Hand brake

[sooz]

Can I have some advice please?

My local garage told me that my handbrake doesn't work because the rear pads are shot. So I sourced some pads and replaced them - only on the right hand side - because I found that the existing pads were fine and I seemed to have wasted 1.5 hrs doing the job.

Can anyone advise what I can look at next? How does the handbrake operate? Is there a separate system to the main callipers and hydraulic system?

Thanks in advance.

[Mark_vaughn]

You can adjust the tenson on the cable under the car. You should see lines making a Y from the center to the back wheels. There should be an adjustment nut on it, or at least this is how mine is setup.

hope that helped.

[So Cal Mark]

frozen e-brake cables are common, especially where the cable is close to the exhaust on the right side. If the e-brake lever comes up more than halfway, it needs to be adjusted. If it comes up less than that but the ebrake doesn't hold, look at the cable.
The rear calipers have a lever that pushes the piston out, applying the pads when the ebrake is applied. It's a mechanical system that uses the same parts as the hydraulic system to apply brake pressure

[sooz]

The cable comes up more than 1/2 way so I'll search for the adjuster - the guy at the garage said he couldn't find one...
Does the hand brake (not heard the term e-brake - is it a US term) operate both rear callipers? It sounds like it from your description.

In case there are any model anomolies, my car is a 1980 Pininfarina.

Thanks.

[So Cal Mark]

the adjuster is located where the rear cable meets the lever mechanism, under the driveshaft in the middle of the car. While you're under there, inspect the cable where it crosses the exhaust pipe; really common to find a deteriorated cable there
Hand brake, parking brake, emergency brake; one and the same
The system does apply both rear calipers.