Ducato Handbrake Seized - Help?

[Wissel]

Hey All, hoping someone can help?

I have a 2017 Ducato here that's being collected tomorrow. Just gone to move it and the handbrake is seized up.

The handle itself releases, but then it doesn't feel like much is releasing. I've tried driving it back and forwards a few metres, but it hasn't helped.

Is there anything simple I can try to try and free it?

Many thanks,
David

 

[Marie-Claire]

How long has it been parked up for is it steel or alloy wheels?

 

[Ingwe]

Found this on Fiat forum:

Make sure the handbrake lever is in the completely off position
- Carry out the following on both sides of the vehicle.
1. Rotate the brake disc manually until one of the openings (1a) is in line with the toothed pin (1b) of the adjuster.
2. Insert a screwdriver and, with the assistance of an electric torch, rotate the toothed pin upwards until the end of travel position (a condition in which the shoes are touching the brake drum).
When the rotation of the adjuster stops, do not force it by rotating the toothed wheel any further.
3. Rotate the toothed wheel (1b) by about 5 teeth in the opposite direction (downwards). This operation makes it possible to re-establish the recommended clearance between the shoes and the drum (the rotation of five teeth of the adjustment wheel corresponds to a variation in the shoe diameter of 0.15 mm). The disc will then rotate without sticking but can produce a certain resistance.

https://www.fiatforum.com/attachments/rear-brake-jpg.73745/

https://www.fiatforum.com/attachments/disc_drumhandbrake-jpg.73746/

sorry forgot to attach the photos.

 

[Wissel]

Thanks Ingwe

I'll give that a go later this evening

 

[pappajohn]

Sounds like the shoes have stuck to the drum, a common problem when stood for a while especially if wet when parked.

First line of attack......

Put a correctly sized socket and extension bar on one of the wheel nuts......give it a hard smack or three with a heavy hammer, do the same on the other wheel.

I kid you not......it needs shock not torque to free them

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Clivefog]

Gentle back and forth may not do it, need to be aggressive. Backing off the adjusters may still leave the linings stuck in place.

 

[WESTY66]

Found this on Fiat forum:

Make sure the handbrake lever is in the completely off position
- Carry out the following on both sides of the vehicle.
1. Rotate the brake disc manually until one of the openings (1a) is in line with the toothed pin (1b) of the adjuster.
2. Insert a screwdriver and, with the assistance of an electric torch, rotate the toothed pin upwards until the end of travel position (a condition in which the shoes are touching the brake drum).
When the rotation of the adjuster stops, do not force it by rotating the toothed wheel any further.
3. Rotate the toothed wheel (1b) by about 5 teeth in the opposite direction (downwards). This operation makes it possible to re-establish the recommended clearance between the shoes and the drum (the rotation of five teeth of the adjustment wheel corresponds to a variation in the shoe diameter of 0.15 mm). The disc will then rotate without sticking but can produce a certain resistance.

This is a good idea but it’s possible the handbrake shoes could have stuck to inside of the top hat part of the disc, a few whacks with a copper hammer on the side of the top hat is what I’d try first

Edit PJ posted whilst I was typing

 

[Marie-Claire]

If steel wheels take the trim off and a sharp blow with a lump hammer

 

[Wissel]

Thanks for all the replies.

I like the hammer idea. As it's not fully sticking, I'll try this first.

I've sprayed a bit of WD on the cable connects under the van, which can soak in the next few hours while I'm finishing off a few little jobs inside the van. Then I'll try the hammer idea before moving the van back outside

Thanks all for the replies, I'll post here if it all works

 

[Wissel]

Thanks everyone for the help.

I let the WD soak in until I needed to move the van, then used the hammer method recommended above just before I moved the van (only to turn it around, still a little bit to do to finish this). Put it in reverse and it freed within 50cm. Ran it around the carpark to make sure and all is fine now

Obviously not putting the handbrake back on overnight and ~I'm sure a good run tomorrow when it's picked up will sort it out better

Thanks again,
David

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[poppycamper]

And the lesson learnt is .....
Don't leave vehicles parked up with hand brake on... if required chock wheels..

 

[Windy66]

Put the van in gear first. Use wheel chocks / ramps if you have some to stop the van moving once the brake is freed.

Get a long stick/piece of wood. Batten is best. Push the rotary lever hard under the van and it will free itself. BUT BEWARE, the van will be free to move after you unstick it. Keep out of the way of wheels.

Once freed, get some spray WD40 or ACF50 (best) and spray the mechanism.

Leave it parked in gear and with wheel chocks in the future. Leave handbrake off.

Worked for me!

 

[Tasng4]

You should never, ever leave the handbrake on if you're leaving a van or car for any length of time. With steel or alloy wheels take off any trim, get a length of stout hard wood (not pine as it's soft) about 12" long, a big hammer, put the wood length ways against the wheel and whack it with the hammer.

 

[OutTheOffice]

You should never, ever leave the handbrake on if you're leaving a van or car for any length of time. With steel or alloy wheels take off any trim, get a length of stout hard wood (not pine as it's soft) about 12" long, a big hammer, put the wood length ways against the wheel and whack it with the hammer.

