Handbrake Adjustment

[Taxman]

I have just purchased a 1996 Explorer Limited, a pre-purchase inspection showed the handbrake was not working. I decided to get my mechanic to go over all the brakes to make sure they functioned properly. Flushed the system, machined the disks, new pads etc. When we pulled the rear disks off we found the handbrake pads were broken up and disintergrating, so we replaced them, then adjusted them up and replaced the disc. Only problem is that when you pull the handbrake lever, all you get is miles of travel and little else. Despite checking we cannot see any where where we can adjust lever travel in order to make the handbrake work. Any information or details that would get the handbrake working would be gratefully received.

Thanks
Taxman

 

[marragtop]

Have you traced the cables from the rear wheels forward? There may be a cable adjuster in there.

 

[budwich]

there isn't any cable adjuster... that would be too nice. The brake leveler itself is "self adjusting"... meaning it tries to maintain tension on the cable at all times... check to see if that it the case. If the cable is slack, odds are the spring tensioner is "bust". If the cable is tight, then you have an operational issue. Some people have taken in slack by "folding / looping" the cable on itself in a section near on of the joints.

 

[Taxman]

Thanks for your reply, when I looked at how crowded things were under the bonnet I somehow knew it wasn't going to be a simple fix.

Taxman

 

[Dan Whitaker]

The Australian Explorers have a hand operated parking brake (what we Yank's call it)?

The ones here in the states are foot operated.

 

[Burns]

Yeah The title really threw me off for a second.