setting up thehandbrake cable

[keri]

Hi I've looked in the concise repair manual but cannot find much info on setting up the handbrake after replacing the rear pads i assume after loosening of the handbrake cable and taking out old pads  you push and rotate at the same time  the piston back into the calliper then install new pads refit calliper and pump the brake pedal up to adjust the piston, reconnect cable and adjust using the square ended rod on underside which is attached to the lever? is this correct or is there another way to do this as I've done this and the handbrake is fine for the first couples of application then it just goes loose and if i operate the levers on the callipers the n/s hardly has  any movement and applies the brake but the o/s has  loads of movement   but does not operate the brake maybe a caliber fault within the adjusting mechanism inside the caliper/ any ideas

[Theo]

Hi I've looked in the concise repair manual but cannot find much info on setting up the handbrake after replacing the rear pads i assume after loosening of the handbrake cable and taking out old pads  you push and rotate at the same time  the piston back into the calliper then install new pads refit calliper and pump the brake pedal up to adjust the piston, reconnect cable and adjust using the square ended rod on underside which is attached to the lever? is this correct or is there another way to do this as I've done this and the handbrake is fine for the first couples of application then it just goes loose and if i operate the levers on the callipers the n/s hardly has  any movement and applies the brake but the o/s has  loads of movement   but does not operate the brake maybe a caliber fault within the adjusting mechanism inside the caliper/ any ideas

No! You don't twist and push. That may damage the handbrake rod thread and the handbreak will not work. It may be that you've already damaged the thread which is why your handbrake doesn't work. If that is the case, you'll need new pistons for the rear callipers. When changing rear pads, you need to twist the piston by 45 degrees. This releases the threaded rod behind the piston from the handbrake mechanism. Then push the piston without twisting. Once all the way in, turn the piston 45 degrees back to its normal position. The bump on the back of the new pads (assuming you have the proper Gamma pads) will fit in the slot on the piston. Then adjust the handbreak cable and pull the handbreak several times to check that it works and to move the piston out. If you need new pistons, try Bigg Red (https://www.biggred.co.uk/). They used to stock them but |I'm not sure if they still do.

[keri]

Hi Theo thanks for the reply i took the old caliber apart today and the thread on the piston is in places flat so  i think this is the issue  las luck would have it i have a pair of spare callipers so stripped the spare and the piston thread were really good so replaced the seals as i had a kit anyway and rebuilt so will fit tomorrow.  It did say in the manual to rotate piston 45 degrees but did not say why, and did not tell you to push piston back in without rotating it but we live and learn thanks for the information, on the automatic gearbox i asked about i eventually fitted a spare box that came with the car and it worked really well so happy with that, just the calliper a mot test to go and i am away.