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[kitch]

gc just failed mot on following"nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort", "offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort"
and "parking brake efficiencey below requirements"

now i did replaced the parking shoes about six month ago so they may be ok
but did have a few problems getting them adjusted question is would i be best getting new parts kit like below

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... =p3907.m29

just thought if i was going to have to mess with brakes may as well change adjusters and springs

cheers

[Dave69]

i got a set of theseas the origional adjusters tend to rot

[Jonny Jeep]

The brakes can go out of adjustment if they are not used in the correct manner.

What you should do, as per the FSM is this. Alter the adjusters in the drums till the shoes drag slightly. Then back off the adjusters just enough to remove the drag.

Once that is done...

"Drive vehicle and make one forward stop followed by one reverse stop. Repeat procedure 8-10 times to operate automatic adjusters and equalize
adjustment.

NOTE: Bring vehicle to complete standstill at each stop. Incomplete, rolling stops will not activate automatic adjusters."

When driving in general you should brake firmly to a complete stop on a fairly regular basis to ensure the adjusters take up any slack and keep the rear brakes working correctly. That might be all it takes. I'd try that first before spending hard earned.

[jgsmuzzy]

If the car is an auto, go to a different MOT tester.  My Mustang failed for the same reason, took it to a different place, and it passed.  Some check the handbrakes on auto's others don't.

Let's face it, with an Auto, the handbrake is not strictly necessary.  I never use mine, and it really disconcerts me when my wife has been driving.  She always leaves it engaged and I always forget to take it off!

[Jonny Jeep]

Hand brakes MUST be tested as part of the MOT test. If a test station doesn't test the hand brake it makes me wonder what else they might neglect. I certainly wouldn't trust them to carry out repairs on any vehicle I owned.

As for them not being necessary on an auto, what if the brake booster (which has caused recalls of some Jeeps) or the master cylinder fails? It's not referred to as an E-brake or emergency brake in the US for nothing.

[Dave69]

a handbrake is part of the mot test and must pass an efficiency vs weight ratio for the vehicle, the downside is that the xj handbrake is basically crap and goes out of adjustment days or even hours after it has been adjusted

[Bishops Finger]

Its not just the XJ..TJ handbrakes are a novelty...just had mine rebuilt to pass MOT

[Jonny Jeep]

My TJs hand brake seemed to go out of adjustment when my dad was using it for a week while I had his car. After a few times of braking firmly to a complete stop (as per FSM) brakes were good.

I normally brake to a fairly gentle stop but that won't keep the brakes adjusted. When braking firmly to a stop I keep my foot down hard on the pedal so the Jeep lurches a bit as it stops, seems to keep my brakes working just fine. Last changed shoes a couple of years ago I think and the Jeep passed it's MOT this month without any issues.

The brake setting method posted above is from the TJ FSM but I'm certain the XJ FSM will be the same word for word. Won't hurt, or even cost any money, to try setting the adjusters according to the manufacturers instructions.