In reply to a message from triton2000 sent Tue 17 Jun 2008:
Alex
As others have said, the handbrake is capable of all that’s
required when correctly installed and adjusted and properly bedded
in.
The problem often lies with the brass spreader forks that are
fitted on top of each handbrake caliper. With the rear cage in-car
it is very difficult to locate the fork ends in the hole in the pad
carrier and then get the rather odd set screw properly started.
Even with new spreader plates (they distort in use and are better
replaced when pads are renewed) it is not always a simple task to
fit them with the cage out of the car. Then there are the
operating arms which sometimes need the ratchet mechanism cleaning
of old grease.
At a seminar for home maintainers held at the Castle Bromwich
factory a while ago, handbrake pad replacement was easily the most
unpopular task, way ahead of engine rebuilds and all the other
tasks being discussed.
When your mechanic says he adjusted the handbrake, what did he do?
It is meant to be self-adjusting. Once installed it is only
necessary to apply the handbrake several times to take out any
slack. If he took out the slack in the cable before the ratchets
had run their course then it’s possible the self adjusting
mechanism was prevented from working.–
The original message included these comments:
The mechanic says that the brakes pads are too small for the
vehicle weigh.
My question is, any recall about this? Is just my car or the
series III has issues with this??
The series III’s have issues with this. I have four series III’s and the
parking brake, for all pratical purposes, is non-existant. Parking brake on
xj40 works fine.
In contrast, the parking brake on three Mercedes I have lock vehicle down
completely. You are not going anywhere until you release the parking brake.
Ken
“If I can’t fix it, it don’t get fixed”
1990 xj40 vdp
1986 xj6 III
1986 xj6 III vdp
1985 xj6 III
1984 xj6 III
1976 Mercedes 300D
1975 Mercedes 300D
1975 Mercedes 240D----- Original Message -----
From: joe@joea.com
To: xj@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2008 11:43 PM
Subject: Re: [xj] Hand Brake
Ken, that means the parking brake isn’t working correctly on all four of
them ! Its been 2-3 years now but I seem to remember bringing the engine up
to about 1500+ rpm before overcoming the parking brake…and even then the
car just moved just an inch or two.
Doug Dwyer
Longview Washington USA
1995 XJR
1990 T-Bird SCFrom: “Ken Weimer” kweimer@bellsouth.net
The series III’s have issues with this. I have four series III’s and the
parking brake, for all pratical purposes, is non-existant. Parking brake
on xj40 works fine.
In contrast, the parking brake on three Mercedes I have lock vehicle down
completely. You are not going anywhere until you release the parking
brake.
I never posted anything about a recall, and in fact I do not own a S3 XJ.
My post was regarding the hand brake and some countries where they have to comply with
a full stop the same as the wheel brakes.
Joe A
1969 S1On 17 Jun 2008 at 6:17, Ken Weimer wrote:
----- Original Message -----
From: <@joe1>
To: xj@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2008 11:43 PM
Subject: Re: [xj] Hand Brake
Joe says:
My question is, any recall about this? Is just my car or the
series III has issues with this??
The series III’s have issues with this. I have four series III’s and the
parking brake, for all pratical purposes, is non-existant. Parking brake on
xj40 works fine.
In contrast, the parking brake on three Mercedes I have lock vehicle down
completely. You are not going anywhere until you release the parking brake.
----- Original Message ----- From: joe@joea.com
To: xj@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2008 11:43 PM
Subject: Re: [xj] Hand Brake
Joe says:
My question is, any recall about this? Is just my car or the
series III has issues with this??
The series III’s have issues with this. I have four series III’s and
the parking brake, for all pratical purposes, is non-existant.
Parking brake on xj40 works fine.
In contrast, the parking brake on three Mercedes I have lock vehicle
down completely. You are not going anywhere until you release the
parking brake.
Yep, Ken - the latter vehicles mentioned have drum handbrakes. And while
the handbrake on SIIIs’ and earlier can be made to work they don’t hold
a candle to the more efficient drums. ‘Working fine’ when used about the
SIII set-up is a relative expression - it depends on what you want the
handbrake to do…
I can support what Doug says; properly adjusted, the parking brake is
effective - but it must be used! As with many things on these Jaguars, lack
of use will mean loss of ability to BE used.
