Xsara Handbrake

[bruce]

i have a xsara 2 ltr hdi with disc brakes all round, the handbrake is useless, i also fitted new rear discs and pads and new cables aswell, it does hold now maybe 50% i was hoping for better. i was thinking about fitting drums instead of discs on the rear. i think some xsaras are fitted with drums, and i was hoping that drums would fit without any problem, can anybody help???. also need to know which model of xsara would have drums suitable for my conversion. hope you can help. bruce.

[nick74]

I think the 1.4 petrol versions had drums on the back, but if your handbrake is that bad there must be something wrong with one or both of the calipers. I have rear discs on my Xsara and the handbrake works very well. It would almost certainly be easier to fix the fault with the existing setup than replace it with drums.

[Guest Ialsorideaharley]

I think the 1.4 petrol versions had drums on the back, but if your handbrake is that bad there must be something wrong with one or both of the calipers. I have rear discs on my Xsara and the handbrake works very well. It would almost certainly be easier to fix the fault with the existing setup than replace it with drums.

 

I agree - my 1.6VTR Coupe has a very good handbrake (although the adjuster is a bitch to get at - you need to remove the centre console) so there must be a problem with a linkage or caliper. It will probably be cheaper to fix that than swap to drums (which may not be compatible anyway). I have changed the discs on mine (front and rear, GSF, at around 30k miles) because the originals rusted badly (the car stands for long periods sometimes) but the handbrake has always held well, with old or new discs on. The brakes generally on these cars should be pretty sharp if maintained properly.

[bruce]

I think the 1.4 petrol versions had drums on the back, but if your handbrake is that bad there must be something wrong with one or both of the calipers. I have rear discs on my Xsara and the handbrake works very well. It would almost certainly be easier to fix the fault with the existing setup than replace it with drums.

thanks for that nick i think i will have another look at the calipers, maybe renew them, cheers, bruce.

[bruce]

I agree - my 1.6VTR Coupe has a very good handbrake (although the adjuster is a bitch to get at - you need to remove the centre console) so there must be a problem with a linkage or caliper. It will probably be cheaper to fix that than swap to drums (which may not be compatible anyway). I have changed the discs on mine (front and rear, GSF, at around 30k miles) because the originals rusted badly (the car stands for long periods sometimes) but the handbrake has always held well, with old or new discs on. The brakes generally on these cars should be pretty sharp if maintained properly.

thanks for that, i will have another look at the calipers, possibly renew them, cheers, bruce,