Handbrake Help Mot!

[AURISTR01]

Just had my MOT done, it passed but been given an advisory for parking brake tester was happy overall with the car said its "clean" but its only 3 years old so I guess it should be.

If the discs needed replacing they would have been picked up on the MOT test.

Im aware of leaving the car in gear and wheels turned towards kerb on a hill etc.

Had new pads fitted less than a month ago on old discs the handbrake does hold but only right at the top, so im assuming it needs adjustment is it an easy DIY if so please can you advise

Thanks in advance!

[ormi]

first thing to do is check for slack ie push the button in and pull up gently if you can feel free play then youll need to adjust the cable....also start the car push on the brake pedal as hard as you can and hold each push for 5 or so seconds do this a couple of times turn the car off and do the same that adjusts the hand brake too but remember you have to push as hard as you can

[AURISTR01]

If I pump the pedal a few times the handbrake has less travel and holds fine, but if I dont push the brakes a few times before applying the handbrake it only works at the top of the travel.

Is there a way to manualy adjust it?

[ormi]

strip out part of the center dash down by the hand brake and youll see a 10 mm nut that you use mate

[Big Auris]

Hi new Pads fitted to old discs require some time to bed in and only after running for several Hundred to a Thousand mile will the Hand Brake become more efficient.( I found this out myself) If you intend to adjust the Hand Brake Cable care must be taken NOT to adjust the Cables so tight that the Brake Calliper levers are not against the stops on the Calliper. If these levers are not agaist there stops the rear Callipers Pistons will not be allowed to automaticly adjust. It is very unusual for the Hand Brake Cable to require adjusted on this type of system and over adjustment can cause more harm than good, hope this helps.

[don21]

Parking brake pass for your car is 16%. That is of the brake weight for your car.

Should have asked what the percentage was on the RBT.

Caliper habdbrakes are generally poor anyway.

Auris rear discs are really crap already had to replace mine once.

Adjusting the travel is really not the answer.

[Chris Aaaaa]

My wife had trouble with her 07 auris, she has the automatic (electric clutch really) option, it would roll back on hill starts because she could not pull the handbrake on enough. A combination of the near vertical handbrake lever and her being short so having the seat forward.

Toyota do a kit for this situation to quote toyota, "there is a modification available. There is a kit which includes new cables and a new handle which resolves the problem. Instead of the hand break being 6-9 clicks, the modification takes it down to 3 clicks", fitting this did help.

It had a nominal price of £435 inc, we did not have to pay since we had not had the car long and the sale of goods act is very good.

A bit of flannel about being short and hill starts and you should be able to embarres Toyota into sorting it for you.

Chris

[AURISTR01]

I have not done anything about it just yet, because it seems to hold on about 2-3 clicks when the car has done a distance journey. Didnt bother adjusting as I agree it will make matters worse. It works on the top level on a hill to take precaution I leave it in gear.

Since the car is on the original discs from factory I will guess its the discs? because looking at the service history the rear discs are on the 3rd set of pads the car has done 70K.

I will see if theres an improvment next few thousand miles if not im tempted to get all new discs and pads all around.

See it it as a norm for the handbrake being poor because every car I have had with discs and pads on the rear appear to be poor, brake shoes work best on the rear.

I wish I could claim for the upgraded part from Toyota but im not short so it dosent help my case and the car dosent have service history from Toyota the last 20k have been home services using genuine parts.

Whilst on topic which brakes are good for the Auris and whats the approximate cost? im thinking of using Mintex as they dont have fade when pushed hard.

Cheers