Handbrake Turns

[JME_VT]

I've got a VY ute that I've started using in motorkhanas and sometimes you really have no option but to use the handbrake to get around the very tight turns. However, when I do a handbrake turn the wheels lock up well but I get a loud bang that reverberates through the car. Any idea what is causing the bang, is it causing any damage and is there anything I can do about it?

 

[_R_J_K_]

There's a couple things happening here.

1. The Commodore hand brake isn't very good (probably better in VT-VZ because of the extra leverage of the handle over pre-VT). I do believe it's drum brake.
2. The swing arms could be bottoming out when you jerk the hand brake on, similar to what happens when you do it in torsion beam cars.

 

[gossie]

A loud BANG, just before......................KAHBOOOOOOOM.

 

[VT&VX]

loud BANG, just before......................

something broke and the handbrake on the VT stopped working.

Not sure what broke, but there was an extra item on the bill from the mechanic.

It doesn't seem to function the same way as any of our fwd cars.

https://forums.justcommodores.com.au/threads/handbrake-goes-bang.32188/

 

[lowandslow]

In the commodores its a parking brake, not a handbrake. Keep doing it and you'll destroy the mechanism on the hub.

 

[losh1971]

In the commodores its a parking brake, not a handbrake. Keep doing it and you'll destroy the mechanism on the hub.

Part in parcel when racing, unfortunately things break. Good thing is Holden parts are cheap..... Sounds like the OP has no choice unless he changes his choice of vehicle..... Probably best if the OP lets it break once and then figures out what parts he needs to stock up on.

 

[Immortality]

The handbrake is probably out of adjustment.

One day I was distracted and drove off with the handbrake on, got about 10 meters through the carpark and there was a loud bang. Stopped and tested various things but couldn't find anything wrong and everything worked as it should. Shortly there after I took the time to strip and clean the handbrake assembies, didn't find anything wrong/broken, just out of adjustment.

The VT onward handbrake is a lot more robust than the earlier models.

 

[axemurderer101]

Why not go with a hydraulic hand brake setup?

 

[JME_VT]

Yes, it's a drum brake in the middle of the rear disk, it has a single brake shoe instead of having two shoes.

The bang definitely doesn't

In the commodores its a parking brake, not a handbrake. Keep doing it and you'll destroy the mechanism on the hub.

Yep, I understand that. The problem is that I need to use it one way or the other. If I was worried about mechanical failures I wouldn't be into motorsport. Can you tell me what specifically fails, and if there is anything I can do about it (replace with upgraded part, etc.)?

 

[JME_VT]

The handbrake is probably out of adjustment.

One day I was distracted and drove off with the handbrake on, got about 10 meters through the carpark and there was a loud bang. Stopped and tested various things but couldn't find anything wrong and everything worked as it should. Shortly there after I took the time to strip and clean the handbrake assembies, didn't find anything wrong/broken, just out of adjustment.

The VT onward handbrake is a lot more robust than the earlier models.

I have adjusted the lever as much as I can, I'm going to adjust the drums on the weekend and see if that improves it