Been trying to get my hand brake adjusted, does not hold. I
adjusted the cable underneath the car to no avail. Other than the
pads, which I will be inspecting this week, any other items to
adjust? I have heard those pads should last a very long time since
they really don’t suffer much wear at all since they only grip the
rotor at a standstill (barring emergency stops).
At 150K miles, anything is possible I suppose. Mechanical repairs
are a weekly occurence on this cat :)–
Dave Williamson 85 XJ6 VDP ‘Black Beauty’
Lansdale, PA, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
In reply to a message from 1985vdp sent Mon 24 Oct 2005:
The cable is not adjustable. There is an automatic
ratcheting self adjuster in the parking brake caliper, and
the grease that the factory used solidifies over time and
prevents the setup from working. The calipers have to come
out, get cleaned up, greased and reinstalled.
In reply to a message from 1985vdp sent Mon 24 Oct 2005:
In addition to the dried out grease issue, the bronze ‘spreader’
washer that goes under the mounting bolts can distort over time.
If you’re getting the calipers off (to clean) it’s worth replacing
the spreaders and the pads. Sometimes I can do the handbrake pads
in an afternoon and sometimes I can’t but it does seem to rate
as one of the less popular jobs…–
The original message included these comments:
pads, which I will be inspecting this week, any other items to
adjust? I have heard those pads should last a very long time since
At 150K miles, anything is possible I suppose. Mechanical repairs
In reply to a message from 1985vdp sent Mon 24 Oct 2005:
Lift the car up to examine the pads, you might not have
any left?
If you have pad material left, disconnect the rear cable
at both levers, then try to see if the levers pull the
pads toward th rotors when you pull on the lever.
If that works then rotate the cable till you can apply the
handbrakes when connected. I mean rotate the cable.
Walter
78XJ6 ser.II--
The original message included these comments:
Been trying to get my hand brake adjusted, does not hold. I
In reply to a message from 1985vdp sent Mon 24 Oct 2005:
The cable is not adjustable. >
Tony
Tony Koschinsky '90 V12 VDP, '86 XJ6 Sovereign, '69 TR6
Emerald Park, Saskatchewan, Canada
I’m glad I adjusted mine before I read this…
regards,
John Hudson
Brisbane Australia
71 SI XJ6, 85 SIII XJ6----- Original Message -----
From: “tonyk” tkoschinsky@justice.gov.sk.ca
To: xj@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 12:12 AM
Subject: Re: [xj] Hand Brake
In reply to a message from John Hudson sent Tue 25 Oct 2005:
I have had this problem in the past, before dismantling
everything try this trick. Remove the cable from the
levers. get your trusty mole wrench/gator grip grab the
lever & waggle it backwards & forewards in the general
direction of cable pull pretty violently. Do it to both
levers. I have often found that this will wake up the
ratchet adjusters & on refitting the cable you have an
excellent handbrake again - assuming you have some pad
material left! worth a try!–
The original message included these comments:
In reply to a message from John Hudson sent Tue 25 Oct 2005:
Hi guys,
I’ve just joined the forum and seen this thread. Wondered if you’re
still around and can help me.
My '85 XJ6 Sovereign S111 has just failed its MOT because the hand
brake has 18% efficiency!
I’ve got no maintanance manuals. Any idea where I could find step
by step instructions on how to replace my pads. I’ve got only 2
weeks to re-present the car for the test and I’m a complete novice!
Thanks for any help.
Stripey–
The original message included these comments:
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 12:12 AM
Subject: Re: [xj] Hand Brake
Stripey: (please give us your real name; we are not anonymous on this
list):
we are always around.
your parking brake pads do not need to be replaced; they never wear
out.
the problem is in the self-adjusting mechanism which is clogged with
its original grease.
the solution is to clean and relubricate, but this is not an easy
task because you need to have the car on a lift. Any chance of that?
There is an adjustment that can be done, but it is not the primary fix.
The adjuster is located under the driver’s door (you will easily see the
cable and the triangular cover plate). You may want to consult a
mechanic about this.
In reply to a message from John Hudson sent Tue 25 Oct 2005:
Hi guys,
I’ve just joined the forum and seen this thread. Wondered if you’re
still around and can help me.
My '85 XJ6 Sovereign S111 has just failed its MOT because the hand
brake has 18% efficiency!
I’ve got no maintanance manuals. Any idea where I could find step
by step instructions on how to replace my pads. I’ve got only 2
weeks to re-present the car for the test and I’m a complete novice!
Thanks for any help.
In reply to a message from Dr. Gregory Andrachuk sent Mon 21 Nov 2005:
Gregory,
Will pulling the handbrake in itself adjust the mechanism ?
