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Rear Caliper Self Adjust?

4K views 4 replies 4 participants last post by  ST56 
#1 ·
Hi

Just fitted a couple of new rear calipers painted to match front ASBO's which have been on car for a while.

One or both seem to be a little slow to adjust and take up clearances. Does anyone Know if is operation of the Hand or Foot Brake that is supposed to move adjuster inside of caliper?

Peter
 

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#2 ·
Locating pins on the pads need to be aligned with the grooves on the piston for it to work properly. Try rewinding the piston all the way back in (anti clockwise) on drivers side and clockwise on passenger.
Make sure handbrake is off for this process.. When all fitted FIRSTLY: pump up the brake pedal til it's hard and then pull the hand brake 3 times if things are a little worn the lever should come up high on the first pull and lower on the 2nd and 3rd pull until it's adjusted up...
There is a video on YouTube of someone giving an example of the ratchet mechanism working on the caliper but waste of time trying that...
 
#3 ·
+1 mondygeek. Pins stop the pistons rotating. Operating footbrake, handbrake off, adjusts caliper.

It's essential that the handbrake operating arms on the calipers can return to their stops, and even with the cables attached check they are free to move. correctly adjusted cable will have one side (the one with the best pulloff action) against the stop and the other less than 1mm off the stop. If the handbrake cable is overadjusted and holding the arms off their stops, the internal adjustment within the caliper cannot work. If the cable is overadjusted, you can take the slack out of the caliper action by holding the lever back against its stop with molegrips or similar (this will lift the other side even further off, doesn't matter just while you're doing this) and getting an assistant to pump the brake pedal. do the same with the other side, and the caliper units will be as adjusted as they can be. Note though that if the handbrake cable is overadjusted the handbrake will now drag.

Even if the handbrake has loads of travel before apparently doing anything, sort the caliper before looking at the cable. As long as the caliper isn't siezed, adjusting as above will usually loose the slack.

Another thing that can prevent handbrake adjusting is if rust gets under the plastic coating on the inner, lifting it so it jams on the outer. this again stops the handbrake returning properly and prevents adjuster from working.

Some cars still have the automatic handbrake cable adjustment, though many were replaced by Ford.

Handbrakes have never been that wonderful, despite changes and recalls to improve, but the difference between free, properly adjusting brakes and ones with jammed adjusters is huge - took all the slack out of mine, when it had been possible to yank it to almost end of travel....
 
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#5 ·
Hi

Thanks for replies.

Just to clarify, calipers pads and discs were all new so not sure there would be enough clearance to fit caliper without aligning slot in piston over pin on pad.

Problem has now resolved itself, I believe thread in one of the pistons was screwed hard against its stop. With a little use it has worked itself free, after a few pulls on the handbrake both calipers have now adjusted closing up clearances to set lever back to its correct position.

RedStuff pads will still take a few miles to bed in though.

Peter
 
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