Stripped the pass side rear brake last night, and found the cause of my useless e-brake. After removing the drum I found that the linings had completely seperated from their metal shoes, and just fell out once the drum was removed. Anyone else experience this, caused by cheap parts, maybe, or is it just a fluke ?
Would I be better posting this in the XK8 forum, as they have more years using this system ?

 

Could be just age. I have a '95 like yours (ice blue) and I still have the original hand brake shoes installed. The work fine, though the hand brake could use a little adjustment. I take a look at 'em twice a year just because...

 

Just a fluke, I'd say.

But perhaps if the car was driven with the handbrake applied the resulting heat might've played a part in the failure. Just a thought.

These "top hat" type parking brakes seldom receive any care or servicing...or any use, for that matter. I see many that are rusty, seized, have broken springs, etc.

Once you get things fixed up....presumably you'll service/repair both sides.....the best thing you can do is use the parking brake on a regular basis.

Cheers
DD

 

Yup I'm servicing boths sides, and managed to get some shoes from 'Eurospares' or some such, supposed to be OEM, so hopefully it doesn't happen again.
One thing I thought was typically British (I was born and lived in Britain for 30 years) was the fact that the caliper support bracket bolts were 'wired' together................ain't seen that since I was an apprentice.....
Problem is, where do I source wire, for the purpose of wiring bolts ?
will Loctite suffice instead ?

 

When I got my X300 I was a bit surprised to see that Jaguar still had a love affair with safety wire. My 80s vintage Jags were safety-wired all over the place but, heck, those models had a much closer connection to the past so it was to be expected.

Anyhow......

I use stainless steel utility wire from the hardware store..... I think the size is .032" diameter but can't swear to it off hand. Safety wire pliers will cost about $20 or so for the most basic type. Takes a little practice to get the knack of it but it's actually a rather satisfying task.

I've heard of others simply using Loctite with satisfactory results.

Cheers
DD

 

Thanks for the info Doug ! .........guess I'll just have to re-learn the skills from my youth ........although that was a LONG time ago .......

 

I suppose you have the late version with outboard brakes? My XJS has e-brake pads, mounted against differential..., but 01 XKR is still on its original shoes, at 74K miles.
Separated brakes shoes are sure sign of overheat, so IMHO your car has trip with parking brake on in its past.

 

Yup the flyoff handbrake lever causes people all sorts of problems ...........now if I could only fix the mirrors ..............

 

I need to fix my e-brake too. It doesn't hold at all. The e-brake light is very dim in the daytime and easy to overlook by someone that has never saw that setup. Odd to me that a company would do it that way when they made both left and right hand drive cars and it would seem to me to be easier to put in a center mounted lever which would work for either. I suppose the British have their ways.
RagJag
Bobby

 

Not aware of XJSs (or any modern car) having a flyoff handbrake. Or, at least not as I understand what a flyoff handbrake is....

A flyoff handbrake requires that the putton be *pushed to lock* the handbrake. Typical parking brakes require the the button be *pushed to release* the handbrake.

No?

Cheers
DD