Help me adjusting the parking brake on my SPF

[Dan]

I just failed the road worthiness test with my SPF for the 2nd time, because the parking brake does not have enough braking force.

For the 2nd test, i actually adjusted the set screws for the brake pads just before the test so that the brakes were rubbing slightly even before the brake handle was pulled. It helped a bit but not enough.

My car has Girling brakes and separate mechanical hand brake calipers.

Any tips for resolving this?

 

[Markus]

Dan,

You write "mechanical hand brake calipers"? What brand? can you post some pictures?

One potential root cause - see post #10:

Show me your emergency / hand brake calipers

Posting in "Chassis,Brakes,Tires,&Wheels" was for whatever reason not possible!!?? Please move if possible. Hello folks, The topic above was quite often discussed on the forum. Never the less I’m trying to get some more information. I’m not impressed with the hand brake solution in my SPF...

www.gt40s.com

 

[Dan]

Was just about to add the photos. I do not know the brand though.

 

[Markus]

Pretty sure that those are wilwood mechanical Spot calipers

Wilwood Disc Brakes - mech spot Calipers

Wilwood Engineering manufacturers a wide variety of different lightweight, high performance, and extremely durable aluminum calipers in small, medium and large sizes. mech spot Calipers

www.wilwood.com

If you do a forum search about them you will find out that they are not too good, especially for European road worthiness test.....
One example here about their performance:

RCR40 Handbrake?

Hi all, I've reached the point in my RCR40 build where it's time to install the handbrake system. I have read some posts here indicating some disappointment with the system, that it isn't strong enough to pass a safety check, etc. I've already drilled the two holes to snake the cables into...

www.gt40s.com

There are more thread about this....

 

[Rick Muck- Mark IV]

We have the Wilwood spot caliper pads if needed.

 

[Morten]

You could make an extension on your handbrake handle inside cockpit. This will give you more pulling force.

Which handbrake handle do you have?

Good luck

morten

 

[Dan]

You could make an extension on your handbrake handle inside cockpit. This will give you more pulling force.

Which handbrake handle do you have?

Good luck

morten

I have the normel SPF handbrake handle and donˆt relly want to mess the cockpit looks up. I was thinking that extending the lever on the caliper would increase the force as well. Just have to check wether there is enough pull length in the cable to aloow for a longer lever travel.

 

[Markus]

I have the normel SPF handbrake handle and donˆt relly want to mess the cockpit looks up. I was thinking that extending the lever on the caliper would increase the force as well. Just have to check wether there is enough pull length in the cable to aloow for a longer lever travel.

Check pics for extended lever on the caliper...

Wilwood Mechanical Handbrake Spot Parking Brake Caliper - Pair

Pair of Wildwood cable operated handbrake callipers, well used & well worn. Fitted with spacers to suit 28mm thick discs and extended pull levers. In honesty, these callipers do not work particularly well, but when correctly adjusted & setup they worked well enough to pass an MOT, once! May be...

www.gt40s.com

 

[Dan]

Check pics for extended lever on the caliper...

Wilwood Mechanical Handbrake Spot Parking Brake Caliper - Pair

Pair of Wildwood cable operated handbrake callipers, well used & well worn. Fitted with spacers to suit 28mm thick discs and extended pull levers. In honesty, these callipers do not work particularly well, but when correctly adjusted & setup they worked well enough to pass an MOT, once! May be...

www.gt40s.com

Thanks Markus. I was thinking along the same lines. Also need to find some new brak pads for them in Euirope preferably

 

[Ian Anderson]

Rally Design used to stock a pile of Willwood stuff

Ian

 

[Markus]

Check out Chuck and Ryan's RCR Build thread for adjustment tips

Chuck and Ryan's RCR Build

Chuck, So what do I do with all the materials I ran out to buy.....Do you want to buy them so you can build up a spare system? Thanks for the laugh! Steve

www.gt40s.com

 

[Morten]

I have the normel SPF handbrake handle and donˆt relly want to mess the cockpit looks up. I was thinking that extending the lever on the caliper would increase the force as well. Just have to check wether there is enough pull length in the cable to aloow for a longer lever travel.

Handbrake lever extension unbolts with setscrews after the inspection, then you can refit back to original.

 

[Dan]

Handbrake lever extension unbolts with setscrews after the inspection, then you can refit back to original.

Hi Morten. I don't get it, would you care explaining your idea a bit further.

 

[Morten]

Hi Morten. I don't get it, would you care explaining your idea a bit further.

You just extend the handbrake lever inside the car, or find a 2nd hand handbrake which is longer. That gives you more leverage when pulling the handbrake.

 

[Morten]

This is out on ebay, and its a long lever. Good leverage on this one. Its the same as was used under the dash on a few original GT40s.
Only for info, no affiliation to the add.

Good luck,
Morten

 

[Dan]

This is out on ebay, and its a long lever. Good leverage on this one. Its the same as was used under the dash on a few original GT40s.
Only for info, no affiliation to the add.

Good luck,
Morten

Thanks Morten. If all else fails, that is another way.

 

[Morten]

This is a pic of one of my cars in build. You can use Wilwood MC-4 calipers. They bite good. It should be a fairly straight forward job. Need to make an adapter plate to fit it though.

Hope this helps.
Morten

 

[Dan]

This is is a pic of one of my cars in build. You can use Wilwood MC-4 calipers. They bite good. It should be a fairly straight forward job. Need to make an adapter plate to fit it though.

Hope this helps.
Morten

That certainly helps. I was looking at those the other day and wondering whether they would fit. Now I have to find a dealer for them in Europe.

 

[Morten]

Here’s an option

Right & Left side.

Wilwood Handbremszange MC4 rechts

Der mechanische Feststellbremssattel MC4 von Wilwood ist ein vielseitig einsetzbarer Bremssattel, der hohe Leistung mit Einfachheit in Design und Konstruktion kombiniert

www.rennsportshop.com

Wilwood Handbremszange MC4 links

Der mechanische Feststellbremssattel MC4 von Wilwood ist ein vielseitig einsetzbarer Bremssattel, der hohe Leistung mit Einfachheit in Design und Konstruktion kombiniert

www.rennsportshop.com