Technical stuff > Brakes

Beta handbrake not holding vehicle on a slope

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JASPER_40:
Andrew,

Any further update on your handbrake problems ?

Steve

Gromit:
Hi Steve,

Apologies for not responding to your most recent post and troubleshooting suggestions. I have been a bit distracted of late and not followed this problem up very diligently. Being an occasional use hobby car, there is not the same pressure to get things sorted out!

I suspect that the most likely cause of the problem is another broken self adjuster spring based on all of the forum feedback to date. Although I agree that the handbrake cable adjustment should be checked carefully first just in case it was over tightened before the rear pads were installed and rear caliper to disc clearance set.

After my father died last year, I found the original purchase receipt for the Beta Coupe which was acquired by him in 1992. That means the car has been in our family for nearly 36 years! Dad used it as a fair weather hobby car only so it has probably only averaged around 2,000km per year in that time of ownership.  I think it had just under 100,000km on the clock when it was purchased as a 12 year old vehicle.

I doubt that the rear calipers had been touched during our 36 year ownership period. Until the major brake refurbishment work done in 2024 of course. I don`t recall my father mentioning any brake caliper refurbishment work done. Although I guess they could have been dismantled in the first 12 years of ownership if there had been a broken adjuster spring in that time. Which given what Nigel has said about a spate of rear caliper adjuster spring failures in the early 1980`s, is a distinct possibility.

Even if a rear caliper had been reassembled incorrectly in a previous botched repair, I think that Power Brakes would have probably identified the problem and rectified it. They told me that they have done quite a few Lancia Beta caliper rebuilds over the years and all of their employees have worked there for many years, so a lot of brake overhaul experience. It is that type of operation.

I think I need to track down a pair of new or more likely second hand rear caliper clearance adjuster nut/spring replacement parts first and then take the car back to the local workshop for a full rear brake inspection and identification of an under performing rear caliper handbrake engagement. With a view to stripping down, inspecting and if necessary replacing the adjuster spring in the under performing rear caliper.

I shall use your very helpful photo of the dismantled rear caliper parts, (to visually identify the correct required part), to inquire locally with a couple of Lancia parts suppliers as to whether they have any good condition rear adjuster nut/spring parts in stock. I would rather have a couple of spares on hand in case Power Brakes have run out of their own second hand parts stock.

Time to get cracking and chase down some replacement adjuster bits!

Andrew

JASPER_40:
Hi Andrew,

I am still caught up on the fact that you said the brakes didnt hold before the rebuild and they didnt hold either after the rebuild, despite the broken adjuster spring being replaced.

Anyway, having a couple of used calipers in reserve is not a bad thing as you can always sell them on if you don't need them.

The italian job and Italian automotive spares over East have a ton of new and used Lancia spares and always seem to have the obscure stuff like maybe just the adjuster springs...real characters and know their stuff including what the hard to find stuff is worth.

Cheers,

Steve

Neil-yaj396:
On my old ie Coupe this problem was simply due to the old discs having warn beyond the minimum thickness. Replacements were not available in the UK for a while.

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