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Author Topic: Handbrake Sorted!  (Read 2598 times)

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Hovelite

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Re: Handbrake Sorted!
« Reply #15 on: 10 February 2010, 23:06:04 »
Just reading about a pending trip to San Francisco and learnt that it's the law there to park in gear with your front wheels heading toward the kerb!  There must be loads of Omega drivers over there  :D
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Andy B

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Re: Handbrake Sorted!
« Reply #16 on: 10 February 2010, 23:13:31 »
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..... There must be loads of Omega drivers over there  :D

There's certainly loads of hills!!!!  :y :y :y
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Bixy1

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Re: Handbrake Sorted!
« Reply #17 on: 10 February 2010, 23:20:34 »

Its not just Omega's , Mrs Bixy's Astra handbrake has always been crap and we've had that for 9 years. New shoes, drums, cables nothing made any difference.  :'(

New cables on the Omega have really made a difference.  :y
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Andy H

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Re: Handbrake Sorted!
« Reply #18 on: 10 February 2010, 23:38:38 »
The stupid part about the Omega parking brake is that the actuator between the shoes is in the wrong place.

On a normal drum brake there is a fixed post between the shoes on one side and the actuator is between the shoes on the other side.

On the Omega the fixed post and the actuator are the same side (at the bottom). At the other side there is the adjusting strut.

When all is new and correctly adjusted you effectively have a 'twin leading shoe' brake that works with a fierce servo action.

When there is slack in the shoe adjustment they don't bite immediately which is why you sometimes have a fierce parking brake but other time nothing at all. >:(

The other problem is that the actuator mechanism tends to rust up but because it is floating between the two shoes it isn't readily apparent. To take the mechanism out and clean & lubricate it you have to remove the rear calipers and discs first. A nuisance but well worth doing before attempting to adjust the cable.
« Last Edit: 10 February 2010, 23:40:28 by andyh »
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Marks DTM Calib

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Re: Handbrake Sorted!
« Reply #19 on: 11 February 2010, 08:01:52 »
Quote
Its not just Omega's , Mrs Bixy's Astra handbrake has always been crap and we've had that for 9 years. New shoes, drums, cables nothing made any difference.  :'(

New cables on the Omega have really made a difference.  :y

Again, crappy setup by whoever has doen the wrok.

Because yet again, the rear setup on them is good, reliable and auto adjusts well IF the person working on it, knows the basics  :y
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Rob James

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Re: Handbrake Sorted!
« Reply #20 on: 11 February 2010, 14:42:26 »
Quote
Quote
Its not just Omega's , Mrs Bixy's Astra handbrake has always been crap and we've had that for 9 years. New shoes, drums, cables nothing made any difference.  :'(

New cables on the Omega have really made a difference.  :y

Again, crappy setup by whoever has doen the wrok.

Because yet again, the rear setup on them is good, reliable and auto adjusts well IF the person working on it, knows the basics  :y

As someone who has a poor handbrake, and doesn't know the basics. Is following the guide to sort the hand break fairly straight forward? And how long does it take?

Thanks - Rob.
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Marks DTM Calib

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Re: Handbrake Sorted!
« Reply #21 on: 11 February 2010, 15:05:43 »
Its easy enough and for a first timer, 2-3 hours of work.
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Rob James

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Re: Handbrake Sorted!
« Reply #22 on: 11 February 2010, 15:12:15 »
I'll give it a go then (although I'll wait for some warmer weather!)
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Andy H

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Re: Handbrake Sorted!
« Reply #23 on: 11 February 2010, 15:17:27 »
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Its easy enough and for a first timer, 2-3 hours of work.
The worst bit is jacking the car up high enough to get to the handbrake adjuster. Make sure you support the car well, it will kill you if it falls off the axle stands.

Second worst bit is getting to the nut on the handbrake actuating rod. I now have a deep 10mm socket and a collection of wobble bars so I can get to it without taking the heat shields off.

Thirdly, to get at the actuating arms, to free them off if they are seized, you need to remove the rear wheels, the rear calipers (and the rear shocks to get at the bolts) and the rear disc/drums.

Be careful with the shoe retaining pins. The backplates are flimsy and the keyhole that the retaining pins engage with can get chewed up.
« Last Edit: 11 February 2010, 15:18:27 by andyh »
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Marks DTM Calib

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Re: Handbrake Sorted!
« Reply #24 on: 11 February 2010, 15:40:26 »
Just follow the guide, you dont need to remove the rear shocks  :y
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Andy H

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Re: Handbrake Sorted!
« Reply #25 on: 11 February 2010, 15:55:08 »
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Just follow the guide, you dont need to remove the rear shocks  :y
The Guide http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1152564750
I had a very early Omega (1994) with different backplates and the early type of actuators that 'can seize'. Looks as though the position of the shock absorber lower mounting may have been improved on later cars too :y
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TheBoy

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Re: Handbrake Sorted!
« Reply #26 on: 11 February 2010, 18:41:53 »
I hate the rather things. Frequent bloody maintenence, bane of my life.

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robson

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Re: Handbrake Sorted!
« Reply #27 on: 11 February 2010, 20:06:16 »
Why do we love our Omegas when there are so many horrible jobs to be done on them
 and they are so low that there is a danger of death.
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TheBoy

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Re: Handbrake Sorted!
« Reply #28 on: 11 February 2010, 20:19:10 »
Quote
Why do we love our Omegas when there are so many horrible jobs to be done on them
 and they are so low that there is a danger of death.
eh?
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