Thread: Disco 3 handbrake screech

Originally Posted by gghaggis

I've followed the sagas of these EPB failures closely over the years - mainly because I've never had one. In 3 vehicles over the past 7 years, never had a screamer.

The only thing that I can (anecdotally) think of is that I've never used the auto-disengage function - ie I always manually release the brake before driving off. Old habit I guess. However, most of the other owners I speak to (well actually all of them afaik) use the auto-release. I wonder if it stresses the mechanism, or at least contributes to a slippage of the adjustment?

Cheers,

Gordon

Gordon
I'll put my hand up to be the exception to the rule, I don't use the auto-disengage, but I've definitely had screamers and the EPB actuator replaced. I try and remind the dealer to service the thing at each normal service now.
Cheers
Mike

Well, there goes that theory ..................



Cheers,

Gordon

Originally Posted by rocmic

Gordon
I'll put my hand up to be the exception to the rule, I don't use the auto-disengage, but I've definitely had screamers and the EPB actuator replaced. I try and remind the dealer to service the thing at each normal service now.
Cheers
Mike

I have just looked at the service schedule and the only servicing is adjustment of the brake shoes - there is nothing on the actuator - so when you say you get the dealer to service the EPB actuator what exactly is done?

Looking at the workshop manual - I cannot see anything about servicing the actual actuator.

Cheers

Garry

Originally Posted by garrycol

Please clarify for me - is the screaming coming from the actuator up behind the rear diff, or from the actual brakes drum/s??

Thanks

Garry

Both. The majority of the scream is from the actuator on the diff, the plastic cogs don't like it when the brake shoes have gone stiff (as happened with mine). Servicing the brakes involved stripping the lot off the hub, cleaning off all the rust & crud then (somehow) running some lubricant along the cables. Bear in mind the shoes on mine were seized solid to the backplate & actuator arms so the screeching from them wasn't pretty either. It's now pretty much silent, in fact I have to really listen hard to hear the actuator on the diff now. I believe servicing them at the dealer involves saying they've done it, rather than actually doing anything

I was also a bugger for not using the parkbrake very often, if at all so that wouldn't have helped. Bung it in park and leave it was usually my modus operandi, whereas now I'll use it more often now it's working properly.

Originally Posted by garrycol

I have just looked at the service schedule and the only servicing is adjustment of the brake shoes - there is nothing on the actuator - so when you say you get the dealer to service the EPB actuator what exactly is done?

Looking at the workshop manual - I cannot see anything about servicing the actual actuator.

Cheers

Garry

Garry
I meant the "thing" in general not the actuator itself, adjustment of the shoes is all as far as I know.
I believe the actuator fails because of the strain when the brake gets stuck so I remind the dealer to check the adjustment
Cheers
Mike.

I have now had this happen twice to me over the past 3 years. The last time last night. The vehicle ended up going to the mechanic on the back of a flat top. Both times i have attempted to use the manual release and failed. Is there some trick to it. I got to a point where i thought if i pulled the cable any harder i would drage the rear diff through the centre console.
The first time it happened i was at the top of Talbot Ville and was luck that the park brake eventually disengaged otherwise it was going to be a long walk home. The deales have dismissed it saying its an adjustment not a warranty issue. Is there any fix??

Originally Posted by Warrick

I have now had this happen twice to me over the past 3 years. The last time last night. The vehicle ended up going to the mechanic on the back of a flat top. Both times i have attempted to use the manual release and failed. Is there some trick to it. I got to a point where i thought if i pulled the cable any harder i would drage the rear diff through the centre console.
The first time it happened i was at the top of Talbot Ville and was luck that the park brake eventually disengaged otherwise it was going to be a long walk home. The deales have dismissed it saying its an adjustment not a warranty issue. Is there any fix??

re manual release. I put the bigger bar (one to remove the nuts) accros the seat and centre consol/ The put the hook bar over the other one after puting the hook in the release cable. This gave me much more leaverage. Even then I use a lot of force to release it. Mine was occasionaly giving me grief and screaming. I have had no issues since the handbrake actuator unit was replaced. I waited a while before choosing to replace it. It was worth it. Annoying but worth it. Blow out the brake is a pain in the but again worth it as well. You need to take the Disk brake off to get to the parking brake which is drum brakes on rear only. You may need a few new spanners or hex sockets to do it as well.

Well its at the doctors now and i am looking at a fair bill! As this seems to be such a common issue is here any recourse with Land Rover?