REPLACEMENT HANDBRAKE PARTS - CAREFUL

[man of kent]

This is a continuation of my handbrake pin and spring saga over the last few weeks which has been confusing which I have finally sorted and so as not to cause confusion, a new topic which all owners may need to know.

The original handbrake shoe securing pin and spring are no longer available although I just picked some up on fleabay. Thanks for the tip Murph.

The original pin differs from the replacement offered by Vauxhall. The replacement pin which is about 45mm long has a very thin sharp edged flattened end. The original is very thick. If you keep the handbrake adjusted 'at the wheel' , there is very little movement of this replacement pin laterally. If however the shoe has to move a lot because of poor adjustment, the sharp edges on the end of the pin cuts into the backplate wearing a bigger hole. A garage had previously used the replacement pin and it fell out.

The original spring is smaller in diameter and much stronger. When I fitted the larger softer spring behind the hub (the original goes thru a hole in the hub) I found the shoe tensioning springs overcame the larger spring and kept pulling the shoe out onto the hub with a scraping noise. At the garage, because this happened, they left the spring out! I could not understand why there was no spring. Now I know.

So, keep you handbrake tightly adjusted at the wheel with the replacements being offered and use the original spring if you have it. Check for wear in the backplate hole to make sure the new pin locates securely.

The only puzzle left is Murph gave me a circa 60mm long pin. I dont know where this came from and neither does the Vauxhall dealer. It fouls the hub, being too long. The dealer says there has only been one pin ?? Also my dealer cannot access the replacement Vauxhall parts service bulletin - because of the above problems ?? Withdrawn ??

[nightmare]

Good to hear you got it sorted.

Also good advice on adjustment, it tends to get overlooked

[man of kent]

Members may remember the problems with the handbrake spring and pins I had.

For further reference & confirmation of difficulties with current parts see the free area on the Autobarnstormers site.

Select 'members links', then Richard Brunt's site and finally 'handbrake shoes'.

[Murph]

The pin I gave you came from a 2.0 Diplomat I broke a couple of years ago.
Strangely the handbrake was fine on that.

[man of kent]

This is an old post but having just got the carlton parts list I can see why I was having trouble. So...............

The pin through the shoes and spring into the backplate are no longer available. The parts list refers to 3 different numbers replacing 90079328. Namely 6638956 6681527 & 6663706 and a service bulletin. I dont know the answer but be aware that you have to find the right pivot pin and I dont know which is the correct part number.

We need the technical service bulletin Ti-C-8 1149 dated 10/97 Can anybody post this technical bulletin. A search of the internet for this bulletin doesn't give much info other than its also a Calibra pin but the post doesn't go into further detail. The 3 part numbers on the net refer to most of the Vauxhall/Opel range which doesn't help.