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Hi, I have recently took my car for MOT and it failed on the handbreak, offside not functioning. This off side caliper seems to have the cable running though it but I cannot for the life of me see how this would cause the handbrake lever to move as it only seems to hold the outer cable???????? Also the return spring is missing off this side. The actual lever has not seized up but on operation of the handbrake only the near side lever moves, it is however impossible to move the off side lever when the handbrake is on.

SO should both handbreak levers be pulled towards each other when the hand break is on???? and then return away from each other??? my off side lever is always in the middle but gets tight when on and as there is no return spring may be it has always been on and then worn out the pads?????

Anyone had any similar problems ???

I've rebuilt the handbrake mechanism twice in ten years. The first in-situ which was a waste of time not having the physique of an orang-utang with rubber arms. The second was when I dropped the rear sub-frame and did it per the manual replacing the springs, pads, discs. That was far more sucessful. Although I doubt any older xj-s will ever be able to do handbrake turns, mine certainly holds firm at traffic lights and always passes the MOT.
The key element I believe, is to get the self adjusting mechanism working properly.
Pop

Pop – I’ll second that. After being caught out on last years MOT for a handbrake failure and having spent forever rebuilding them in-situ my advice would always be to apply the thing when you park at least. Keep the mechanism working and you will be rewarded with longevity. Lets face it the pads shouldn’t wear out because they only come into contact with the discs when the brake is applied.

What kills them is lack of use and the subsequent build up of grunge! No one is ever going to be able to a “hand-brake turn in one of these cars (don’t know about the outboard properties) but they should be sufficient to hold the vehicle on a reasonable hill.

Nick