My entire rear braking system, including handbrake and
hardware was rebuilt. Since the handbrake has never worked
in my car, I was assuming pulling it a few times after it is
rebuilt is the way to adjust the tension.
Is this correct ? All of the levers, mounts and pads are
new and regreased.–
Dave Williamson 85 XJ6 VDP ‘Black Beauty’
Lansdale, PA, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –
I “overhauled” the handbrake calipers on both my Jags and observed that, in
both cases, the pads needing bedding-in before the handbrake actually held.
I accomplished this by gradually applying the handbrake while coasting at 10
mph. I did this twice a day for several days and now they grip fiercely.
Relative to Gregory’s remarks in another thread, I find the parking brake is
very effective…as a “parking brake”. Using it as an “emergency
brake”…well… let’s just hope that everyone here wears seatbelts.
Once you get the handbrake working you must remember to use it every day
to keep the mechanism adjusted and to prevent it from seizing up due to lack
of use.
Doug Dwyer
Longview, Washington USA
1987 Ser III XJ6
1988 XJS V12From: “1985vdp” davewilliamson2@verizon.net
Will pulling the handbrake in itself adjust the mechanism ?
My entire rear braking system, including handbrake and
hardware was rebuilt. Since the handbrake has never worked
in my car, I was assuming pulling it a few times after it is
rebuilt is the way to adjust the tension.
Is this correct ? All of the levers, mounts and pads are
new and regreased.
One further point about the rear handbrake caliper self-adjusters. For this mechanism to function properly, the calipers must fully
release. If the handbrake cable has been shortened, it can prevent the calipers from completely releasing, causing the
self-adjusting mechanism not to work as designed.
Best regards,
Gregory Wells 800-331-2193 x103
Coventry West, Inc. Atlanta, GA
Jaguar & Land Rover Parts
(New, Rebuilt & Used) www.coventrywest.com
In reply to a message from Gregory Wells sent Mon 21 Nov 2005:
Dead right there Greg probably the most common cause of
poor handbrake.
My favorite cure is to release the cable adjustment,unhook
the cable from the levers on the calipers,grab each lever
with a gatorgrip(mole wrench) & waggle back & forth
violently in the direction of operation. 99 times out of a
hundred this wakes up the ratchets & when you reconnect the
cable & adjust it you have an excellent handbrake.–
The original message included these comments:
One further point about the rear handbrake caliper self-adjusters. For this mechanism to function properly, the calipers must fully
release. If the handbrake cable has been shortened, it can prevent the calipers from completely releasing, causing the
self-adjusting mechanism not to work as designed.
Let me explain another of my bizarre engineering habits – when pulling into
parking spaces, I often stop with the handbrake – in any car. Yes, it’s a
bit more exciting in a Jag, but it keeps the pads/shoes clean and mechanism
operating. On the Jags it’s not so important because the same disc is wiped
by the main pads, but on some cars, the parking brakes are separate, running
separate shoes inside a drum within a disc (old Volvos), etc. These
definitely benefit from such frequent use. It does sometimes startle a
passenger though.
An initial ‘bedding’ treatment for any pad is to hold it face down on a flat
concrete floor and run it around with your hand in a circular fashion, to
roughen but flatten the surface. Note that discs too, when machined, are not
delivered with mirror (glazed) finishes.–
Alex
79xj6L SII (BRG + wires)
86xj6 SIII (Black)
61 Sprite MkII (Red)
Menlo Park, Calif.
Doug Dwyer wrote:
Yes, it will self adjust.
I “overhauled” the handbrake calipers on both my Jags and observed that, in
both cases, the pads needing bedding-in before the handbrake actually held.
I accomplished this by gradually applying the handbrake while coasting at 10
mph. I did this twice a day for several days and now they grip fiercely.
Relative to Gregory’s remarks in another thread, I find the parking brake is
very effective…as a “parking brake”. Using it as an “emergency
brake”…well… let’s just hope that everyone here wears seatbelts.
Once you get the handbrake working you must remember to use it every day
to keep the mechanism adjusted and to prevent it from seizing up due to lack
of use.
In reply to a message from Doug Dwyer sent Thu 24 Nov 2005:
Doug I never pass up an opportunity to ‘chime in’!
Some time ago Doug and I dropped the cage on my car for a full re-
do of just about everything - including the hadbrake caliper.
