Handbrake Adjustment VZ Commodore

[famico]

Hey impulsive, I'm new here so be gentle.
I followed this brake adjustment thread a week ago because my handbrake on my VZ (my travelling castle) was getting mushy like a chick flick watchin' woman.
With previous experience on the VXII executive, It is imperative that the adjustment is made at the wheel end. I say this, as a certain dodgy auto repair centre in Pagewood that rhymes with slay-tart, did an adjustment near the handbrake by fiddling the screw, and I can remember it was sounding like 2 bricks being banged together as the cable suddenly went taut and engaged the rear brake shoes. Very uncool. Not as uncool as going to those hack bastards to get my holden fixed in the first place mind you.
The process of jacking up car and putting it on stands and removing the rear wheels is a little bit of work, but finding the holes in the hubs is easy, and then lining it up and fiddling with screwdriver on the notched cog. Remembering to go up on one side and down on the other. After dropping the vehicle down, it is satisfying to get proper brake action with 5 clicks like Veriton posted further down this thread, and thanks Veriton for the correct way to fix this problem.

 

[RiCeY]

Just a note with the VZs if you over adjust the handbrake ie dont back it off enough after it locks the wheel up, you will get a vibration from the rear at around freeway speeds.

Also, prior to adjusting at the wheels its a good idea to back off the 10mm nut at the handbrake lever, then tighten after adjusting the wheels. 6-8 clicks is normally a good adjustment.

 

[impulsive]

Hey impulsive, I'm new here so be gentle.
I followed this brake adjustment thread a week ago because my handbrake on my VZ (my travelling castle) was getting mushy like a chick flick watchin' woman.
With previous experience on the VXII executive, It is imperative that the adjustment is made at the wheel end. I say this, as a certain dodgy auto repair centre in Pagewood that rhymes with slay-tart, did an adjustment near the handbrake by fiddling the screw, and I can remember it was sounding like 2 bricks being banged together as the cable suddenly went taut and engaged the rear brake shoes. Very uncool. Not as uncool as going to those hack bastards to get my holden fixed in the first place mind you.
The process of jacking up car and putting it on stands and removing the rear wheels is a little bit of work, but finding the holes in the hubs is easy, and then lining it up and fiddling with screwdriver on the notched cog. Remembering to go up on one side and down on the other. After dropping the vehicle down, it is satisfying to get proper brake action with 5 clicks like Veriton posted further down this thread, and thanks Veriton for the correct way to fix this problem.

Glad this thread has helped someone else.. as for workshop's, i do most of my own work now.. Atleast i know it is done properly

 

[CAPRILICIOUS WL]

I'll be having a crack at this soon too, all my brake system needs to be readjusted.
It feels like there is too much contact between my pads and the disks, specially the front wheels.

 

[RiCeY]

I'll be having a crack at this soon too, all my brake system needs to be readjusted.
It feels like there is too much contact between my pads and the disks, specially the front wheels.

How can you have too much contact? What do you mean?

 

[CAPRILICIOUS WL]

How can you have too much contact? What do you mean?

For example if I have the front wheels raised of the floor and spin them by hand there is a slight friction which doesn't make the wheel spin freely.

When I'm driving at very low speeds rolling with the windows down I can very very lightly hear the contact friction between the pads and the discs.

Is it supposed to have that minimal friction??

Other times the brakes again at very lows speed will squeak (non continues squeak Cii...Cii...Cii..) with out me touching the brake pedal at all.

 

[ben315vz]

For example if I have the front wheels raised of the floor and spin them by hand there is a slight friction which doesn't make the wheel spin freely.

When I'm driving at very low speeds rolling with the windows down I can very very lightly hear the contact friction between the pads and the discs.

Is it supposed to have that minimal friction??

Other times the brakes again at very lows speed will squeak (non continues squeak Cii...Cii...Cii..) with out me touching the brake pedal at all.

You can't adjust disc brakes, on your car you would only be able to adjust the handbrake shoes which are on the inside the rear brake rotors.

 

[RiCeY]

For example if I have the front wheels raised of the floor and spin them by hand there is a slight friction which doesn't make the wheel spin freely.

When I'm driving at very low speeds rolling with the windows down I can very very lightly hear the contact friction between the pads and the discs.

Is it supposed to have that minimal friction??

Other times the brakes again at very lows speed will squeak (non continues squeak Cii...Cii...Cii..) with out me touching the brake pedal at all.

Pads shouldnt contact discs enough to cause resistance when the brake pedal isnt depressed. Might pay to get the calipers looked at/serviced.

 

[one_and_only2004]

My rotor has one hole with a grommet, there's a little cog looking thing down the bottom but it won't budge with a screw driver... What gives?

 

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Try harder. If you put the screw driver in too far it won't move. Or it could be wound all the way in, try going the other way, down instead of up, or up instead of down.