SS ute Handbrake issues

[VzVzVz]

my ute does the same, the handle needs to be all the way up to give any grip.

 

[turbobrian]

my ute does the same, the handle needs to be all the way up to give any grip.

You pull my handbrake up as far as humanly possible, placing feet on the foot-rest, and using both hands to pull, then place clutch in, put gearstick into reverse, release clutch (no acceleration) and it will roll backwards without friction.

Really annoying, I am used to driving the Jap imports, having the car idling down when the key is removed, so out of habit the car is usually left in neautral, but now it rolls, have to be VERY cautious.

Before this issue, I did have an issue where the passenger rear was the only wheel locking, both backwards and forwards.

I jacked the car up, removed both wheels, removed both rotors, and checked the wear levels of both sides to compare and see if it could be that the driver's side was worn more.

Both where equal, used measuring tools to check the pad depths, they where the same, BUT there was heaps more brake dust that came out of the driver's side rear drum.

Put them all back together and now it locks going forwards, not at all backwards, and still only locks the 1 side wheel (same side).

I was told that there is a wheel unside the drum that you rotate to tighten and loosen an individual drum (the 'correct' way to adjust the handbrake which should be done before relying on cable tensioners, etc), but this didn't look like it was doing a heck of a lot, so I left it alone.

Did pull on the cable while the rotors where off to check the function and movement of the drum-pads, they seemed to move fine, so put it all back together.

Found heaps of people WITH this issue, but no real solutions as of yet, so deeply interested in finding a resolution.

Going to tinker with it over the weekend when I am at mum's place, because she has some lawn to tear up. Will see how I go, if I find a resolution I will post, if not, I hope someone else does.

Cheers,

Brian.

 

[Howard's ute]

I am pleased to know I am not going nuts and that others have had the problem. Thankfully the 6 litre donk gives a shed load of brake effect but I still carry a chock in the cab for boat ramps and really steep hills. Will keep trying for a solution and will post if anything comes up. Taking it to QR Saturday for the first track day. Pray for no rain.

 

[moses.08]

hey guys my father inlaw has got vx ss ute 6 speed and his hand brake sometimes will work sometimes wont ..can anyone help plz

 

[holdenvtman1123]

wow this Handbrake issue is a real mess. Why haven't these vehicles been recalled?? imagine going for your L's and slamming into the car behind u on the hill start! doing this properly would not be possible in the SS Ute. surely if u cant get your 'L's' in your nice new Ute from Holden costing more money than is probably worth paying for new.... very worrying for SS owners and the people hurt by this.:hmmm:

 

[f1tzy]

All of the cars ive had the handbrake has worked better in 1 direction than the other. As others have said locks up if you look at the handbrake forwards but backwards needs a shitload of pressure. My xr8 its the otherway round. If you cant adjust it on the rear drum id say taking it to your mechanic or a brake specialist to have it fixed.

 

[sirjolly18]

Its an easy DIY job to remove the rear wheels then the disk brake and caliper.

Inspect the pads on the inside of the drum and if there is still plenty of meat left clean the entire setup with brake cleaner. Inspect the inside of the brake disk also. it could be quite worn if the car has been driven with the hand brake left on.

My vz was **** to begin with until i cleaned and checked that the pads were expanding properly. the pivot point that engages the hand brake pads to the drum could be a bit rusty and need some TLC.

 

[andyman]

wow this Handbrake issue is a real mess. Why haven't these vehicles been recalled?? imagine going for your L's and slamming into the car behind u on the hill start! doing this properly would not be possible in the SS Ute. surely if u cant get your 'L's' in your nice new Ute from Holden costing more money than is probably worth paying for new.... very worrying for SS owners and the people hurt by this.:hmmm:

there is nothing wrong with the handbrake in them, just people do not know how to adjust them corectly.

DO NOT use the cable as the method to adjust, all the cable does is adjust the handle height, the adjustment is done via the hole that is in the brake disc hub.

you remove the rubber bung that is normally kept the face of the disc hub - the area between the disc and where the wheel sits against.


spin the disc around until you find the adjuster, its the little cogged wheel looking thing

use a flat blade screw driver to wind it out, normally by flicking the adjuster in an upwards direction do it by 1-2 clicks at a time, then spin the disc, listen for a little bit of slight rubbing noise which means the hand brake shoe is slightly rubbing against the inside of the disc drum. you dont it do make resistance to turn it though.

if you cant turn it, try tapping your screwdriver with a hammer,

if you cant turn it after trying to turn it with a hammer, pull the disc off and remove the adjust, strip it and regrease it, cause itll be seized from not be adjusted

if your not sure about any of this, pay a mechanic to do it properly.


if you do procede with this and if your cable is "as tight as a nuns nasty on prayer day" then back off the cable, complete the steps above then readjust allowing a bit of slack in the cable - to tight and they will snap

if the handle is still coming up to high, adjust the hight of it by pulling the hand brake handle boot cover over to one side, you will see a nut there on a threaded rod at the base of the handbrake mechanism

 

[Koreen]

HI can anyone help we have pulled the handbrake on to far and now cannot let it off, is there a way we can loosen it so can release it??

 

[holdenvtman1123]

if the handle is still coming up to high, adjust the hight of it by pulling the hand brake handle boot cover over to one side, you will see a nut there on a threaded rod at the base of the handbrake mechanism

perhaps undoing this nut will help back it off