[xk8] emergency brake is stuck

I usually lurk on the XJ40 list but tonight I must ask about
my sisters 2002 XK8.

She drove it to my house but when she went to leave the
brake light was illuminated. She said it happened once
before and some guy jiggled the emergency brake handle and
got it to go off. I pulled on the emergency brake handle and
there was no resistance, it was as floppy as a dead rabbit.

I live on a hill, started the car, put it in neutral and it
did not drift. I put it in gear and gave some gas and it
felt like a hand was holding the car, plus you could hear
the sound of engaged brakes.

She said she could smell brakes.

What is the emergency brake set-up on an XK8? Are they drums?

I took it for a short ride hoping that the brakes would let
loose but no go.

They just bought the car and it had 15,000 miles on it. To
me that would have been a negative because I am one of those
people that think rust never sleeps and a sitting car is
prime for rusting parts. I have a feeling that there is
some rusty stuff in the emergency brake area.

Any ideas?–
John 90 XJ40
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The brake’s not stuck. It’s working the way it’s supposed to. Do the
following:

  1. Pull the brake handle up until you feel resistance and hold it there.
  2. Press on the button in the end of the handle and while pressing it, pull
    up further.
  3. Continue to hold the button and lower the handle. This will release the
    brake.

They let it flop so it gets out of the way of the driver entering and
exiting the car.

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xk8@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-xk8@jag-lovers.org] On
Behalf Of John S
Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 7:38 PM
To: xk8@jag-lovers.org
Subject: [xk8] emergency brake is stuck

I usually lurk on the XJ40 list but tonight I must ask about
my sisters 2002 XK8.

She drove it to my house but when she went to leave the
brake light was illuminated. She said it happened once
before and some guy jiggled the emergency brake handle and
got it to go off. I pulled on the emergency brake handle and
there was no resistance, it was as floppy as a dead rabbit.

I live on a hill, started the car, put it in neutral and it
did not drift. I put it in gear and gave some gas and it
felt like a hand was holding the car, plus you could hear
the sound of engaged brakes.

She said she could smell brakes.

What is the emergency brake set-up on an XK8? Are they drums?

I took it for a short ride hoping that the brakes would let
loose but no go.

They just bought the car and it had 15,000 miles on it. To
me that would have been a negative because I am one of those
people that think rust never sleeps and a sitting car is
prime for rusting parts. I have a feeling that there is
some rusty stuff in the emergency brake area.

Any ideas?

John 90 XJ40
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On Line Books and more !

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In reply to a message from John S sent Tue 3 Nov 2009:

The emergency brake on the XK8 is a set of small brake SHOES which
bear on a drum that forms the inner side of the rotors. In other
words, the rear rotors are both a disc and a drum.

It soundw to me like you have a problem in the emergency brake
handle or in the brake cable. Normally when you set the emergency
brake you simply pull up on the handle until it is tight (you will
hear a ratchety click as you do). Once the brake is set, the
handle will be slack from its bottom point up to the point where it
is set. To release the brake, you normally pull up on the handle
just past the tightened point, while pressing the release button.
Then you can lower the handle.

It may be that your cable is stretched (or misadjusted) such that,
with the brake set, when you raise the handle, you are pulling it
to its full extension before you are able to relieve the pressure
on the handle.

If it were me, I would get under the car and tighten up the
emergency brake cable a few turns. Just ahead of the differential,
you will see a Y shaped cable. The ears of the Y go to the brakes
and are joined together at the center cable. There is a turnbuckle
that allows for taking the slack out of the cable.

I wouldn’t drive the car much until I were sure the emergency brake
was off.–
Glen - 69 E-type OTS, 2000 XK8, 59 MGA
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In reply to a message from Carl Davidson sent Tue 3 Nov 2009:

Oh my God after all these years this was the cry in the 70’s
my hand brake is seized on & gone floppy MOT failure WRONG
the hand brake on the XK8 & the Aston Martin are the same
reason they are both basicaly an XJ-S
It drops out of the way once applied then appears floppy &
useless
Pull floppy & useless hand brake up till it clicks depress
button on the end of floppy & useless hand brake and lower
hand brake now off–
The original message included these comments:

The brake’s not stuck. It’s working the way it’s supposed to. Do the


Bleasie International Cabriolet Register c/o 92hot@aol.com
GRIMSBY, United Kingdom
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In reply to a message from Carl Davidson sent Tue 3 Nov 2009:

Last night I did pull it to the top and hold the button
while releasing. I felt no resistance except the lever
hitting the end of its travel. I’ll give it a try this
morning. Maybe she was driving on the emergency brakes for a
while and the pads are worn to the point that the cable has
so much slack there isn’t anything to pull to release.

