Can I fail the test if I remove the parking brake on an auto?

RINO87

Silly question time.....

If its not there, they can't test it!

Mk1 xc90. New shoes and hardware including adjusters at the shoes. Cable tensioned under the centre console and still the parking brake is dog shite.... The wheels lock up with 3 clicks of the parking brake when I'm adjusting at the wheel, but it's just crap when the full weight of the vehicle is on the wheels.

Tempted to just remove the bloody thing, but I sense that may be just asking for trouble. What's the official line on this?

mk7r

Yes that's an instant fail, replace the cables they commonly seize

RINO87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123348756#Comment_123348756

As I thought. Not sure the cable is seized tho. The wheels will lock enough for me to be not able to turn them, when off the ground, with 3 clicks. Prior to this the effort was only at 5%, and the balance was way out. The balance is now good, but the effort is still terrible at 12%.

greasepalm

Did you first slacken off the handbrake inside to let the cables go back to their position of rest , adjust the shoes and then check the handbrake .

We would see if the cables move easier when slackened off or its hitting the hub and cant move anymore as someone justs adjusts the inside.

RINO87

Ya I guess I'll give that a bash again, was fairly sure it was slack, but that adjuster under the centre console is a strange beast for sure....

Whocare

Take to mechanic as obvious you are clueless

CMOTDibbler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123349472#Comment_123349472

Ease up on the personal abuse there sunshine.

User1998

If both sides are equally terrible it will probably still pass

RINO87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123349472#Comment_123349472

sorry for not knowing the ins and outs of the xc90 parking brake thats notorious for being a bastard....and for not making it obvious that my opening post was made with my tongue firmly in my cheek....

RINO87

No dice, imbalance was way out on the first , have them balanced now, but they're just crap. Any more adjustments at the wheels and the shoes will be rubbing

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123349514#Comment_123349514

Dirty Nails

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123349514#Comment_123349514

That only applies to shocks :)

Dirty Nails

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123349808#Comment_123349808

If you're totally happy the cables & linkages are ok, I think you'd better strip the drums again. Look to see if there's a black stripe run mark on the shoes in which case they aren't making full face contact. Chance sanding the marks only to allow more of the shoe to touch but ideally replace the discs.

RINO87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123350256#Comment_123350256

Thanks for the tip, will look again. Discs are relatively new, went on about 5k km ago

Edit to add: I can't say for sure that I am happy with the cables. The cable tensioner underneath the centre console is like nothing I've seen before....if anyone is familiar with them and has suggestions, they would be welcome 🙂

Dirty Nails

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123350270#Comment_123350270

It's only a telescopic bit that extends the outer cover of the front cable to remove free play. The thing with worn cables though is while the may seem free under no load, they'll bite in to the outer cover under load & reduce the pulling power.

Only other thought is that you need to release tension completely on the front cable BEFORE you adjust the shoes. Adjust shoes until the brakes lock up & usually release about 6 clicks

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123350222#Comment_123350222

It literally says parking brake imbalance on the NCT sheet, and compares the left side to the right side.

Dirty Nails

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123350511#Comment_123350511

It also literally said parking brake performance which is not necessarily about imbalance but equally a fail.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123350975#Comment_123350975

Well I’ve passed with handbrakes that genuinely don’t hold the car, and I’ve failed with handbrakes that only hold the car on one side

Dirty Nails

That's more down to the tester than the test, I'd say. Some of them might give the lever an extra tug to make it hold.

Personally I'd like my car to remain where I left it.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123353618#Comment_123353618

Doesn’t really make a difference on an automatic to be fair

Raichų

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123353706#Comment_123353706

reminding myself of the numerous occasions I left my automatic civic in Park but without the handbrake on while I got used to the electronic handbrake.

Car never went anywhere or rolled down any hills on me so I second your assessment here!!