I ended up having to bypass the rear compensators, after which is sailed through the retest!

Good news! So the compensators affect the performance of the handbrake too? I didn't realise that.

gar074 said:

Good news! So the compensators affect the performance of the handbrake too? I didn't realise that.

Click to expand...

It doesn't directly, but I think the rear brakes actually doing something has cleared the pads and disks and so the handbrake bites better now. Before, as the car had been stood for 2 years, the pads were just dusted up.

Ah, OK - that makes sense. Will you reconnect the compensators, now that you've got the MOT?

BEEN THERE!! This is what worked for me after i had renewed all rear brake components. Remove rear compensators, take it out for a long drive 3 or 4 times, drive with the handbrake slightly on for short periods and really give the brakes a workout (on dry roads for safety). The handbrake will noticably start to improve. Mine is improving all the time, i think it allows the brakes to bed in properly. Nerevr going to do HB turns though. Blacky

Problem with the B (and some other small Fiats, like the new 500) is that the weight distribution is not exactly perfect: meaning not a usual 50/50 but more a 1/3-2/3 distribution .
Something some of us have experienced when the engine is revving high and you suddenly come of the accelerator pedal and steer in a corner (you will experience abrupt oversteering).

This weight distribution results in a relative low rear axle pressure.
As a result of which the rear brakes have almost nothing to do since the weight (especially under braking) is on the front axle/brakes.
Due to the fact that the rear brakes are hardly used the rear brake pads tend to “glaze” a little.
Solution is to pull the handbrake lever for a few seconds/half a minute when you are driving slowly so that they warm up a little and wear of the “glazed” layer a bit.
If you do this every now and then the handbrake will work as it was intended .

Had to change my rear brake disks twice due to the fact that they started to rust (no wear) as a result of me washing the car every Saturday and the rear brakes never coming up to temperature due to the marginal brake load at the rear .

Regards,

Frank

Few years on now since i changed all the rear brake components (not many miles though). Decided to try another adjustment yesterday and turned the adjuster at the handbrake until the rear wheels were just NOT binding. Handbrake now actually slows / stops the car on the road. Bit more confident for upcoming MoT.

MoT passed today. Handbrake still touch and go though, just makes the pass.

Frank Ginestra97 said:

Problem with the B (and some other small Fiats, like the new 500) is that the weight distribution is not exactly perfect: meaning not a usual 50/50 but more a 1/3-2/3 distribution .
Something some of us have experienced when the engine is revving high and you suddenly come of the accelerator pedal and steer in a corner (you will experience abrupt oversteering).

This weight distribution results in a relative low rear axle pressure.
As a result of which the rear brakes have almost nothing to do since the weight (especially under braking) is on the front axle/brakes.
Due to the fact that the rear brakes are hardly used the rear brake pads tend to “glaze” a little.
Solution is to pull the handbrake lever for a few seconds/half a minute when you are driving slowly so that they warm up a little and wear of the “glazed” layer a bit.
If you do this every now and then the handbrake will work as it was intended .

Had to change my rear brake disks twice due to the fact that they started to rust (no wear) as a result of me washing the car every Saturday and the rear brakes never coming up to temperature due to the marginal brake load at the rear .

Regards,

Frank

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I think you'll most car's have very front heavy and have nowhere near a 50/50 weight distribution simply because the engine is the heaviest item in the car
It's the reason high end sport's cars tend to be mid engined