Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: theolodian on 21 April 2007, 15:50:13

Title: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: theolodian on 21 April 2007, 15:50:13
To fix your parking brake,




Pull up the handle,




While going 20mph-ish,




Hear 2 clunks in the back,




One on each side,




That are the adjusters working,




And your parking brake works!




Repeat as necessary to tighten up even more.




Job done!!!  :y
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: Bo Bo on 21 April 2007, 18:33:25
Wish you'd said that when I had my old one  ::)
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: Pitchfork on 21 April 2007, 18:39:55
How did you make this amazing discovery??
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: Dave-C on 21 April 2007, 18:54:39
Willing to try it!  How official is this,,,,  However having played with the handbrake adjustment, I can't comprehend how so!!!!

Explain some more?

DC
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: Timbuk on 21 April 2007, 19:24:59
ive just done mine this afternoon, but it wasn't your way ::)
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: hotel21 on 21 April 2007, 22:09:02
Bet your rear hub was full of sh!te, shoes were glazed over, and all is now clear, hence the brake working?  

Grabbing a handfull at speed is not something I would suggest for cars of a 'certain age' as pulling on the handbrake at anything over a couple of miles per hour can cause the shoes to rotate within the hub and pull the steady pins (and springs) free from the rusting backing plate (or snap the rusty pins) and cause a mechanical cockup within the hub, requiring a stripdown and rebuild to repair.....

Just my tuppence, you understand....   ;)

HtH

b
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: theolodian on 21 April 2007, 22:25:06
I had read somewhere on here that the owner's manual says to drag the parking brake once in a while to clean the pads.  That was my intent, but when I pulled the lever up while coasting down the street it did sod all to stop the car, however I heard 2 clunks from the rear wheels.  After a moment of panic, I realised that it must have been the adjusters.  When I parked I tried the parking brake and the lever didn't come up as high!

I haven't looked at the specific mechanism on these, but drum brakes have been self-adjusting since what the 50's?  Usually it adjusts in reverse, but hey!  :)
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: hotel21 on 21 April 2007, 22:31:12
No prob with gentle application whilst moving to remove glaze from the shoe faces and rust from the drum, but would not recommend handbrake turns in cars of a 'certain' age.  

Would bet that the two 'clunks' were the shoes locking on the drum and lrotating initially.  Whether any slack was actually taken up by the adjusters is very much in question....  They are designed to incrementally click on application.  Over zealous apllication only causes the shoes to lock and rotate and, potentially, rubber duck their operating ability.

No doubt someone clever will be along sometime to tell me I'm wrong, though!!

B
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: hotel21 on 21 April 2007, 22:32:25
Don't forget its a dual asembly at the rear - pads for the footbrake and internal, traditional, type shoes for the handbrake.  Two seperate systems on the same drum....
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: theolodian on 21 April 2007, 22:34:51
Quote
Don't forget its a dual asembly at the rear - pads for the footbrake and internal, traditional, type shoes for the handbrake.  Two seperate systems on the same drum....
Yeah, that's why I was trying to clean the pads.  ;)  First car I've had with these.  ::)
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: Markie on 21 April 2007, 23:00:10
Quote

No doubt someone clever will be along sometime to tell me I'm wrong, though!!

B

Im clever - your wrong  ;D joke of course  ;)

no actually your explanation will do for me  :y
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: hotel21 on 21 April 2007, 23:02:49
Cheers Markie.  My paypal subs are en route for your appreciation society as well!    ;D
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: Markjay on 22 April 2007, 00:34:05
Quote
How did you make this amazing discovery??

That’s the thing with amazing discoveries… seems obvious in hindsight but you wonder how did they think of it… for example eating eggs… I mean who was the first person to say ‘see this chicken? I’m going to eat the next thing that comes out of its bum...’  ;D
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: Pitchfork on 22 April 2007, 10:52:23
Just tried it
No clunks
No change- handbrake still pretty ineffective
Are you sure?
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: Elite Pete on 22 April 2007, 11:22:58
I predict theres going to be clouds of tyre smoke all over the UK today ;D
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: hotel21 on 22 April 2007, 12:01:05
And blue air when the handbrake shoes start grating against the inside of the drums, screaming for a rebuild....
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: Kevin Wood on 22 April 2007, 14:19:25
Does the handbrake have an automatic adjuster?
I thought it was manual, given the need to adjust it through the hole in the brake disc after putting it together.

May be wrong though. Also, I would have thought an automatic adjuster would work when the wheel is stopped, i.e. each time the hand brake is applied anyway?

Kevin
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: Pitchfork on 22 April 2007, 15:38:48
I don't think that the handbrakes are auto-adjust, but I know that they can be adjusted manually through the hub. The method advocated in this thread did not work for me & the handbrake is still as useless as it ever has been, especially with a heavy load in the back
I think that this method of adjustment must have been a fluke
IW
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: Dave-C on 22 April 2007, 16:02:26
Quote
Bet your rear hub was full of sh!te, shoes were glazed over, and all is now clear, hence the brake working?  

