R31 handbrake total crap

[2JZR31]

I just rebuilt my rear calipers to try and stop one locking on and to make the handbrake work better. I even removed the worm drive section and cones for the handbrake and gave them a once over. One was seized. I got it all moving freely and put it back together. But my handbrake is still utter crap. I have a new cable and everything.

The arms on the calipers only move about 20mm, but there is probably twice the potential for movement. The cable is as tight as it will go without starting to apply the handbrake. The handbrake is is quite hard to pull and even when I pull it to near vertical it has no chance of locking the rear brakes when the car is rolling. I guess its good enough to do its job of stopping the car rolling, but its hopeless at letting me build boost on the converter. The wheels spin at pretty much the same RPM when its on compared to when its not on.

Is this all I can expect from this type of handbrake?

[HoonBoy]

Yep, they suck, ask me how I know :(

However, hydraulic handbrake works a treat on them :D

[2JZR31]

Other guys reckon they can get it to lock up. But maybe the don't have 255s on the back.

I think we had a discussion about hydraulic handbrakes a while ago. How much would this cost? And would my old handbrake still work?

[da9jeff]

could probably do it for under $500 - less if you bend pipe and shit yourself.

you could keep the cable hand brake but you just need to find a good spot for the extra lever. You could even use the original h/brake handle to activate a pushrod into the handbrake master (mounted where/inside the centre console behind the h/brake.)

the cylinder used is the like a caravan type one except instead of a resivoir it has a machined fitting to take fluid from the existing setup. well thats my understanding anyway.

[2JZR31]

Would it be legal if I done it that way?

[da9jeff]

from what ive been told you need a non hydraulic handbrake to be legal. so as long as you retain the cable one you should be good. the rally guys would be the ones to ask - they always seem to be having a shitfight about it.

[HoonBoy]

Looking at the Sigma of Death thread by Gaz914, he put a hydraulic handbrake on the stock handbrake, you could easily make the pushrod removable if you wanted and keep the cable for parking duites.

You need a special master cylinder the handbrake, they go for about $80. They have a one way valve to stop fluid being pushed back to the standard brake master cylinder.