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[Chopsdad]

My barge is booked in for MOT on Thursday and the only thing that concerns me is the handbrake.  It has 5 useless clicks and holds (well) on number 6.  There is no number 7.

When engaged it holds fine but should I fettle with it before it goes in?  I'd rather not   :-?

[theolodian]

Yeah, mine only works on the last click too.  

[bizza69]

Mine's exactly the same, I've not had any probs so far; maybe just make sure you're the one sitting in the car at the time and you can make sure you give it a good yark.... I have to have the armrest up out of the way for mine to engage.  Good luck  

[Dave-C]

Mine passed on 6 last week, there was about 15% difference between L & R wheels,,,,

DC

[Auto Addict]

4 clicks....

[Kevin Wood]

Even if the handbrake produces sufficient braking I think you can be failed on "insufficient reserve travel" of the lever.

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_310.htm

check that the lever is not at the end of its working travel and that there is no fouling of adjacent parts

Might be worth adjusting if you're right at the top of the travel. Then again, mine's up against the centre armrest before anything happens and it was MOT'ed the day before I bought it.

Kevin

[DaveL]

You have to check that the cable from the hand brake lever is free and tightens up when the lever is pulled.

Personally i like the hand brake lever to come on with 5 to 6 clicks, but having sufficient movement if needed to pull on further. Remember the hand brake is a safety device that is there in an emergancy and not only for parking.

If the lever operates above 90 degrees from the rest posistion then i would be looking at adjustment.
 8-)
DaveL

[Hillper]

How is it a safety device in an emergency?

[Kevin Wood]

How is it a safety device in an emergency?

I guess if both hydraulic systems failed you could yank the handbrake on and, instead of crashing in a straight line, you'd do a couple of most attractive pirouettes as you tried to control the car with 2 locked rears, before crashing regardless, and it would make much better viewing on Police! Camera! Action!  

Even on my Westie that weighs 650Kg (a whole tonne less than the Omega) and has a handbrake that's about as good as they get I'd find it pretty useless in an emergency situation. Full application of the handbrake would be touch and go as to whether it would stop the car in the stopping distance I would give myself when pootling about, let alone when "pressing on" a bit.


Kevin

[RolandL]

How is it a safety device in an emergency?

I guess if both hydraulic systems failed you could yank the handbrake on and, instead of crashing in a straight line, you'd do a couple of most attractive pirouettes as you tried to control the car with 2 locked rears, before crashing regardless, and it would make much better viewing on Police! Camera! Action!  

Even on my Westie that weighs 650Kg (a whole tonne less than the Omega) and has a handbrake that's about as good as they get I'd find it pretty useless in an emergency situation. Full application of the handbrake would be touch and go as to whether it would stop the car in the stopping distance I would give myself when pootling about, let alone when "pressing on" a bit.


Kevin

Last year when out in my Locost I came to T junction applied brakes Nothing   ! yanked handbrake and it stopped me before I shot out into the main road, so I would consider it useful in an emergency  

btw my Omega is 4 clicks

[DaveL]

Hey do not shot the messenger, that is what they are supposed to be for. Why do you think that the brake is checked in a M.O.T. with the wheels turning :question

i know how useless they are in stopping in a straight line.

After running over a load of junk on a local road, i had the misfortune to have brake pipes ripped from underneath, so all of a sudden no brakes. After using the handbrake in anger you can control the 'twitch' before propelling yourself into the hedge row. I know i was that soldier.

The resulting insurance claim and dry cleaning bill was very interesting.
 8-)
DaveL

[Tony H]

How is it a safety device in an emergency?

I guess if both hydraulic systems failed you could yank the handbrake on and, instead of crashing in a straight line, you'd do a couple of most attractive pirouettes as you tried to control the car with 2 locked rears, before crashing regardless, and it would make much better viewing on Police! Camera! Action!  

Even on my Westie that weighs 650Kg (a whole tonne less than the Omega) and has a handbrake that's about as good as they get I'd find it pretty useless in an emergency situation. Full application of the handbrake would be touch and go as to whether it would stop the car in the stopping distance I would give myself when pootling about, let alone when "pressing on" a bit.
I think using the handbrake as a method of slowing the car down in the event of main brake failure is preferable to the alternative of opening the door and dragging your foot along the floor

Kevin

[JasonH]

Handbrake is supposed to have no effect at 3 clicks and be fully on by 7 clicks... so yours should be fine.

[DaveL]

Well sense prevails at last....
 8-)
DaveL

[theolodian]

Mine seems to hold OK.  I parked on a slope today and was focused so much on the parking brake that I left the tranny in D.      Car hadn't moved when I came back.  8-)