While trying to adjust my handbrake I noticed that the Quadrant would rotate around and hit the subframe before the handbrake came on.
On investigation I found that the handbrake lever in the rear brake shoe was worn to this shape?


I don't think it should have the little centre groove

The car is an 850 fitted with 7 1/2" discs but I don't think the rear wheel cylinders have been changed to 5/8". Should I change them.

Also there are no circlips retaining the brake cylinders so I guess I need these too

Are my above assumptions correct

Phil

_________________
Find a job you love and you will never have to go to work !

I think you might have to change cylinders to get it 100%.
Why not just buy complete backing plate set up, wouldn't be much more than all the bits you need to fix yours

never seen them that shape at all! - I've only ever looked at later cars which have boring straight ones with just a hook at the end



if you don't change the rear wheel cylinders to 5/8" bore, the rear brakes lock up before the fronts in an emergency situation.

_________________
did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Bought 5/8" slave cylinders and new handbrake levers. The new ones have a much better mechanical advantage but will require more cable travel.


Perhaps I should weld up my old worn ones !

_________________
Find a job you love and you will never have to go to work !

That clevis pin hole looks worn as well on the old one

When it comes to brakes your better of with new parts then trying to reco old parts to save $$$

I'm not being tight because I have already bought the new ones.
It's just that I will need a lot more brake cable travel with the new ones because of the difference in lever length .

_________________
Find a job you love and you will never have to go to work !

why not redrill cable hole closer to pivot, will increase effort required but lessen travel required

Have you undone the nuts on the handbrake handle that should give more travel

The problem I was originally having was that the quadrant that the handbrake cable runs around was hitting the subframe before the brake came on.
Fixing the wear on the old lever might cure this with the original lever ratio or as Peterb has indicated I could drill a new hole in the new levers.

_________________
Find a job you love and you will never have to go to work !

Try it first with the new lever. The factory did lengthen them to improve performance. (on the Morris 1100 they lengthened the handbrake lever as well!)

The handbrake quadrants are asymmetric.. they can be installed upside down. If this is done, the symptoms are exactly as you describe...

Had issues with the handbrake on one side of my S for years until this was pointed out by an old and bold ex Morris (sic) apprentice...

Cheers, Ian

Sorry to hijack thread but it's on similar line. The single cable Rover one's, is it an advantage or just cost saver?