Hand-brake failure - car just out of warranty - advice??

benham3160

No point in changing the pads, do not action this work, it's fruitless.

It needs a proper investigation, not somebody just changing bits.

Regards,
Andy

[Deleted User]

benham3160 wrote: »

No point in changing the pads, do not action this work, it's fruitless.

It needs a proper investigation, not somebody just changing bits.

Regards,
Andy

I just don't know what to do,

- they tell me there isn't a fault, I tell them that there is;
- they tell me that the rear brakes need replacing (although two independent garages in the past 6 weeks have said they don't need changing for quite some time based on my mileage);
- I question whether this will "solve" the problem with the car rolling, and they say that they will tighten everything up once the brake pads are replaced, but absolutely no commitment or guarantee.

I am terrified that if I don't agree to the work that they suggest that an accident might occur and I wouldn't be able to forgive myself, however, I don't have money to burn either. I have already spent £141 for one hour's labour charge for them to get to the hand-brake to look it over and they didn't find anything.

You may have gathered that I know very little about cars, but I have always kept them fully serviced and maintained (and neither does anyone I know).

benham3160

goochie wrote: »

I just don't know what to do,

- they tell me there isn't a fault, I tell them that there is;
- they tell me that the rear brakes need replacing (although two independent garages in the past 6 weeks have said they don't need changing for quite some time based on my mileage);
- I question whether this will "solve" the problem with the car rolling, and they say that they will tighten everything up once the brake pads are replaced, but absolutely no commitment or guarantee.

I am terrified that if I don't agree to the work that they suggest that an accident might occur and I wouldn't be able to forgive myself, however, I don't have money to burn either. I have already spent £141 for one hour's labour charge for them to get to the hand-brake to look it over and they didn't find anything.

You may have gathered that I know very little about cars, but I have always kept them fully serviced and maintained (and neither does anyone I know).

This is not a friction fault, rear brakes (pad/disc setups) on cars generally, under normal driving condition are good for around 50,000. Less for cars used around town, more for motorway mile munchers, but generally they're changed once or twice during the life of the vehicle.

The fault is a mechanical one, I'd suggest either the caliper is seizing, user effor (not applying footbrake, not enough effort on the lever) or just a very steep incline the handbrake can't hold such a heavy vehicle on unaided.

Do you have a report from the "brake test?" If you can post the numbers up, we might be able to see what kind of effort you can get on the handbrake on this vehicle.

Regards,
Andy

[Deleted User]

benham3160 wrote: »

This is not a friction fault, rear brakes (pad/disc setups) on cars generally, under normal driving condition are good for around 50,000. Less for cars used around town, more for motorway mile munchers, but generally they're changed once or twice during the life of the vehicle.

The fault is a mechanical one, I'd suggest either the caliper is seizing, user effor (not applying footbrake, not enough effort on the lever) or just a very steep incline the handbrake can't hold such a heavy vehicle on unaided.

Do you have a report from the "brake test?" If you can post the numbers up, we might be able to see what kind of effort you can get on the handbrake on this vehicle.

Regards,
Andy

Interesting thank you. 22K on the clock

As for user - I could understand if it had only happened to me as I am a weakling, but has happened to my husband (he was in the car when it first happened and he couldn't pull the hand-brake up any further), and my friend (male) (we weren't on a slope, just a small dip/camber in front of the car that we rolled into and stopped).

I'll see what paperwork I can dig out for the brake tests.

As for the foot brake, I will ensure in future that I have it well and truly held down when I park in future.

benham3160

goochie wrote: »

Interesting thank you. 22K on the clock

As for user - I could understand if it had only happened to me as I am a weakling, but has happened to my husband (he was in the car when it first happened and he couldn't pull the hand-brake up any further), and my friend (male) (we weren't on a slope, just a small dip/camber in front of the car that we rolled into and stopped).

I'll see what paperwork I can dig out for the brake tests.

As for the foot brake, I will ensure in future that I have it well and truly held down when I park in future.

Yeah, try it with the footbrake, you might find the lever will lift a little more.

Modern handbrake systems just are crap in my opinon, old fashioned shoe/drum combos seem a lot more effective.

Regards,
Andy

johnnyroper

benham3160 wrote: »

Yeah, try it with the footbrake, you might find the lever will lift a little more.

Modern handbrake systems just are crap in my opinon, old fashioned shoe/drum combos seem a lot more effective.

Regards,
Andy

agreed handbrakes on discs are crap as are in board shoes.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

johnnyroper wrote: »

agreed handbrakes on discs are crap as are in board shoes.

Really, mine have lasted 245,000 miles and still work fine.

verityboo

Theres been a lot of discussion about how effective the hand brake might be and whether pads etc need changing but if the OP and others have left the car in gear, how can it of rolled away??

Hammyman

verityboo wrote: »

Theres been a lot of discussion about how effective the hand brake might be and whether pads etc need changing but if the OP and others have left the car in gear, how can it of rolled away??

Sticking it in a high gear with a steep enough hill and it'll overcome the compression of the engine.

Gloomendoom

Is it the the new model Freelander?