MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB Technical - Handbrake imbalance

It takes 3 notches of the handbrake on the drivers side (longer rear cable) to lock the wheel(cannot move by hand)but the other side takes 4 notches and I can turn the wheel by hand at 3 notches althought it is clearly binding.The cables are all new and I have played with the adjusters on the back plates with no improvement. I'm concerned that the car may not pass the MOT but cannot see a solution. I've never liked handbrake systems with unequal cable lenghts as cannot see how you can set them up.
mj dodridge

Check the pivot, mounted on the rear axle, for freedom of movement. Often, they become rusted and don't allow for an even distribution of tension between the 2 sides. RAY
rjm RAY

Following on from rjm Ray's advice -

Can you turn either wheel when you pull the handbrake hard on? Theoretically one wheel will take the full force and then transfer the effort to the other side.

Mine's just passed its French MoT, but one wheel could still just be turned when the other was just locking. This imbalance disappeared sufficiently when the handbrake was fully on.
John Bilham

Have you had the drums off? there could be contamination on the linings. You will also be able to check the lever is free and adjuster tappets move.
c cummins

I would guess that the problem lies with the lever behind the brake shoes. These frequently seize up and need to be freed. Just remove the lever and put it in the vice lubricating the pivot whilst tapping the pivoting part round.
Iain MacKintosh

I think mine is like yours John. With 4 notches I cannot budge either wheel. I will check the points otheres have suggested but if nothing out of order will put it in for MOT as is.
mj dodridge

The handbrake is self-balancing as far as pressure goes using the pivot on the diff casing (before 78) or the rubber flap on the axle (78 and later). As long as that pivot is free then the same force will be applied to each handbrake lever that sticks out of the back-plate. The inner pulls on the left-hand wheel, and the outer pushes the pivot to pull on the right-hand wheel. After that it is down to whether the pivot on either handbrake lever is seized or not, and the condition of the shoes and drums. But the MOT tests the handbrake with it pulled hard on to make sure both wheels give a certain minimum retardation, so a difference of one notch is nothing to worry about. BL handbrakes are usually marginal unless they are cleaned and all the linkages lubricated regularly.

4 notches sounds a bit low to me, they will bind and overheat if adjusted too tight. Personally I prefer to be able to pull on one notch and feel no dragging, then I know it is free when fully down. They also vary from car to car, I have to have my V8 set one notch looser on the back-plate adjuster than the roadster or they tend to bind. It's only then you adjust the handbrake cable itself.
PaulH Solihull

This thread was discussed between 16/01/2011 and 18/01/2011

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGB Technical BBS now