I totally agree, the handbrake on our van is never left on. However, we have 2 cars with electronic handbrakes ( another unnecessary innovation in my opinion) and we do go away in the Moho for up to three months at a time obv leaving the cars with their handbrakes on. I believe there is a process you can go through to stop the handbrake automatically applying when you turn the engine off. Does anyone both doing this?

 

[RustyRuss]

I always leave my vehicles in 1st gear when level or facing up hill and reverse when facing downhill. SHMBO never leaves her car in gear and so far her cars have crashed into walls, lampposts, crossed busy main roads etc, all completely driverless. Enough said. Ouch! Thanks dear! Yes I know you know best!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[pappajohn]

Thanks everyone for the help.

I let the WD soak in until I needed to move the van, then used the hammer method recommended above just before I moved the van (only to turn it around, still a little bit to do to finish this). Put it in reverse and it freed within 50cm. Ran it around the carpark to make sure and all is fine now

Obviously not putting the handbrake back on overnight and ~I'm sure a good run tomorrow when it's picked up will sort it out better

Thanks again,
David

You could put the brake back on a bit until there's resistance and drive a few yards.
That should clean the drums and pads..

 

[Gromett]

You could put the brake back on a bit until there's resistance and drive a few yards.
That should clean the drums and pads..

Was just going to say that. I do it before every MOT to ensure I don't get the "Insuffient braking thingabob" warning.

BUT, don't pull too hard or drive too fast. don't ask me how I know

 

[donkey]

I totally agree, the handbrake on our van is never left on. However, we have 2 cars with electronic handbrakes ( another unnecessary innovation in my opinion) and we do go away in the Moho for up to three months at a time obv leaving the cars with their handbrakes on. I believe there is a process you can go through to stop the handbrake automatically applying when you turn the engine off. Does anyone both doing this?

If your car has automatic electric parking brake then it will be utilising the disc brake calliper, rather than a drum/shoe system. These are less prone to sticking.

Geoff

 

[pappajohn]

If your car has automatic electric parking brake then it will be utilising the disc brake calliper, rather than a drum/shoe system. These are less prone to sticking.

Geoff

Turn the brake switch to off then turn off ignition.
That disables the handbrake but don't forget to chock a wheel or leave in 1st gear unless your on a steep-ish drive/road, then leave the brake on.

 

[M1EWK]

You should never, ever leave the handbrake on if you're leaving a van or car for any length of time. With steel or alloy wheels take off any trim, get a length of stout hard wood (not pine as it's soft) about 12" long, a big hammer, put the wood length ways against the wheel and whack it with the hammer.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lenny HB]

I always leave my vehicles in 1st gear when level or facing up hill and reverse when facing downhill. SHMBO never leaves her car in gear and so far her cars have crashed into walls, lampposts, crossed busy main roads etc, all completely driverless. Enough said. Ouch! Thanks dear! Yes I know you know best!

I had a car roll down the road into the middle of a junction because I left the handbrake off that was in the early 70's. Never left a vehicle not in gear since then.

 

[OutTheOffice]

Turn the brake switch to off then turn off ignition.
That disables the handbrake but don't forget to chock a wheel or leave in 1st gear unless your on a steep-ish drive/road, then leave the brake on.

Thank you for that, our drive is perfectly flat, so pointless to risk the brakes seizing whilst we are away

 

[ctc]

The Americans still call our handbrake an emergency brake, which of course is what it's for. Never understood our obsession with having a brake for parking.

 

[Blaydon]

You should never, ever leave the handbrake on if you're leaving a van or car for any length of time. With steel or alloy wheels take off any trim, get a length of stout hard wood (not pine as it's soft) about 12" long, a big hammer, put the wood length ways against the wheel and whack it with the hammer.

This is good advice. But we leave ours on the self levellers and so the hand brake has to be on.

 

[pappajohn]

This is good advice. But we leave ours on the self levellers and so the hand brake has to be on.

But does it have to be fully on or just a click or two to override the leveller cutout.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Badknee]

This is good advice. But we leave ours on the self levellers and so the hand brake has to be on.

Blaydon Just pull the handbrake up enough to put the light on on the dash. You will be able to drop the jacks but the brake will not be on hard. Works for me

 

[chesterfield hooligan]

The thing with American cars they call a emergency brake is because they leave their automatic cars in park which lock's the gearbox no need for a parking brake. Plus a stick shift is beyond most of their ability.

 

[WESTY66]

This is good advice. But we leave ours on the self levellers and so the hand brake has to be on.

Put it up on the jacks turn off the ignition, release the handbrake, job done!!

DO NOT FORGET TO PUT THE HANDBRAKE BACK ON BEFORE YOU PUT IGNITION BACK ON!!

 

[Wildbill]

Thers plenty say give it a thwack with lump hammer I would go with that
Bill

 

[Capri Keith]

The Americans still call our handbrake an emergency brake, which of course is what it's for. Never understood our obsession with having a brake for parking.

These electric button hand brakes can not be used in an emergency as they don’t work if the car is moving.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}