hi all, my clubbie has decided to lock up its rear drums. It feels like the handbrake is permanently on. Has this happened to any one before? Any hints or tips on what may have caused it? Not 100% on the condition of the wheel cylinders but the brakes where working fine before this happened. Any help appreciated .

I think age has a lot to do with it.
Am interested too, as pushing Matt's K around is starting to get me fit

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Too many cars, and too little time.

Probably a cylinder siezed on a bit. Could be lots of 'maybe's' but either way replace them pronto with NEW stuff. Cylinders and linings are pretty cheap really. Mike ...just back off the brakes till you are ready to do the whole brake job. They roll pretty good too with the linings out !!!!

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62 Saxon Green 850
Clubby van

buy a rover sub frame from brickworx
there goods for handbrakes

but, wat ever floats ur boat

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Nigel Morton/ Team Brickworx
never late in a 998

its more than likely your cables have jamed on... jack up the car, put it on axle stands, or chock it up with "insurance blocks" and give the cables a bit of a pull at the backing plate of the rear braks, then cover everything in crc or lano-oil. i did mine the other day when it was on the hoist... before that, if i pulled on the hand brake, id have to get out, on my hands n knees and slacken off the cable on the side of the road!!!


hope this helps!!


-Cam

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IS NOW BACK ONLINE AFTER SOMETIME..... SORRY TO ALL, FOR NOT REPLYING TO PM'S!!

thanks everyone for your replies. I reckon its the cables, i was going through the car's history and all wheel cylinders where replaced a month before i bought the car, which was two years ago so they cant be stuffed already can they? Also the missus tells me she might have driven it with the handbrake halfway up for a short distance right before this happened . Thanks again for the help

check the rear handbrake pivot points, called quadrants i think. They can seieze.

Cheers
MAtt

Yes, get under the car and check the handbrake quadrants. I bet that's it. Pull on the cable from underneath the car, if they have frozen use wd40 and a light tap with a BFH to get the loose again. Keep the quadrants greased up to prevent them doing it again.

You can temporarily loosen up the brakes by turning the adjuster screw in the opposite direction to the forward direction of the car, keep turning untl the brakes are free (or at least more free than they currently are. Hint: you need a 5/8 open end spanner, or a special service tool made for that very task

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

ok, checked the cables and everything else to do with the handbrake, everythings good. Got a moblie brake guy coming out tomorrow to have a look. he says it sounds like its a wheel cylinder. I'd do it myself but im too busy at the moment. Plus i just did my front brakes and really dont fell like messing around with anything to do brakes on a mini again. Keep u all posted .

1) It could be a flexible hose that is stuffed. They can swell up internally and the fluid is forced through one way but will not return the other.

2) Handbrake quadrants and cables can also do it. (usually on one side not both but you never know!)

3) A brake lining that is coming away from the backing can cause one side to lock up.

4) Wheel cylinders.

5) Pressure regulating valve.

ok the brake guy has been and gone. Turns out the adjuster on one side was stripped and had loosened itself so the drums where stuck on. Went to the local mini wreckers (the mini king at blair athol is closest for me) and picked up a s/hand backing plate. Brake guy came back, replaced the backing plate and wheel cylinders on both sides (to be sure). All fixed now thank god and all up the whole lot only cost $150.
I highly recommend Quick Stop mobile brakes if u live in Adelaide, the guy did a fantastic job and was pretty cheap too.