Gregory
1966 Mark 2 3.8
1992 Series III V12 Vanden Plas (#92 of the last 100)
2002 X-Type
2004 XJ8 4.2-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xj@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-xj@jag-lovers.org] On Behalf Of
Doug Dwyer
Sent: June-17-08 5:15 AM
To: xj@jag-lovers.org
Subject: Re: [xj] Hand Brake
Ken, that means the parking brake isn’t working correctly on all four of
them ! Its been 2-3 years now but I seem to remember bringing the engine up
to about 1500+ rpm before overcoming the parking brake…and even then the
car just moved just an inch or two.
In reply to a message from Frank Andersen sent Tue 17 Jun 2008:
Misnamed:
At one time hese were referred to as emergency brakes. The German
requirement seems to be based on that misnomer. They are no such
thing.
Hand brake or parking brake, the latter is a more correct name for
the function.
Old Chrysler’s used an external contracting band on a drum just
behind the transmission. Very hard to get it adjusted just right.
Very good on hills when it was right. But, if applied as an
emergency brake at speed, it was not unknown for the driveshaft to
come adrift!! Usually more harmless than it wounds, but certainly
disconcerting.
Alex, upou are right. the diver’s manual in California describes
the correct way to curb the front wheels when parking on a hill.
But, in a Jaguar, beware of park in such a situation as you may pop
the shifter cable trying to get the trans out of park!!
The hand brake is a useful tool in executing a ‘‘bootlegger’s’’ turn.
Actually, Al & other Alex (got 3 now!?), the handbrake calipers each have an
adjusting screw that sets the range correctly so the ratcheting mechanism will
indeed work as you say. All that stuff needed lots of cleaning & lubing on
ours and that’s a Calif. car!
And, the pads are simply not as big as on any other car I’ve seen, for
performing a true emergency stop from speed. Apart from their grade
limitation, that’s evident even when they’re properly working, they really
aren’t to be considered “emergency brakes” by normal folks.
;]–
Alex
79xj6L SII (BRG + wires)
86xj6 SIII (Black)
61 Sprite MkII (Red)
Menlo Park, Calif.
almcl wrote:
In reply to a message from triton2000 sent Tue 17 Jun 2008:
Alex
As others have said, the handbrake is capable of all that’s
required when correctly installed and adjusted and properly bedded
in.
The problem often lies with the brass spreader forks that are
fitted on top of each handbrake caliper. With the rear cage in-car
it is very difficult to locate the fork ends in the hole in the pad
carrier and then get the rather odd set screw properly started.
Even with new spreader plates (they distort in use and are better
replaced when pads are renewed) it is not always a simple task to
fit them with the cage out of the car. Then there are the
operating arms which sometimes need the ratchet mechanism cleaning
of old grease.
At a seminar for home maintainers held at the Castle Bromwich
factory a while ago, handbrake pad replacement was easily the most
unpopular task, way ahead of engine rebuilds and all the other
tasks being discussed.
When your mechanic says he adjusted the handbrake, what did he do?
It is meant to be self-adjusting. Once installed it is only
necessary to apply the handbrake several times to take out any
slack. If he took out the slack in the cable before the ratchets
had run their course then it’s possible the self adjusting
mechanism was prevented from working.
Carl, never use P on a hill! That was our 3rd tow in a Jag.
;]
Actually, never use P in public at all, since you’ll have some expensive
tranny work isf someone just bumps your car enough.
:[–
Alex
79xj6L SII (BRG + wires)
86xj6 SIII (Black)
61 Sprite MkII (Red)
Menlo Park, Calif.
cadjag wrote:
In reply to a message from Frank Andersen sent Tue 17 Jun 2008:
Misnamed:
At one time hese were referred to as emergency brakes. The German
requirement seems to be based on that misnomer. They are no such
thing.
Hand brake or parking brake, the latter is a more correct name for
the function.
Old Chrysler’s used an external contracting band on a drum just
behind the transmission. Very hard to get it adjusted just right.
Very good on hills when it was right. But, if applied as an
emergency brake at speed, it was not unknown for the driveshaft to
come adrift!! Usually more harmless than it wounds, but certainly
disconcerting.
Alex, upou are right. the diver’s manual in California describes
the correct way to curb the front wheels when parking on a hill.
But, in a Jaguar, beware of park in such a situation as you may pop
the shifter cable trying to get the trans out of park!!
The hand brake is a useful tool in executing a ‘‘bootlegger’s’’ turn.
Joe, you are absolutely correct. I went back to see just where this quote
came from…it was a statement you had quoted from “triton2000”…I have a
way of jumping into the middle of a thread and screwing up quotes.
Sorry about that…I will be more careful in my 'quotes".
