8 replies to this topic

[leefleming]

Hello Guys,

 

My mate has got my Mini at the minute, having a look at a few things to get it through the next MOT.

 

One of the problems is, the handbrake is weak on drivers side.

 

He has told me I need a new "Rear Brake Adjuster" so he can tighten the handbrake as the one that is on isn't budging.

 

Is this the little fella I need - http://www.minispare...ch/classic/REAR

 

If so should I get a few, (their cheap enough)

 

Cheers

 

[liam1288]

yeah thats what he means though is this because its rounded off and cannot turn it or its siezed solid?

[AVV IT]

Yes that's it and whilst I suppose it's worth having a spare, they shouldn't really need replacing regularly so long as you brakes are well maintained and the adjusters are lubed with copper grease to prevent further seizing, so you really shouldn't need a few of them. As your mate can't actually get the adjuster to move though, then the question I would ask is whether he's going to be able to get the old adjuster out, because if he can't then you're going to need a whole new back plate assembly, not just a new adjuster. 

[leefleming]

To be honest, I thought the exact same question as I was uploading the last post.

I'm not too sure. This is all he's asked for, but I'll go and see him to sort it out.

 

Thanks for the help fellas.

[lrostoke]

I tried drilling one out once that was very stubborn....not a chance just kept killing drill bits.

 

We ended up getting a couple of 2nd hand early metro ones from local scrapyard £10 :)  

[leefleming]

I spoke to him earlier and he said I might need a plate.
It needs it for the MOT so it's getting done

[sonikk4]

Have you got the drum off?? if so you can apply some heat or a lot of penetrating fluid to see if that will free it off. 

[AVV IT]

I spoke to him earlier and he said I might need a plate.
It needs it for the MOT so it's getting done

 

To be fair if the adjuster is seized in and won't come out, then the back plate assembly has got to be stripped down and removed, if you're going to try and drill it out. In which case for the price of a replacement, you might as well just fit a new shiny one any way.

[iwatkins]

Even if it won't free off and you can't get the drum off....

Get the proper square spanner on it and knock it left and right with a hammer, that'll usually get it moving enough to adjust enough to get the drum off. If rounded off, a big pair of mole grips instead of the square spanner. It's how I finally got mine loosened off enough to get the drums off.

Turned out the back plates on mine were shot anyway, so the whole lot got replaced.

Got a completely built up set of new back plates, with new cylinders, adjusters, shoes, springs etc. plus hard and flexible hoses and fixings for £92 on eBay. Saved a lot of grief in the long run.

Cheers

Ian

Edited by iwatkins, 15 May 2013 - 07:23 PM.