This morning I’ll give it another try and will look under
the car. The general engineering is usually the same, with
a ‘‘Y’’ cable at the end. Could be that where the wire goes
into the sheathing there is a bit of gunk built up.–
The original message included these comments:

  1. Pull the brake handle up until you feel resistance and hold it there.


John 90 XJ40
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In reply to a message from Carl Davidson sent Tue 3 Nov 2009:

On my XK8 2002 coupe the handbrake is VERY hard to set and to
release. My wife can’t even set it on enough for the brake to hold
the car on a small incline.

When I set it, it’s a very hard pull to the top to get it set and
an even harder pull, sometimes with two hands to get it released.

Just pulling it up to where it ‘‘stops’’ on my car is where you have
to start ‘‘really’’ pulling hard to get it to release.

What is the info message saying on the dash? Does it say that the
break is on? On my car the messsage does go out once the break is
actually released.–
Bill Row
Burbank, California, United States
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In reply to a message from Bleasie sent Wed 4 Nov 2009:

Since my SIII and XJ140 have the hand brake on the inside of
the car, it never ‘‘flops’’ down. So I found the flop down to
be different. I can understand why, to get it out of the
way of your entrance.–
The original message included these comments:

Oh my God after all these years this was the cry in the 70’s
my hand brake is seized on & gone floppy MOT failure WRONG


John 90 XJ40
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In reply to a message from WAR sent Wed 4 Nov 2009:

The light was illuminated.

All is now fixed.

The cable yoke was so loose that she had to pull the handle
to its fullest extension to even set the brake.

Now I would like to know how much slack there should be at
the cable yoke? Or a better question…ho many clicks
before brake is set.

I have a feeling she burned off a bit of the pads while
driving with the brake on and that is why the cable yoke was
so darn loose.

The cables where they enter the rubbers under the car was
really dirty and there could have been some sticking
there…took care of that one.–
The original message included these comments:

When I set it, it’s a very hard pull to the top to get it set and
an even harder pull, sometimes with two hands to get it released.
break is on? On my car the messsage does go out once the break is
actually released.


John 90 XJ40
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Speaking of emergency brakes, watch out for the mechanics when you get your car inspected. In Texas the rule is that the emergency brake must act only as a parking brake. In other words, it must hold the car from a dead stop with a slight tap on the accelerator pedal. That is all.

I had a mechanic trying to stop a moving XJS using the parking brake. He failed me on the test and I think ruined my brakes. I had to research the law, bring a print out of the law to him, argue and finally get him to pass me.____________________________________________________________
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In reply to a message from mejelliott@juno.com sent Thu 5 Nov 2009:

The emergency brakes in the car should be able to stop the car from
speed, they have real shoes and drums. The linings are thin but
they should be good for some panic stops.–
Brian Caro 05 XJ8 4.2, 06 XKR 4.2
Newport News, VA, United States
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In reply to a message from Brian Caro sent Thu 5 Nov 2009:

Have you ever seen the postage stamp pads on the earlier
Jags???–
The original message included these comments:

speed, they have real shoes and drums. The linings are thin but
they should be good for some panic stops.


Bob Gauff Owning and Repairing Jaguars Since the Early 70’s
Decatur, TX., United States
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In reply to a message from motorcarman sent Thu 5 Nov 2009:

I’ve seen them, they’re thin, but they are not going to evaporate
in a few stops against a metal drum.–
Brian Caro 05 XJ8 4.2, 06 XKR 4.2
Newport News, VA, United States
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In reply to a message from Brian Caro sent Tue 10 Nov 2009:

Slighty OT but interested in the terminology being used
here: ‘‘emergency brake’’. Never come across that to describe a
handbrake, or its purpose before. I wonder if it is a legislative
difference between US and UK, or a perception of usage?

For me a handbrake is there to set every time you stop at a red
light, or park. Never thought of using it to try to stop the car
whilst moving!–
2001 XK8 Sapphire Blue, ex-X300 owner
Cholsey, United Kingdom
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In reply to a message from timf sent Sat 21 Nov 2009:

Never watched any ‘Starsky and Hutch’ movie?
In the US it’s a must to make a decent U-turn.

