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Topic: Handbrake now working banging noise .

Andy 2480

via mobile 08/4/2024 at 1:46pm
Location: Gorseinon Swansea
Outfit: Bailey Olympus 534 .

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Hi Guys .

I have recently had the caravan serviced and new brake shoes were installed .
We have since used the van for the first time since the service however have realised the handbrake isn't holding .
Also I noticed when towing and braking there seems to be a thud which seems to come from the rubber gater on Caravan hitch area.
Any ideas please.
I have obviously advised my service engineer , however he can't look at it for a week or two.
I never usually reverse the van as I have a M.M.However I did reverse last week whilst on pitch is it something to do with the hitch itself on the caravan which seems to be extendable.

TIA.
Andy

664DaveS

via mobile 08/4/2024 at 2:13pm
Location: Shropshire
Outfit: Bailey Phoenix GT 75

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There is a damper in the hitch which compresses and applies the brakes as you slow the car down. It also compresses as you reverse. It extends again when you stop slowing down or reversing.
If the hand brake is not working it sounds like adjustment is needed to the shoes or brake linkage or the damper is failing.

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Andy 2480

via mobile 08/4/2024 at 2:41pm
Location: Gorseinon Swansea
Outfit: Bailey Olympus 534 .

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Thanks .
My dealer said Damper is on its way out and will gradually get worse.luckily it's covered under platinum warranty.
However would that effect the handbrake?.I literally had the shoes changed both sides.
However

664DaveS

08/4/2024 at 4:49pm
Location: Shropshire
Outfit: Bailey Phoenix GT 75

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Not sure on that one. Possibly.

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Monty15

08/4/2024 at 6:57pm
Location: London
Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524

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As to the handbrake not holding, sounds like new shoes weren't properly centred and/or adjusted at fitment, or possibly the drums are excessively worn and the new shoes haven't worn sufficiently yet to give complete contact surface area, so inefficient braking.

Could be the hitch sliding bar (inside the rubber gaiter) has been lubricated as part of the service (it should be) and is now more free moving than it was, showing the weakness of the worn damper, as it hits end of travel harder than it used to, giving you the bang.

tango55

08/4/2024 at 10:55pm
Location: Lichfield
Outfit: Coachman Amara 450

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It could be a defective damper on it's way out but even if that was the case, the caravan brakes should engage and eliminate the sudden impact of the damper collision providing that the brake shoes are set up correctly. When the new brake shoes were installed, the location pegs should have been lubricated with copper grease (to allow for heat expansion) and free movement of the brake shoes whilst being centralised with the brake drum. Centralising the brake shoes is achieved by slightly tapping the out circumference of the brake drum with a hammer each side so that the brake shoes slide into their correct position. The gap between the new brake shoe linings and the inner drum surface has to be adjusted slowly in co-ordination of tapping the drum with the hammer and then a bit more brake shoe adjustment till the brake shoes are fully locked onto the drum. The adjuster then has to be slackened off slightly until you can spin the drum by hand for free movement in motion. If the brake shoes have not been adjusted in this manner then it's likely to be the root cause of the problem as there is too much gap between the brake shoes and brake drum which is also evident of the hand brake not working effectively.
The service engineer was paid for poor quality workmanship in my opinion which I would be looking for an alternative engineer in the future.

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