Rear caliper handbrake overhaul

[Ben Lessani]

Hi guys, I know that the immediate solution is to fit MK3/4 rear calipers - but I don't want to if I can avoid it.

It was MOT time and it failed on a few things, notably the rear nearside handbrake which is only at about 60kgf vs. the offside at 120kgf.

I striped the caliper off, wound it back, cleaned up the slides and filed a touch off the edge of the pads and refitted and its the same. I tightened up the cable under the handbrake lever itself, it was marginally better.

For the footbrake, they're perfect and the offside obviously works fine - which is why I cba replacing them.

Is there any way to strip down the caliper and make the handbrake mech work properly?

[MarkS]

I don't mean to be a complete ponce but even though your brakes work fine under foot, surely it'll be better in the long run to fit newer calipers anyway?

And possibly could be less hassle than refurbing the ones you have now?

[OakeyDoak16v]

Good point. The amount of times i drove to work last winter with my hand brake frozen on is enough to make me want to up grade them this year. It's quite high up on my to do list because of that.

[Ben Lessani]

I don't mean to be a complete ponce but even though your brakes work fine under foot, surely it'll be better in the long run to fit newer calipers anyway?

And possibly could be less hassle than refurbing the ones you have now?

One of my calipers works perfect - so it doesn't need replacing. The other isn't working right. So I have the choice to get a normal MK2 caliper (£60) and have even braking, or I change both calipers to MK3 ones for the sake of a handbrake.

Less hassle, maybe - but if I can just rebuild the mech - I'd rather do that. Then I don't have to piss about in scrapyards finding parts.

[midz16v]

ive changed my mk2 nsr caliper twice now in 3 years,it seems to sieze just after the years warranty runs out.

[Dolly]

imo i think its better to change to mk4 or 3 items, im not saying they are going to dramactially improve performance braking wise but the handbrake mechanisums seem to hold up better. i changed my mk2 original callipers for mk4 ones, around 10 years younger and they should be good for a fair few years to come.

[Ben Lessani]

Right.

I do not want MK3 or MK4 calipers

What I want to know is how to sort the weak handbrake on my existing caliper.

[OakeyDoak16v]

Right.

I do not want MK3 or MK4 calipers

What I want to know is how to sort the weak handbrake on my existing caliper.

[ravydav]

Whats your problem with changing to better Mk3 or 4 callipers?

I'd say its a no brainer!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JC]

I'd give up Ben 

I never had an issue with mine, but i do pop the wheel soff and lube up the mechanism often