:wink:

More serioulsy, I never use it, except when I’m parking on a
sloping road, to protect the transmission (but there is a precise
procedure to follow, setting the HB/EB after your put the
transmission to P does not do the trick).

Brgds,

TC–
The original message included these comments:

handbrake, or its purpose before. I wonder if it is a legislative
difference between US and UK, or a perception of usage?
For me a handbrake is there to set every time you stop at a red


I couldn’t repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.
Paris, France
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In reply to a message from Charles_3000 sent Sat 21 Nov 2009:

Yep - handbook clearly states to apply hb then engsge Park.

Maybe using it it is just habit from UK driving test - you would
fail if you didnt set the hb everytime you stop - and driving
manual gearbox cars most of the time (most cars here being manual
gearbox).–
2001 XK8 Sapphire Blue, ex-X300 owner
Cholsey, United Kingdom
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In reply to a message from timf sent Sat 21 Nov 2009:

Some cars (alot of US cars) have a foot pedal that you depress so
calling it a HANDBRAKE is misleading. Most US drivers don’t use it
EVER (that is what PARK is for) and if there was an emergency they
would just crash (that is what INSURANCE is for)!!! ‘Back in the
day’ I used to adjust the handbrakes on customer’s XJs and 'E’Types
only when they failed the State safety inspecton. I got good at
ratcheting the levers with prybars and sometimes had to remove them
for major repair.

bob gauff–
The original message included these comments:

Slighty OT but interested in the terminology being used
here: ‘‘emergency brake’’. Never come across that to describe a
handbrake, or its purpose before. I wonder if it is a legislative
difference between US and UK, or a perception of usage?
For me a handbrake is there to set every time you stop at a red
light, or park. Never thought of using it to try to stop the car
whilst moving!


Bob Gauff Owning and Repairing Jaguars Since the Early 70’s
Decatur, TX., United States
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In reply to a message from motorcarman sent Sun 22 Nov 2009:

Ahh so probably is to do with cars here typically being manual - no
PARK to select!–
2001 XK8 Sapphire Blue, ex-X300 owner
Cholsey, United Kingdom
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In reply to a message from timf sent Sat 21 Nov 2009:

Many drivers these days never owned cars in the days before dual
circuit braking, hand brakes in those days were sometimes needed to
stop the car from speed. I needed it once with my 59 Healey 100-6.
Not needed for that so much now. The properly adjusted XK brake
will do it though.–
Brian Caro 05 XJ8 4.2, 06 XKR 4.2
Newport News, VA, United States
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In reply to a message from timf sent Sat 21 Nov 2009:

Engaging the parking brake first may actually have some practical
utliity in the S-type, which apparently had been poorly designed.
When parked on an incline the parking brake pawl was too tight when
engaged in its recess (holding the weight of the car). This meant
that it took considerable force to get the car out of park.
Consequently, many people broke part of the shift mechanism which,
as it turned out, was also poorly designed, having several plastic
parts that could not stand the stress of a hard pull out of Park.

I know about parking brake pawls because, many years ago my
daughter engaged Park while still rolling (in an 87 Sterling),
breaking the tip off the pawl. This required complete removal of
the transmission to replace the broken pawl.

I, myself, have almost never used the parking brake in a car with
automatic transmission. I do however, always use it in my e-type
which has a manual transmission and is often parked on the incline
of my driveway.–
Glen - 69 E-type OTS, 2000 XK8, 59 MGA
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In reply to a message from Glen Jarboe sent Tue 24 Nov 2009:

The early S-Type (2000-2002) used basically the same (5R55N) Ford
gearbox as the Ford Explorer (5R55W)(hence the nickname EXPLODER)
There was a redesign of the angle of the engagement lever for the
pawl, but the 2003MY with electric winch park brake also had the
newer 6HP26 gearbox so who knows if the pawl is any better.

bob gauff–
The original message included these comments:

utliity in the S-type, which apparently had been poorly designed.
When parked on an incline the parking brake pawl was too tight when
engaged in its recess (holding the weight of the car). This meant
that it took considerable force to get the car out of park.
Consequently, many people broke part of the shift mechanism which,
as it turned out, was also poorly designed, having several plastic
parts that could not stand the stress of a hard pull out of Park.


Bob Gauff Owning and Repairing Jaguars Since the Early 70’s
Decatur, TX., United States
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