406 handbrake, what shoes do you use?
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406 handbrake, what shoes do you use?
After completely rebuilding the handbrake system on my first 406 and it making no difference I came to the conclusion it must be the lining material that determines whether they work or not. The second one I bought has a working handbrake but the last one is the same as the first.
I haven't had occasion to change the shoes on the two latest ones but what I have noticed is that if the car is left standing for a day or two in damp weather the handbrake works a treat - the first time you use it, presumable because the drum has gone rusty and increased the friction.
So, does anyone know the secret lining material? I have a set of Mintex in stock awaiting the next overhaul but perhaps those of you whose handbrake works can tell us what linings you use.
Peter
I haven't had occasion to change the shoes on the two latest ones but what I have noticed is that if the car is left standing for a day or two in damp weather the handbrake works a treat - the first time you use it, presumable because the drum has gone rusty and increased the friction.
So, does anyone know the secret lining material? I have a set of Mintex in stock awaiting the next overhaul but perhaps those of you whose handbrake works can tell us what linings you use.
Peter
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Re: 406 handbrake, what shoes do you use?
Peter,
I have Pagid disc's , pads & shoes on the rear of mine & you know how good my handbrake is
I have Pagid disc's , pads & shoes on the rear of mine & you know how good my handbrake is
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1998 3.0 V6 SE coupe in Diablo Red ( my baby ) sold
2006 206 1.4 16v sport in Aegean blue ( wife's shopping trolley )
2006 BMW e61 535d m-sport run's for cover
Re: 406 handbrake, what shoes do you use?
I always use Mintex, but it isn't really down to the make of shoes.
I never have a problem with any 406 I own or owned nor any that I've serviced for customers.
My handbrake works perfectly.
I never have a problem with any 406 I own or owned nor any that I've serviced for customers.
My handbrake works perfectly.
Re: 406 handbrake, what shoes do you use?
Thanks for your comments.
Dirty diesel
I will bear that in mind.
Jasper.
I think it must be something to do with where you live, as stated I have had three 406 estates and only one has a reasonable handbrake, my son has a Coupe, his is also not much good and two friend on mine have 406s that I got for them and theirs are pretty useless too. My MOT man says they all are, so there must be something magic where you live.
All my hydropnumatic Citroens had superb handbrakes except possibly the CXs unless they had just been adjusted but even my 406 with the 'good' handbrake you have to pull up pretty hard. It is very hilly down here though.
Peter
Dirty diesel
I will bear that in mind.
Jasper.
I think it must be something to do with where you live, as stated I have had three 406 estates and only one has a reasonable handbrake, my son has a Coupe, his is also not much good and two friend on mine have 406s that I got for them and theirs are pretty useless too. My MOT man says they all are, so there must be something magic where you live.
All my hydropnumatic Citroens had superb handbrakes except possibly the CXs unless they had just been adjusted but even my 406 with the 'good' handbrake you have to pull up pretty hard. It is very hilly down here though.
Peter
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Re: 406 handbrake, what shoes do you use?
PeterN wrote:Thanks for your comments.
Dirty diesel
I will bear that in mind.
Jasper.
I think it must be something to do with where you live, as stated I have had three 406 estates and only one has a reasonable handbrake, my son has a Coupe, his is also not much good and two friend on mine have 406s that I got for them and theirs are pretty useless too. My MOT man says they all are, so there must be something magic where you live.
All my hydropnumatic Citroens had superb handbrakes except possibly the CXs unless they had just been adjusted but even my 406 with the 'good' handbrake you have to pull up pretty hard. It is very hilly down here though.
Peter
Well, Peter, jasper is the professional mechanic , works on 406's all the time, and has never had problems with the handbrake.
I put it to you that there may be something to be learned there.....
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1993 Mazda MX5 Mk1 1.6
2000 "W" HDI 110 Executive Saloon (Recycled).
Re: 406 handbrake, what shoes do you use?
Nah, just a crap system. The leverage decreases as the handbrake comes up which is arse backwards.
I've been contemplating having my shoes relined with a rally compound to be honest, even in tip-top condition it's crap.
I've been contemplating having my shoes relined with a rally compound to be honest, even in tip-top condition it's crap.
Re: 406 handbrake, what shoes do you use?
I reckon jasper has a secret formula for them.
Peter
Peter
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Re: 406 handbrake, what shoes do you use?
Mine is good, I adjust it before the MOT, using the cog in the drum, and it's fine for a year.
I do use the handbrake to slow the car when I'm in traffic occasionally, which I think takes the sheen off the drums...
Maybe it's down to certain discs and certain shoes combo....
I do use the handbrake to slow the car when I'm in traffic occasionally, which I think takes the sheen off the drums...