After putting everything back together, the handbrake still would
not hold so I drove around Doug’s parking area at low speed with
the handbrake on. After a little bit, the handbrake caliper and the
pads started working as designed. I now have a fully functional
handbrake. The problem, BTW, was dried up grease and gunk in the
caliper. Once removed, cleaned and reinstalled, the caliper is
fine. I don’t think handbrake pads ever wear out and if the
handbrake is set everytime the car is parked, the caliper will stay
functional. Infrequent use of the handbrake is probably the
primary cause of most of its problems.–
The original message included these comments:
I’ve startled a passenger or two. Quite unintentional, of course. And
certainly not while performing something so prosaic as bedding in brake pads
Bruce…care to chime in here ?
Hi guys I have some questions for you,
I am the owner of a Jaguar XJ6 1985.
In my country every car must has the hand brake in perfect
condition, If not you do not get the tag to drive the car.
The mechanic says that the brakes pads are too small for the
vehicle weigh.
He already adjusted and replaced the pads but the car still moves
in neutral
My question is, any recall about this? Is just my car or the
series III has issues with this??
If the car moves in neutral, then the parking brake system is not in good order.
I lived in Germany a few years back and they require the parking brake to do one stop to the
full extent of the normal brake system. The XJ parking brakes are up to it if properly adjusted
and everything is in good working order.
Something is not up to snuff in the parking brake system on your car.
Joe AOn 17 Jun 2008 at 5:18, triton2000 wrote:
Hi guys I have some questions for you,
I am the owner of a Jaguar XJ6 1985.
In my country every car must has the hand brake in perfect
condition, If not you do not get the tag to drive the car.
The mechanic says that the brakes pads are too small for the
vehicle weigh.
He already adjusted and replaced the pads but the car still moves
in neutral
My question is, any recall about this? Is just my car or the
series III has issues with this??
Assuming proper adjustment, and that the handbrake calipers are not seized,
it may just be a matter of bedding-in the new pads.
When you leave in the morning apply the hand brake 3-4 times at 10 mph.
Repeat on your way home in the afternoon. After 2-3 days you might well
find your handbrake grips very well.
Worked liked a charm for me on the XJ6 and XJS
Doug Dwyer
Longview Washington USA
1995 XJR
1990 T-Bird SCFrom: “triton2000” alexsalasch@hotmail.com
The mechanic says that the brakes pads are too small for the
vehicle weigh.
He already adjusted and replaced the pads but the car still moves
in neutral
My question is, any recall about this? Is just my car or the
series III has issues with this??
Hi guys I have some questions for you,
I am the owner of a Jaguar XJ6 1985.
In my country every car must has the hand brake in perfect
condition, If not you do not get the tag to drive the car.
The mechanic says that the brakes pads are too small for the
vehicle weigh.
He already adjusted and replaced the pads but the car still moves
in neutral
My question is, any recall about this? Is just my car or the
series III has issues with this??
Thanks a lot any comment will help me a lot.
The handbrake is really a joke as an emergency back-up brake, Alex -
your mechanics comment is relevant in that respect. It’s not so much the
actual size of the pad as such, but the small area may cause overheating
and delamination of the pad material from the backing if the handbrake
is used with force on a moving vehicle from speed…
But it should certainly hold the car in neutral, unless your driveway is
steep. And it should hold in idle ‘D’ as well, so something is certainly
amiss - bedding in the pads as suggested by Doug is certainly relevant.
But the ‘transfer’ system between the brake handle and rear brake wire
should also be examined. On mine a pulley system is used to transfer the
pull to a horizontal bar - if it jumps the pulley you will have very
little brake effect. Also the wire attachments on the bar is adjustable,
like increasing the pad force at the cost of increased handbrake travel-…
Nothing is mentioned about handbrake pad hardness - softer pads give
better grip and hold, but is somewhat counterproductive in the emergency
brake role…
As others say, the handbrake is both inadequate for emergencies, but effective
for parking on up to 10% grades. So, yours sounds still in need of examination.
The one on our SIII never worked until I dropped the rear end and found one
pad totally missing from its backing plate – a failure common to overheating
of the brakes being left on (pic 5)…
No worrys now! By the way, in SF, it’s against the law to park with just the
handbrake or in P, the front wheels must be turned against a curb.–
Alex
79xj6L SII (BRG + wires)
86xj6 SIII (Black)
61 Sprite MkII (Red)
Menlo Park, Calif.
triton2000 wrote:
Hi guys I have some questions for you,
I am the owner of a Jaguar XJ6 1985.
In my country every car must has the hand brake in perfect
condition, If not you do not get the tag to drive the car.
The mechanic says that the brakes pads are too small for the
vehicle weigh.
He already adjusted and replaced the pads but the car still moves
in neutral
My question is, any recall about this? Is just my car or the
series III has issues with this??
but it does seem to rate