Rover 200 & 400 Owners Club

Got an M.o.T advisory 'Handbrake efficiency' on the rear calipers on the Cabbie today.

Foot brake was a little low, but OK for a pass.

Being a bit 'old school' I always like to try fixing before buying new, is it worth a strip & refurb or is that just a hiding to nothing ?

They can start to seize as they don't really get used much. After this long a bit of TLC wouldn't go amiss...

As a handbrake, drums usually work better than calipers and discs!

I would agree its lack of use they were OK last year so the less than 200 miles since that M.o.T definitely hasn't helped

I left the handbrake off during the Winter hibernation.

I will start with the external mechanism before removal & delving inside, & if that fails a new pair will be called upon.

On mine I changed them because the cam that works the handbrake was worn on both sides, hiding to nothing, so got new ones at around £38 each, fitted new discs and pads too, now rears are as new and MOT woes with handbrake now sorted as it self adjusts properly.
Go for it.
Just seen them on Euro Car Parts now £58 each.

I heard a tip that if your car is not in use for long periods, park it in gear with the handbrake off, and this can prevent this kind of issue. Not sure if that’s true or not.

You can try giving them some hard use, the problem is the two part piston, it's designed to scroll apart as the pads wear. That will keep the handbrake working. Lack of use means that the piston doesn't want to scroll out when you press the foot brake. Adjusting up the cables doesn't work, you're just stretching them!

Cheers guys,

Car was left over Winter Handbrake off & in gear, I've made that mistake before

New Discs & Pads were fitted all round. Calipers wound back fine, We were hoping fitting the new D&P would reset.

Im going to lubricate & work them this weekend & see if that works, then a hard drive & re-adjust ..... if not new ones will be purchased.

Yes if in doubt replace they're cheap enough, used to be 160 a pop from Rover back in the day!

As JEASPEKE hints at the handbrake cam becomes loose in it's housing because the needle rollers disintegrate after awhile.