As far as I'm aware hydralic handbrakes are not legal for road use. Anyone know any different?

I would like a hydraulic handbrake on my car, so was wondering whether two systemds for a handbrake would be possible?

If I had a rear disk set-up, with one set of callipers for the standard cable-operated handbrake, this would satisfy the requirements for SVA etc.

Then a second pair of callipers used for the hydraulic system.

just a thought, or would I be better off converting the standard handbrake to hydaulic after the SVA is out of the way?

Any suggestions appreciated!

Cheers
Mark

to ease complication i would suggest changing from mechanical to hydraulic handbrae after sva. do bear in mind/check that i think you need a mechanical handbrtake for mot, though might be wrong on that.

Ned.

yeah, that was my understanding, so if I had both on from the start then this would avoid having to change it every year.

Mark

Just out of interest- what is the benefit of a hydraulic handbrake?

Especially if you've fitted a cable one already?

Cheers,

James

a mechanical handbrake is required for SVA/MOT - but this is for a very good reason, do you really want to be without a mechanical handbrake - do you trust your hydraulics that much - do you trust that the pressure wont 'leak' letting your car roll off down the hill ?

Or is this just because you want to do handbrake turns ? - if so a mechanical brake is more than enough for a car as light as a locost......

[Edited on 8/3/04 by protofj]

I thought the snag with hydraulic handbrakes is getting the fluid hot when driving and then having it cool and contract when parked and rolling off down a slope.

It will be for a little bit more than car-park handbrake turns.

Also, the issue of the car rolling away would be preventable by leaving it in gear.

I was of the understanding that hydraulic handbrakes didnt lock in the same way a conventional one does, so you couldnt be applying the brake without pulling the lever.

Mark

just wondering what do wrc ppl use cus they use the handbrake all the time?

phil

WRC have hydraulic handbrakes.

Mark

but they r road legal????

They will not pass an SVA or MOT test. I think a certain leniancy is applied to the WRC cars on public roads (but no the drivers apparently) regarding cartain pieces of equipment. I belive a hydraulic handbrake is one of those.

However, I sincerely doubt anyone will extend the same degree of leniancy to me.

Mark

[Edited on 8/3/04 by 9904169]

so if they arnt road legal, how come they have got number plates, and how come they got speeding fines?

I should have made the above a reply not an edit, but it still stands.

red tape ay?

In our cantry, we have special rules for modified cars (rally cars). They don't have to pass emission tests, etc. But thay still have to go through as you say MOT tests. I belive that something like this is common everywhere.

... but you realy have to participate in rally events to get this "modified rally car" status.

so...... back to my original question...

can anyone advise me on the feasibility of two braking systems on the rear?

thanks

Mark

Hi

There is a build site (somewhere) where this has been done. Big hydraulic caliper for the main of the braking then a dinky little caliper for the cable handbrake.

I think there's a fly off hydraulic hand brake lever with a small cable operated lever on the side of it in the raldes catalogue.

Mark
(First post... Hello everyone )

Hi Mark,

Welcome to the Madhouse!

James

We have just started to investigate this as it became clear that hydraulic handbrakes can be street legal (in Sweden) The handbrake can be made to work on the same pipe and cylinders as the foot brake by some sort of valve. Exactly how is still a mystery to us but we are working to solve it.

Not much help.

Cheers

sva specifically states a mechanical system is needed.

The Jag Xj-S - and most likely the XJ6 of same time - used inboard rear main disks. There was also a smaller mechanical inboard disk with its own pads, operated by a cable to handbrake that formed a handbrake system.


atb


steve

Right, lets clear this one up!! Rally cars technically do have to have mechanical handbrakes to be legal! What they do is use a very lenient MOT tester and don't have to get through SVA!!!

Yes you can use two separate calipers, mechanical for "MOT handbrake" and hydraulic for other" many cars do in competition, and several kit's do (like Ultima)

You can always do what we have done on some rally cars in the past and drill the pad backing plates and put a cable through them to the "hydraulic" handbrake in the car. That way the cable goes tight and the brakes work!! The fact that the cable isn't doing the braking doesn't seem to factor in!!

Having said all of that, you only need a mechanical handbrake on a locost anyway, as several people have said, it is so light the footbrake will usually bring the back round nicely if you want it to!

Not that it really applies here but hydraulic handbrakes are legal in the UK on pre 1968 cars.

Bear in mind that most world rally cars are only in this country on the road for a few days during the Rally GB, the rest of the time around the world they do not have to worry! However the GB registered ones still have to pass a UK MOT and strictly speaking I think most would fail!

JB

If rally cars must be road legal (to drive between stages) that means that some of thier super soft, practically slick, tarmac tyres must be road legal. Maybe a good locost tyres!!!

Yes, the tyres are road legal, but they are suited to cars weighing a lot more than a locost in the main, and even rally "slicks" carry a lot more reinforecement in the sidewalls than you would want on a locost, so making th tyres rather heavy.

Lastly, they are definitely not "locost", they are "hicost"!!!!!

Some rally enthusiasts I know use a separate master cylinder that is plumbed in line with the rear brake pipes. When the (hydraulic) handbrake is off, pressure from the main foot brake is transfered through the handbrake master cylinder. With the handbrake on, the second master cylinder effectively shuts off the main brake lines, and applies pressure to the rear brake slaves.

The advanatge of this is that the mechanical system (e.g. cable) can remain in place to satisfy the legal requirement of two independant braking systems (although in practice the cable seems to be adjusted so loose it doesn't really do much).

quote:

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Originally posted by leto
We have just started to investigate this as it became clear that hydraulic handbrakes can be street legal (in Sweden) The handbrake can be made to work on the same pipe and cylinders as the foot brake by some sort of valve. Exactly how is still a mystery to us but we are working to solve it.

Not much help.

Cheers

---

Ok what you are looking for is something called a turning break. Dune buggies have been using these for years. They allow you to lock up the lefr rear wheel or the right rear wheel seperatly via a hydraulic levar. Here are some different kinds.

http://www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=932

http://www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=1189

I plan to buy a hydraulic handbrake and a line lock for an e-brake.