Having had a number of BL cars over the years they all tend to suffer from
the same problem, and I have found the only solution is to dismantle the
linkage at the drum at every service, clean and lubricate - and that
includes a thin smear of grease on every metal-to-metal contact. I have had
less problem with the handbrake end of the cable and the pivot on the axle,
possibly because they get less wet and dirt than the wheels, but they should
be free and lubricated as well.
Pull up the handbrake and see what angle the lever makes with the cable as
the shoes contact the drum. Ideally they should be at right-angles for
maximum effectiveness, old levers will wear where the shoes ride on them and
need pulling out much more. Mine have been built up with weld to restore
the amount of lift. I can lock the wheels easily when rolling the roadster
down the drive and leaning in and pulling up the brake, the GT is not quite
so effective, possibly because of the greater weight.
Even so don't expect it to give much retardation when sitting in it and on
the move, it is only a parking brake, not an emergency brake.
PaulH.
----- Original Message -----
From: Stuart MacMillan <macmillan@home.com>
To: mgs <mgs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2000 6:15 PM
Subject: Any ideas why my parking brake is useless?
> Okay, this has been going on since I got the car (30 years!), but I am
> finally tired of living with it.
>
> On the '65 I can pull the bejeezus out of the brake handle and the shoes
> barely rub on the drums. Recently I've replaced the brake handle,
> installed a new cable and adjusted it, installed and adjusted new brake
> shoes (they are tight, adjuster works fine!), replaced the parking brake
> actuating assembly in the brake drum with the later type that has a
> longer lever arm, checked for damage to the backing plate, have the
> shoes correctly installed, and can't think of anything else to check.
>
> It is like the lever arm that goes through the backing plate is pulled
> to the point where something stops it just before the shoes put much
> pressure on the drum.
>
> I give up. Maybe replace the whole axle with a later type tube axle? I
> have no problem like this with the other cars.
>
> --
> Stuart MacMillan
> Seattle
>
> '84 Vanagon Westfalia w/2.1
> '65 MGB (Driven since 1969)
> '74 MGB GT (Restoring)
>
> Assisting on Restoration:
> '72 MGB GT (Daughter's)
> '64 MGB (Son's)
>
> Parts cars:
> '68 & '73 MGB, '67 MGB GT
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