How do I test the handbrake imbalance?

RobAMerc

Hi all,

My car failed the NCT on handbrake imbalance being greater than 50%

I am going to have a go at fixning it myself, but... how do I check the balance ?

Ta

biko

Less time-consuming if you can get both rears up at the same time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3MMzAymuq0

RobAMerc

so its generally just a manual feel for it so ?

biko

Lift car up and do that procedure. It is hopefully enough to see how bad it is, and then enough to verify it works afterwords.
You won't get perfect reading like NCT and their machines, but should be enough on the driveway.

It could be rust or something else causing the imbalance, so cleaning everything could fix whatever the cause it.

tcawley29

Laziest and most fun way to check balance is if you pull the handbrake on the chippings outside your house and check the tracks after to see when they both start. A quick go with a sweeping brush and everything is all cleaned up afterwrds.

Alanstrainor

What car is it OP?

I only replaced mine about a month back for the same fail. Your NCT sheet will show which side is gripping and which isn't. Your best course of action would be to jack up both sides of the car at the rear and replace the worst side. Once you have this done, make sure the internal adjuster at the hub is set to it's loosest. You can then apply the handbrake lever and slowly tighten the hub adjuster until you begin to feel it in the rear wheel when spinning by hand. By spinning both sides you should be able to adjust them to be roughly the same.

Then repeat the process on the remaining side.

I managed to get mine within 2% doing this by hand. Good enough for me.

RobAMerc

thanks folks - just finished it there, I didn't loosen anything off, I just started at 2 clicks of the handbrake, I could move the offending wheel easily, other with alot more effort. Got them to roughly the same effort - although 2% is a high bar indeed !
I'll let you know !

RobAMerc

39% ! Jaysus, no where near 2% but she passed anyway.

Thanks for the help folks

Alanstrainor

RobAMerc wrote: »

39% ! Jaysus, no where near 2% but she passed anyway.

Thanks for the help folks

Nice. Use your sheet to balance it again, 39% off should be something noticeable in the car.

RobAMerc

in fairness the car will do about 2k per annum and I dont use the handbrake at all parked on my drive, so i'll tackle one of the other issues instead !
Thanks though, always feels good to fix something yourself, better still when its something to pass the NCT !

smuggler.ie

Some crazy Finn have this video on YouTube: How to do brake force balance test in car or truck