Parking brake adjustment mystery
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From: France, Chambord
In the UK, the "Handbrake" or "Parking" brake has never been regarded or referred to as an "Emergency" brake, certainly not since the 1960s when the introduction of dual-circuit hydraulic brakes significantly improved braking efficiency and reliability. As far as I'm aware, the car literature doesn't refer to these brakes as "Emergency" brakes? I think that must be a US nomenclature?
In the UK, the standard applicable to the annual MoT test is to hold the car on a 1in 6 slope (16%). My late facelift car uses the drum-in-disc setup which is perhaps more efficient. However, I never use the handbrake on any car I own to hold the car in place when parked. I've always put Manual cars in 1st or Reverse gear, and Auto cars in Park. I admit that I do operate the handbrake almost every time I use the car, but that's merely to trigger the light so that I can fold the roof down!
When I recommission my 1979 pre-HE, no doubt I'll have a quick look at the handbrake setup, and I'll even submit it for an MoT test, even though it's now MoT exempt.
Paul
In the UK, the standard applicable to the annual MoT test is to hold the car on a 1in 6 slope (16%). My late facelift car uses the drum-in-disc setup which is perhaps more efficient. However, I never use the handbrake on any car I own to hold the car in place when parked. I've always put Manual cars in 1st or Reverse gear, and Auto cars in Park. I admit that I do operate the handbrake almost every time I use the car, but that's merely to trigger the light so that I can fold the roof down!
When I recommission my 1979 pre-HE, no doubt I'll have a quick look at the handbrake setup, and I'll even submit it for an MoT test, even though it's now MoT exempt.
Paul
Now you're right no one use the handbrake but sometimes it can be usefull.
Back to the xj-s, really they could have used wooden pads, it would gave the same result, it's not at the level of what jaguar is supposed to be.
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From: France, Chambord
In the UK, the "Handbrake" or "Parking" brake has never been regarded or referred to as an "Emergency" brake, certainly not since the 1960s when the introduction of dual-circuit hydraulic brakes significantly improved braking efficiency and reliability. As far as I'm aware, the car literature doesn't refer to these brakes as "Emergency" brakes? I think that must be a US nomenclature?
In the UK, the standard applicable to the annual MoT test is to hold the car on a 1in 6 slope (16%). My late facelift car uses the drum-in-disc setup which is perhaps more efficient. However, I never use the handbrake on any car I own to hold the car in place when parked. I've always put Manual cars in 1st or Reverse gear, and Auto cars in Park. I admit that I do operate the handbrake almost every time I use the car, but that's merely to trigger the light so that I can fold the roof down!
When I recommission my 1979 pre-HE, no doubt I'll have a quick look at the handbrake setup, and I'll even submit it for an MoT test, even though it's now MoT exempt.
Paul
In the UK, the standard applicable to the annual MoT test is to hold the car on a 1in 6 slope (16%). My late facelift car uses the drum-in-disc setup which is perhaps more efficient. However, I never use the handbrake on any car I own to hold the car in place when parked. I've always put Manual cars in 1st or Reverse gear, and Auto cars in Park. I admit that I do operate the handbrake almost every time I use the car, but that's merely to trigger the light so that I can fold the roof down!
When I recommission my 1979 pre-HE, no doubt I'll have a quick look at the handbrake setup, and I'll even submit it for an MoT test, even though it's now MoT exempt.
Paul
Lol
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From: France
The handbrake pads give over 5 square inches of friction surface. This is plenty to hold a car on a 1 in 6 slope; though larger pads are always a good idea.
The problems with the Jaguar inboard setup are that:
The handbrake can be made extremely efficient and very durable, if an owner is prepared to spend a little time doing the necessary work. I fixed mine over 10 years ago and have not had to touch it since; it has passed multiple rolling road MoT/CT tests with no problems, and will hold the car against the gearbox in drive at 1500 rpm.
The problems with the Jaguar inboard setup are that:
- the pads now available are not sufficiently strongly bonded to their backing plates
- the pads need very careful setting up to ensure all the friction surface is applied to the disc
- the cable and self adjusters need very careful setting up
- rolling road MOT/Controle Technique handbrake tests put far greater strain on the handbrake system than a static 1 in 6 slope test does.
The handbrake can be made extremely efficient and very durable, if an owner is prepared to spend a little time doing the necessary work. I fixed mine over 10 years ago and have not had to touch it since; it has passed multiple rolling road MoT/CT tests with no problems, and will hold the car against the gearbox in drive at 1500 rpm.
Last edited by Greg in France; Dec 22, 2025 at 06:44 AM.
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Lol, again one brilliant design where no tool can cut that bolts, nor remove the soldered nuts on the exhaust collar, delicious as a mint boiled chicken 😂👌
Any worst option has been chosed to build this thing.
Now what, i have to cut the exhaust silencers to free the IRS ?
Of course, what else ?
Changing handbrake pads require new exhaust line, new bushings, new anything you'll touch anyway as it's a disaster on wheels.
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This is just disgusting lol. I would cut all this but then it would require new exhaust, what a nightmare for fürking handbrake pads.
What on earth did they need to copy silly ideas from Alfasud.
If i could i would add discs rotors and serious calipers instead of fighting against this dumb system. I leave this for the night, tomorrow is a new day.
Last edited by meh; Dec 22, 2025 at 12:53 PM.
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The nuts were never welded from the factory, someone has been in there. I would use a cutoff wheel on a die grinder to cut the bolts. Then you can get the pipes out and deal with the nuts on a workbench.
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I attempted this as well but angles are very smart designed, if you want to insert grinder wheel and cut bolts, then have to choose which other part near exhaust pipe you would alterate or destroy. Maybe a sort of flexible with a cut wheel but this would take ages. Fascinating how it looks easy to do on pictures but finally not easy at all and time consuming.
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It's 4:40 in the morning here but at 8:30 i'll try with electric impact hammer i have, it's made to cut stones and concrete, it should be able to destroy the bolts.
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From: France, Chambord
Finally got rid of these terrible soldered nuts and rusty bolts. It looks like walker exhausts are delivered with soldered nuts, they were too factory look to have been made by some sunday's mechanic like me.
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Lol, Like if glue could keep pads affixed properly 🤪
News parts are still the same, with same weakness. Impressive engineering lol
Why not have used rivets through metal tiny cylinders to add extra strenght to tearing like these used on clutch, simple.
Last edited by meh; Jan 19, 2026 at 05:15 AM.
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