Grabbing a handfull at speed is not something I would suggest for cars of a 'certain age' as pulling on the handbrake at anything over a couple of miles per hour can cause the shoes to rotate within the hub and pull the steady pins (and springs) free from the rusting backing plate (or snap the rusty pins) and cause a mechanical cockup within the hub, requiring a stripdown and rebuild to repair.....
Just my tuppence, you understand....   ;)

HtH

b

Mmmmmmmmm!  I'll go with that, it's a parking brake first and foremost!  To be applied when vehicle stationary..... DC
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 22 April 2007, 19:55:58
I never ever use mine......so its not going to get worn out....ever  :y
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: Andy B on 22 April 2007, 20:01:44
Quote
I never ever use mine......so its not going to get worn out....ever  :y

 :o  :o   I got shouted at  :(  for admitting that P was usually my 'handbrake'!   ;D
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: TheBoy on 22 April 2007, 20:30:12
Quote
I never ever use mine......so its not going to get worn out....ever  :y
I never used to, being a lazy git.  A £245 bill to get it through MOT means I always use it now ;)
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: Matchless on 22 April 2007, 23:56:45
The Omega hand brake is not self-adjusting. The clunks you heard were the shoes rotating with the drum and hitting their stops, which proves that your handbrake needs to be adjusted properly.

The omega handbrake is only used as a parking brake, it doesn't see any rotation in normal use so the shoes never bed-in to the shape of the drum which can lead to poor performance. Rust can also build up on the drum surface if the brake is never applied (TB) and can lead to very vilolent snatching if you ever have to use the brake in an emergency (unlikely given twin circuits). I keep my handbrake in good condition by using it to control the reverse off the drive in the morning (autobox) which keeps the drum and shoes rust-free then I adjust at each annual service, and remove the drum for cleaning and lube every two years.
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: Markjay on 23 April 2007, 00:05:53
Quote
I never ever use mine......so its not going to get worn out....ever  :y

It's not going to get worn even if you do use it.... ever. There is no rotational friction when the car is stationary so no wear...

But if you don't use it, it will rust as others here said and as TB found out....



Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: Markjay on 23 April 2007, 00:11:46
AA told me about this....:

(http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/5462/image1ta1.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)


Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: TheBoy on 23 April 2007, 11:30:47
Quote
The Omega hand brake is not self-adjusting. The clunks you heard were the shoes rotating with the drum and hitting their stops, which proves that your handbrake needs to be adjusted properly.

The omega handbrake is only used as a parking brake, it doesn't see any rotation in normal use so the shoes never bed-in to the shape of the drum which can lead to poor performance. Rust can also build up on the drum surface if the brake is never applied (TB) and can lead to very vilolent snatching if you ever have to use the brake in an emergency (unlikely given twin circuits). I keep my handbrake in good condition by using it to control the reverse off the drive in the morning (autobox) which keeps the drum and shoes rust-free then I adjust at each annual service, and remove the drum for cleaning and lube every two years.
My problem was not only problems with the shoes and associated mech, but also some very seized cables....
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: Markjay on 23 April 2007, 12:56:09
Quote
Quote
The Omega hand brake is not self-adjusting. The clunks you heard were the shoes rotating with the drum and hitting their stops, which proves that your handbrake needs to be adjusted properly.

The omega handbrake is only used as a parking brake, it doesn't see any rotation in normal use so the shoes never bed-in to the shape of the drum which can lead to poor performance. Rust can also build up on the drum surface if the brake is never applied (TB) and can lead to very vilolent snatching if you ever have to use the brake in an emergency (unlikely given twin circuits). I keep my handbrake in good condition by using it to control the reverse off the drive in the morning (autobox) which keeps the drum and shoes rust-free then I adjust at each annual service, and remove the drum for cleaning and lube every two years.
My problem was not only problems with the shoes and associated mech, but also some very seized cables....


Classic case of use-it-or-loose-it...  ;)
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: theolodian on 23 April 2007, 18:10:06
Quote
The Omega hand brake is not self-adjusting. The clunks you heard were the shoes rotating with the drum and hitting their stops, which proves that your handbrake needs to be adjusted properly.

The omega handbrake is only used as a parking brake, it doesn't see any rotation in normal use so the shoes never bed-in to the shape of the drum which can lead to poor performance. Rust can also build up on the drum surface if the brake is never applied (TB) and can lead to very vilolent snatching if you ever have to use the brake in an emergency (unlikely given twin circuits). I keep my handbrake in good condition by using it to control the reverse off the drive in the morning (autobox) which keeps the drum and shoes rust-free then I adjust at each annual service, and remove the drum for cleaning and lube every two years.
Cheers, that describes it exactly.  It was snug just after, but then wasn't any better the next time I drove, clunked again and was tight, then loose again.  Guess I know where to start with the adjustment.  I am going to have to bodge it anyway.  I don't have any jackstands so I am NOT getting under the middle of the car.  Autobox will have to suffer along as well.
Title: Re: New super-advanced top secret guide!
Post by: TheBoy on 23 April 2007, 18:41:30
Quote
Quote
The Omega hand brake is not self-adjusting. The clunks you heard were the shoes rotating with the drum and hitting their stops, which proves that your handbrake needs to be adjusted properly.

The omega handbrake is only used as a parking brake, it doesn't see any rotation in normal use so the shoes never bed-in to the shape of the drum which can lead to poor performance. Rust can also build up on the drum surface if the brake is never applied (TB) and can lead to very vilolent snatching if you ever have to use the brake in an emergency (unlikely given twin circuits). I keep my handbrake in good condition by using it to control the reverse off the drive in the morning (autobox) which keeps the drum and shoes rust-free then I adjust at each annual service, and remove the drum for cleaning and lube every two years.
Cheers, that describes it exactly.  It was snug just after, but then wasn't any better the next time I drove, clunked again and was tight, then loose again.  Guess I know where to start with the adjustment.  I am going to have to bodge it anyway.  I don't have any jackstands so I am NOT getting under the middle of the car.  Autobox will have to suffer along as well.
I can loan you a set on axle stands.  Unfortunately, I need the only jack I trust almost daily until this tractor is sorted...