General Handbreak

[Riviera 181]

Can anyone advise me on how to adjust the handbrake cable on my Ducato 2.8 JTD 181 lux year 2002.
It is an advisory on my MOT.

 

[Communicator]

Attached is an extract from Fiat eLearn which I have made for my own use, and to which I have added spanner sizes required.

In their wisdom Fiat seem to have used M8 lock or half nuts at the rear bridle adjustment. This makes the choice of spanner thickness critical so that you cannot use best quality tools. Consider replacing both nuts with M8 high tensile full nuts.

 

[bugsymike]

Can anyone advise me on how to adjust the handbrake cable on my Ducato 2.8 JTD 181 lux year 2002.
It is an advisory on my MOT.

According to my Autodata manual around 2002 they changed from drum brakes to discs for the rear/handbrake, so obviously advise is different.
In general terms and others may give more specific advise, but if it is rear brake discs and pads, then all you can do is make sure there is plenty of material on the brake pads and that the handbrake lever where it is on the brake caliper is in it's full off position against it's stop ( often calipers start to seize and the lever doesn't full retract so preventing automatic adjustment) so if it is against it's stop then it should be possible to adjust the cable usually where n/s and o/s cables meet there will be a cable adjuster with a lock nut which may want oiling. Do not over adjust the cable as it will have the same effect as a sticking caliper and stop correct adjustment as well as causing brake drag.
If yours is the earlier drum rear brake handbrake operation personally when servicing drum brakes I was taught to always adjust at the drum even where automatic adjusters were fitted before adjusting any cables, always being careful not to cause any brake drag. This way you keep the optimum leverage efficiency, however if you are not sure, it may be safer to just nip up the cable adjuster slightly as without experience it is easy to over tighten the adjusters and cause brake drag.
Which ever you do I would advise afterwards a short roadtest and then jack the vehicle up safely and check the wheels spin freely with no drag , just in case you get over enthusiastic.

 

[Communicator]

According to my Autodata manual around 2002 they changed from drum brakes to discs for the rear/handbrake, so obviously advise is different.
In general terms and others may give more specific advise, but if it is rear brake discs and pads, then all you can do is make sure there is plenty of material on the brake pads and that the handbrake lever where it is on the brake caliper is in it's full off position against it's stop ( often calipers start to seize and the lever doesn't full retract so preventing automatic adjustment) so if it is against it's stop then it should be possible to adjust the cable usually where n/s and o/s cables meet there will be a cable adjuster with a lock nut which may want oiling. Do not over adjust the cable as it will have the same effect as a sticking caliper and stop correct adjustment as well as causing brake drag.
If yours is the earlier drum rear brake handbrake operation personally when servicing drum brakes I was taught to always adjust at the drum even where automatic adjusters were fitted before adjusting any cables, always being careful not to cause any brake drag. This way you keep the optimum leverage efficiency, however if you are not sure, it may be safer to just nip up the cable adjuster slightly as without experience it is easy to over tighten the adjusters and cause brake drag.
Which ever you do I would advise afterwards a short roadtest and then jack the vehicle up safely and check the wheels spin freely with no drag , just in case you get over enthusiastic.

My 2006 x244 has rear disc brakes with integral small (top hat) drums for the handbrake. The x244 was manufactured from 2002 to mid 2006. I am assuming that the OP's vehicle is an early x244 model.

 

[bugsymike]

My 2006 x244 has rear disc brakes with integral small (top hat) drums for the handbrake. The x244 was manufactured from 2002 to mid 2006. I am assuming that the OP's vehicle is an early x244 model.

I believe he mentioned 2002, which I understand is a change over point from drum to disc according to my Autodata manual.
Your 2006 version is I think the best of both Worlds, the same as I had on my Ivecos, drum working best for handbrakes and disc for foot brake in my opinion.

 

[Glyn22800]

Can anyone advise me on how to adjust the handbrake cable on my Ducato 2.8 JTD 181 lux year 2002.
It is an advisory on my MOT.

Is it hand brake travel or balance between the two wheels that they advised on. adjusting the balance is really difficult without a meter of some sort.
I found that if you let both adjusters off so the wheel is free, then, adjust one up so at 3 clicks of the hande brake, it is just movable. Using a tourque wrench adjust the setting so it clicks just as the wheel turns.
go to the second wheel and adjust up using the tourqe wrench as a guide.
It will take some time to get it right. My van has just passed it's second test using this method.
hope it helps.

 

[jackwhoo]

Hi,
Do not attempt to adjust any of the cables until the handbrake shoe to drum clearance on both sides has been correctly adjusted , using the adjusters between the shoes on each side.
Getting the shoe clearance correct may well sort out the handbrake without resorting to touching the cable.
Jack

 

[jackwhoo]

Before using the shoe adjusters make sure there is no gap at red circled points - the photo shows an incorrectly adjusted cable opening the shoes before the handbrake applied.

 

[jackwhoo]

Photo of adjuster at front of shoes.
Turn the spiky wheel to set shoes further apart or closer together.

Under the van make sure the cable L lever pivot point is lubed and free to move.
When hand lever in cable released make sure the L lever under van returns to within at least 1mm of its return stop .

 

[jackwhoo]

The photos are from rear disc brake system on 2014 boxer very similar to x244
To look like x244 rotate images 90 degrees counter clockwise?

Plus at one point there was a change in how many "teeth" or spikes to wind back the adjust wheel from fully on , from 10 teeth to 5 teeth .

It can take several tries to get it right even if you have done it before ....grrrrrrr

 

[jackwhoo]

For anyone replacing handbrake shoes
The return springs are HANDED LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES..... AND UP AND DOWN.
Make sure you get them correct.

The assistance of a trained octopus to hold everything in place while fitting the shoe retaining clips is highly recommended.