sure sign the actuator has seized. It's not a trivial job, but one I find most satisfying.

[Andy A]

In over 20 years, I never ever saw the hand brake shoes on any of my Senators or Omega 

I put it down to infrequent use 

You would see them when you change your rear discs.

They only do any serious retardation during MOT tests or in an emergency. The reason we strip them down is the actuator, depicted above, rusts and seizes up, destroying the 4:1 mechanical advantage.

The forum guide recommends stripping the handbrake down every 2 years; I doubt many members do that.  Haynes says you need to remove the hub and bearing to replace the brake shoes; forum members don't do that either.

I do it when the handbrake needs a mighty heave to hold the car on a hill; that's a sure sign the actuator has seized. It's not a trivial job, but one I find most satisfying.

That's exactly what mine has been doing and getting worse over time.

Thanks for the info Terry 

[Andy B]

In over 20 years, I never ever saw the hand brake shoes on any of my Senators or Omega 

I put it down to infrequent use 

You would see them when you change your rear discs.

They only do any serious retardation during MOT tests or in an emergency. The reason we strip them down is the actuator, depicted above, rusts and seizes up, destroying the 4:1 mechanical advantage.

The forum guide recommends stripping the handbrake down every 2 years; I doubt many members do that.  Haynes says you need to remove the hub and bearing to replace the brake shoes; forum members don't do that either.

I do it when the handbrake needs a mighty heave to hold the car on a hill; that's a sure sign the actuator has seized. It's not a trivial job, but one I find most satisfying.

I never had need to change rear discs 

[Doctor Gollum]

Clearly never had a later V6 then... 

[TheBoy]

Am I correct that the pin should be solidly/permanently fixed to the swan part?

Both of mine have an oval hole where the pins go and the pins are very lose and won't stay in at all.

As has been mentioned, the pin is a separate part, and not a particularly tight fit.

[TheBoy]

Clearly never had a later V6 then... 

Of all the Omegas I've had, I've one ever changed rear discs once, and that was due to a handbrake issue rather than a wear issue.

Although all but TBE have been non vented.

[BazaJT]

Out of the 3 Senator As 2 Senator Bs 1 Monza a PFL Omega and the present Fl Omega the only handbrake problem I've had was with the PFL Omega which I took a rear disc off[I was selling it to someone who wanted the interior for his Astra project] and found the backplate had rotted where the hold down pins were held.I believe MFL/FL went to the pins going through the back plate from the inboard side and held the shoes by spring/washer as most cars I've owned did,where the PFL cars the pins went through the shoes and were held by a shaped hole in the backplate like the Senator/Monzas did.

[aaronjb]

Am I correct that the pin should be solidly/permanently fixed to the swan part?

Both of mine have an oval hole where the pins go and the pins are very lose and won't stay in at all.

As has been mentioned, the pin is a separate part, and not a particularly tight fit.

Which is why I ended up chasing one around the garage floor.. gave up looking for it, used one of my spares (I've got 2 or 3 full brake sets for the Jag - calipers, discs etc XJ40, XJ40-V12 and X305!), then promptly found the original. The original is still stuck to the magnetic tool rail so I can't lose it again

[Andy B]

Clearly never had a later V6 then... 

Correct. I wanted my Omega to look like an Omega ..... not an Astra G 

[MonzaGSE]

Have changed lots of omega handbrakes. Basically every 2 years which is the control period in norway. Salt on the roads dont help. But both my omegas are 94-95 models. The new one is 97. And i see that the 97 has the brakeshoe pins the other way. With a small disc on the outside. The 94-95 omegas had the pins with the «tip» locked in the brakeshield with a 90 degree turn of the pin. Only a tiny amount of rust in the brakeshield and the pins let go and everything comes loose:p dont know how the 97 pins sat in the shield since when i changed Brakes on that handbrake seemed ok and i didnt want to mess with it. But obviously the arrangement was changed in 96-97 sometimes and the newer pins seem better.

[Andy A]

Got a Saab 900 Shackle Kit ordered. Couldn't find a VX set.

[Mr Skrunts]

 

just looked up a full Brembo set of Discs pads and shoes with that discount code.  £157.03, must admit am tempted.
 

It will be the shit Brembo stuff. Not the decent stuff. Its just a cheap, nasty, aftermarket replacement/

Not recommended then . . . . .

[Andy A]

Is there a tool for getting the spring and cap back onto the pins?

Tried the method with ring spanner in the tut but they will not go back onto the pins and lock onto the collar.

This thing is driving me nuts.

[Nick W]

Is there a tool for getting the spring and cap back onto the pins?

Tried the method with ring spanner in the tut but they will not go back onto the pins and lock onto the collar.

This thing is driving me nuts.

There is. But the problem will still be that the pin moves away from the cap and you can't put your finger on the back of it like normal. So whatever method you use to hold the collar you have to push on it and twist at the same time.

[Doctor Gollum]

Long nosed pliers or a 10mm ring spanner.

Which is a choice of dexterity 

Best have the swear jar ready