I have had my car on its wheels for a few months whilst getting on with the rest of the build. During this time, I've been rolling it in and out of the garage like one of those little models on a weather gauge (one of those things where a different one comes out depending on whether its wet or dry) and using the hand brake one a regular basis without having put any hydraulic fluid in the foot brake.

I have now belatedly done some research on here and I find that I should not have been doing this. So, have I FUBARed the self adjustment mechanism in my calipers, or is this just an urban myth. If I have done damage, is it something that can be reset (and if so, how), or am I going to have to rebuild the calipers?

I'm kind of hoping I've got away with it, but how can I tell?

I would recommend connecting the hydraulics and bleeding the system before condemning the calipers. It may be worth taking the calipers off the brackets and winding the pistons all the way in using the correct tool before winding the pistons out again to take up as much of the clearance between the discs and pads. Have known calipers to be damaged as well as some that have survived so could go either way

Thanks, I'll try that. Might be a stupid question, but how will I then know if the adjusters are working properly?

You should end up with decent brake pedal pressure and handbrake travel that should stay constant. Obviously you will only find this out by using the car

Bummer I have done the same. I have connected the handbrake up and tested it without any hydraulic fluid in. How does this damage the calipers?

It can damage the self adjuster mechanism which will not work properly. Most reconditioned calipers have a warning not to operate the handbrake until the brakes are bled and the self adjusters have operated. You may get away with it