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Hydraulic handbrake
Echidna - 12/4/08 at 03:07 PM

Is it possible to use a hydraulic handrake (like the one in the link) assembly with the stock Sierra rear brake assembly?

http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=562_599&products_id=4090

nitram38 - 12/4/08 at 03:16 PM

It is possible, but not road legal.
You must have a mechanical connection to your brakes or one of the new electrical type like some new cars.

Echidna - 12/4/08 at 03:17 PM

Thanks!
Do you know where can i find the original sierra handrake assembly?

MikeR - 12/4/08 at 03:28 PM

i thought you could have a hydraulic hand brake - as long as it used a completely separate system to the foot brake.

nitram38 - 12/4/08 at 03:30 PM

hydraulic handbrakes might slowly release, unlike a mechanical cable type, so will not pass the mot.

matt_claydon - 12/4/08 at 03:59 PM

To confirm, a mechanical (or electro-mechanical) handbrake is required at SVA and MOT.

Hydraulic pressure can, and does, reduce over time due to leakage past seals etc thus releasing the brakes.

Howlor - 12/4/08 at 05:58 PM

The rally lads always used to just drill the tops of the rear pads and push through a pair of bike brake cables. They often used front calipers on the rear on Mk2 escorts so a mechanical handbrake was difficult. When it came to MOT time the braking was with hydraulic but it looked a little mechanical as well!

May be now a different story though at MOTs as this was 10 years ago.

Steve

DorsetStrider - 12/4/08 at 06:32 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nitram38
It is possible, but not road legal.
You must have a mechanical connection to your brakes or one of the new electrical type like some new cars.


I'm not sure that this is entirely acurate.

I was told (some time ago I admit) by Southampton SVA centre that hydrolic handbrakes are allowed but ONLY if it's an entirely seperate system to to footbrake. i.e. different master cylinder, pipes and a 2nd caliper on the rear wheels.

Looking at the SVA manual again it says that there must be 2 systems... doesn't say that they can't both be hydrolic.

Having said all that I wouldn't trust a hydrolic handbrake.

[Edited on 12/4/08 by DorsetStrider]

iank - 12/4/08 at 07:40 PM

SVA and MOT can and do have different requirements in certain areas, this may be one of them.
From the MOT testers manual.

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_310.htm

quote:
Hydraulic parking brakes as a sole means of operation are not acceptable on vehicles first used on or after 1 January 1968. However, they may be used to assist the application or release of a mechanical brake.


Electric appear to be allowed simply because they aren't hydraulic.
The rally cars which have them, also put the cables out to the brakes and either hide the end (dodgy) or connect the pads slackly and perform to the letter if not the spirit of the regulation.