Handbrake insufficient reserve travel

[pablo]

MOT fail - any idea what it means? just mean the handbrake needs tightened?

 

[FM155]

Pretty much yes. Just means it's right at the top of travel to get sufficient force to pass the test.

 

[Airhead]

From the testers' manual - reasons for rejection:

b. When the brake is fully applied there is no possibility of further travel of the lever because the lever is:

• at the end of its working travel on the ratchet, or

• fouling adjacent parts of the vehicle.

 

[FM155]

or gone past the available travel in the tester's elbow...

 

[Blackie]

or gone past the available travel in the tester's elbow...

 

[Bryan]

I had this once where the bite was almost as soon as you lifted the handbrake which I thought was a good thing but obviously not.

 

[G N K]

Pulled up at the house today, jumped out opened the boot and the car started rolling away from me.

I usually always leave it in gear as my handbrake is awful.

 

[Mark_C]

frig any time I've had a car through with a slightly ropey handbrake they have wrung its neck to get it to pass the test and said nothing.

 

[colin84]

Pulled up at the house today, jumped out opened the boot and the car started rolling away from me.

I usually always leave it in gear as my handbrake is awful.

That's BMW's for you, they never work well. Always leave it in gear to be sure.

 

[RevT]

My E90 is the same, was just about to get out and go in for a pizza earlier that I had ordered before realising the thing was rolling away as I forgot to leave it in gear.

 

[genman]

Did you notice the amount of travel.... general old school rule was begin bite at 3 or 4 clicks and be fully on by 6 or 7....though not every ratchet system travels the same.
I've seen some cars with the handbrake almost vertical and the owners thought it was ok.

 

[pablo]

Aye it goes way back alright. Will nip it up at the lever end and see how that goes.

Cheers.

 

[Bryan]

I like to have mine locking the wheels at 3 clicks

 

[garyhoker]

don't just adjust the cable at hand brake / realease the two 10mm nuts jack up remove rear wheels adjust the inner handbrake shoes until fully turn back one click then adjust the handbrake cable at 10mm ends ....

 

[Mark_C]

Yeah as above you really should make the adjustment at the shoes, if it doesn't have a manual adjuster you can usually easily fit one off another model or car. The adjustment at the cable end in the car is just to take slack out of it really

 

[pablo]

Yeah I'm well acquainted with BMW handbrakes unfortunately. Have a caliper to-do on it as well so will sort the lot.

 

[NI_Volvo_Nut]

I like to have mine locking the wheels at 3 clicks

1 click for parking
2 clicks for turning