handbrake ratchet

[vxr8]

Hello.
My car has issues with handbrake ratchet. When you want to apply it, there's free travel up , of about 8-10" then last bit of travel a bit, ..up and down..
If I need new one, it looks a bit BL/ rover....what is compatible , or cheap replacement please
Thanks

[vxr8]

Hello.
My car has issues with handbrake ratchet. When you want to apply it, there's free travel up , of about 8-10" then last bit of travel a bit, ..up and down..
If I need new one, it looks a bit BL/ rover....what is compatible , or cheap replacement please
Thanks

Is there anybody who could possibly assist me with advice on this or is it an issue nobody has ever encountered??
Thanks for all the great advice so far.
Any further advice will be greatly appreciated.

[Fredjohn]

Hi vxr8 and welcome to LEC. I hope you continue to find it a source of never ending help and a great resource of M100 information. Oh and lots of banter.

It would help if you put your location in your profile, so folks don't keep asking where you are whenever you need assistance.

With regard to the handbrake, does it click when you pull it on and does the lever stay put in any position you leave it when you do so? If so then the ratchet is working fine and the problem lies elsewhere.

If the ratchet is shot, then I am sure someone on here will have a handbrake assembly. If not try Douglas Valley Breakers or Lotusbits. DVB are expensive, but will have it. I do not know the source of the lever: may be Rover but more likely GM as so many parts were sourced by GM when they (read Lotus) developed the car.

Assuming the ratchet itself is OK ,then the 2 most likely issues are cable tension or rear calliper adjustment.

Cable adjustment is done under the centre console, so you need to remove it. There are 2 17mm nuts on each cable adjuster: tighten accordingly. It's a bit of a fiddle but do-able. You also need to check the position of the handbrake lever on the calliper whilst doing this: it should sit at rest (down) when cable is fully tightened.

Once you have done this and nothing has changed (!) then the rear callipers need to be adjusted. Possibly even stripped down cleaned and re-assembled with new rubbers etc. I think I need to do this too at some time shortly, so not having done it before I can only point you at the workshop manuals (see tab at top of page when logged in) and download. This is a bit fiddly, so you can also get them here.

You can also have a search on this site for handbrake/calliper adjustment.

I would recommend getting the manuals anyway. Along with the parts catalogue they are extremely useful!

Handbrakes have never been a strong point on Elans (M100 and '60s models), so don't expect miracles, but people have managed to get them to work sufficiently for the MOT and reasonable normal use.

Good luck

[dapinky]

Hi, just a quick thought, is your car an SE or an S2?

Now, this information may be totally wrong, as I've never owned an S2 and have a vague recollection of it being mentioned at some time in the distant past.....

I ask because the handbrake was one of the many 'improvements' fitted to the S2, and it had (not sure if it was all of them, or just some) a mechanism that allowed the handbrake lever to fall back down to the centre console when it was applied so it wasn't in the way of hitting your arm (although why that would matter if you were parking the car, I don't know!).

Presumably, there is then a fair bit of free travel until you can release the mechanism (like you describe).

Does the handbrake actually work and hold the car? or is it all just a bit floppy with no actual use?

[vxr8]

Thank you for your kind advice.
I have just tried to get my profile updated without success. I live east Sussex..(Well God's waiting room to be precise).
The model is M100.
There is no ratchet clicks, when off drawing up. It can be pulled up without resistance for about 8" then there is ratchet engagement for about three clicks.
On the downward travel..lifting the level slightly then disengages as normal.

Vehicle holds on hills. Brakes not sticking.
Great car..very infectious..
It did have cambelt change at 36k...now showing 67k. Is it time ?..and please may I ask. Where's the best place to buy complete cambelt kit including water pump because I sniff the scent of expensive parts.
Thank you for being so kind .
Regards
J

[vxr8]

I realise I'm a novice with lotus, so how come when I lifted the front plasticky thing...I see the words isuzu???..
Is this really isuzu???
Isuzu place in robertsbridge east Sussex not far from me.....or lotus place in Suffolk.....missions away!!

[Fredjohn]

Hi

Lots to learn then: give the site a good read. Lotus and Isuzu were both owned by GM when the Elan was developed, hence the Isuzu engine.

Don't use an Isuzu dealer they won't have a clue as the engine was only used in the UK in the Elan. Definitely time for a cambelt etc change. Look under group buys: there is a move to buy about 20+ sets from Rock Auto (in the States). Join it. Despite coming from the US it is cheaper than buying from UK Lotus specialists.

From the handbrake description sounds like an S2: are your window switches either side of the mirror switch and do you have a special edition plate on the passenger side of the dash? If so it's an S2. If not and there is an SE badge on the boot, it is an SE (assuming you have a turbo of course).

To change your profile, go into user control, click the profile tab, move down the page to location and fill in and "submit". Job done.

Hope this helps: I am sure that a member local to you can recommend a good local Lotus specialist to do the cambelt change if it is beyond you own capabilities.

Good luck: you will no doubt get further advice and look out for your local monthly meets.