Maybe it's down to certain discs and certain shoes combo....
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PP2000 user, can help with faults / diagnostics in the Bournemouth area.
1998 Volvo 940 auto estate - also mine
2019 Citroen C3 something - the wife's
PP2000 user, can help with faults / diagnostics in the Bournemouth area.
Re: 406 handbrake, what shoes do you use?
Must be good to fix an inherent design issue.PeterN wrote:I reckon jasper has a secret formula for them.
Peter
Re: 406 handbrake, what shoes do you use?
PhillipM wrote:Must be good to fix an inherent design issue.PeterN wrote:I reckon jasper has a secret formula for them.
Peter
When they are set up correctly they work correctly!!
It isn't rocket science!!
I live in a hilly area too and my 406 estate has a perfectly set up and working handbrake...i can get you my recent mot brake figures if you like!
Re: 406 handbrake, what shoes do you use?
There is something odd here with different members having different experiences. When I bought my first one the handbrake would work after a style, it passed the MOT but was nothing like as good as most of the previous cars I had, you really have to pull on it to hold it on a hill.
I replaced everything ,shoes, disks/drums and the two rear cables, set it up as per the book - no difference, works better when you have just adjusted the shoes but not for long. The next year when it went for MOT the tester broke the main cable trying to get a high enough reading, I replaced that, not an easy job, adjusted it according to the book and it was still no better, passed the MOT because you could now pull it up hard enough. I can only think as I said earlier that its down to brake lining material.
I'm not a novice at this, I've been repairing my own cars and other peoples since the 1950s.
Peter
I replaced everything ,shoes, disks/drums and the two rear cables, set it up as per the book - no difference, works better when you have just adjusted the shoes but not for long. The next year when it went for MOT the tester broke the main cable trying to get a high enough reading, I replaced that, not an easy job, adjusted it according to the book and it was still no better, passed the MOT because you could now pull it up hard enough. I can only think as I said earlier that its down to brake lining material.
I'm not a novice at this, I've been repairing my own cars and other peoples since the 1950s.
Peter
Re: 406 handbrake, what shoes do you use?
Mine works. It's had everything replaced and set up correctly.jasper5 wrote:
When they are set up correctly they work correctly!!
But it doesn't work 'well' by any stretch of the imagination.
Attempting to lock the rear wheels with it requires such force that you can feel things starting to stretch. Parking the thing on a hill requires 3x the force on the handbrake to hold it compared to my old 306. It's just a poor design.
Hence considering having the shoes re-lined with a rally compound. If that's not enough I'll remake the handbrake itself as the pivot there has similar leverage issues to the expanders.
Re: 406 handbrake, what shoes do you use?
Would have thought that rally linings would be harder, I think a softer compound is what's needed - just a thought.
Peter
Peter
Re: 406 handbrake, what shoes do you use?
PhillipM wrote:Mine works. It's had everything replaced and set up correctly.jasper5 wrote:
When they are set up correctly they work correctly!!
But it doesn't work 'well' by any stretch of the imagination.
Attempting to lock the rear wheels with it requires such force that you can feel things starting to stretch. Parking the thing on a hill requires 3x the force on the handbrake to hold it compared to my old 306. It's just a poor design.
Hence considering having the shoes re-lined with a rally compound. If that's not enough I'll remake the handbrake itself as the pivot there has similar leverage issues to the expanders.
My present 406 Estate works perfectly with normal effort on 4 clicks of the handbrake lever, my previous saloon worked perfectly on 4 clicks, even with my wife using it every day...she did 64,000 miles in the car without replacing the shoes, cables or anything!
I recently replaced my brother's worn out 406 Estate handbrake shoes with my usual Mintex ones...his handbrake works perfectly, even with his caravan connected!
In my how-to I mention setting the shoes with all cable adjusters backed off, tighten the adjuster wheels until the drum is locked solid and you can't adjust any more...then back off one click at a time until the shoes are just binding a little, usually 3 or 4 clicks, then adjusting the rear cable and finally the cable at the handbrake lever...this is for maximum leverage.
As a professional mechanic (46 years experience, 36 years in business) I constantly see issues with handbrakes where they are adjusted incorrectly and therefore losing leverage...cables adjusted without setting the handbrake pads/shoes properly first.
Re: 406 handbrake, what shoes do you use?
Mine are adjusted correctly, the handbrake will hold on 4 clicks. It's just not very good.
(I only have a decade of experience with building brake systems from scratch for multiple championship winning rally cars)
(I only have a decade of experience with building brake systems from scratch for multiple championship winning rally cars)
Last edited by PhillipM on Fri Oct 07, 2016 9:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.