RMK

Hi,

I'm wondering how people with rear discs and PBR caripers get past the MOT as I'm finding that the mechanism on the caliper is a pretty crap design. At present it's scoring 8% and needs 16% to pass. Has anyone got their car past the MOT with the hand brake actually meeting the 16% requirement?

The calipers are brand new, so it's not an issue there.

Thanks,

ZZ42Fast

iTrader: (2)

Hello mate,

Are they the calipers that are opposing on each axle? They are renowned for this. Driving the car at 40mph or so, every so often, carefully apply the handbrake. Do this a few times to get things moving- are there separate pads for the hb mechanism or not? If not the above may not apply. Can you tighten the cable?

RMK

Hi Felix,

Not sure off the top of my head if they are opposing on each axle or not and the car is down with the garage at the moment. They are the PBR calipers though for sure and it was an Ed Miller kit.

I called Richard at American Tecnique who was helpful in speaking with me. He found it odd that there would be issues with the PBR setup as it is usually the iron calipers that are the issue. I am trying to get hold of a stiffer spring for the prop valve also as the rear food brake isn't great either-it's also failing on that!

Cable is pretty tight as it is - you have to pull it pretty hard to get it in the first locking point.

CAMAROBEAV

iTrader: (1)

I have PBR calipers on mine and they work fine.
I have got new handbrake cables though - if yours are stretched they never will pull enough.
Mine is tight enough to do handbrake turns as well.
The calipers are used but i am using EBC cross drilled and grooved discs with new red pads.
Not sure if that helps any?
Also my handbrake cable mounts caliper end are from a fourth gen not from a kit.

With regard to foot brake what calipers do you have up front?

CAMAROBEAV

iTrader: (1)

this is how mine looks - hope its the same ?

RMK

HI,

Handbrake cables were new except for the one going down the centre of the car to the rear 2 cables. My calipers don't look like that and I can't recall seeing calipers like that on the rear of a thirdgen. Mine look like this:

American Tech

The one above looks like a 4th gen axle so will be different,
Did it get any better when the pads wore in?

RMK

Hi,

The pads have a couple of hundred miles on them. The car has not been driven since as the guy working on it is on holiday. I hope to have a stiffer prop valve spring next week to give that a try and also try adjusting the little handbrake adjustment screw on the calipers. I'm not holding my breath though.

Failing all that, I'm wondering if it could it be the master cylinder itself for the rear foot brake issue?

RMK

Just to update this thread, I can confirm that the problem has been resolved. A dodgey passenger side front caliper was causing problems fully bleeding the system without removing all of the air bubbles. After replacing the caliper and upgrading the spring in the master that controls the rear brakes the car has since passed its MOT and the overall performance of the brakes is significantly improved.