Does the hand brake works very good on the Festiva?

[lancerevo]

Does the hand brake works very good on the Festiva? Because mine doesn't works very well. I have recently installed new shoes. It holds the car in a hill but if I pull it while driving it doesn't lock the wheels. I don't like the way it is made from the factory. Is there a way to make it better?

[eurotiva]

It is weak from the factory, udgrade to the aspire brakes....

[lancerevo]

Any pics of the aspire brakes?

[eurotiva]

Here you go....

http://www.clubprotege.com/wil/howto/aspirebrakes.htm

[Mike McKown]

Check the mechanisms for proper working order and lubrication including the cable and adjustment.

The back wheels will lock when the car is in the parked position if everything is working right. I don't know about sliding the rear wheels while moving. Never tried it.

[eurotiva]

Only wet or on gravel. At least with 15's

[NovaSS]

never had a festiva with an good ebrake, lucky to hold the thing on a hill most of the time.

[gdawgs]

They work well if the mechanism is working properly. The problem is that the actuator(the part inside the wheel that you are moving when you pull the brake lever) locks up over time. The mechanism is made up of two pieces that are pinned together. They are supposed to swivel freely, but after time they bind up which causes the hand brake to quit working(or work poorly). To fix it, you need to take that part out, put it in a vise and beat on it with a hammer back and forth until it moves freely again. Then lube it up really well at the pivot point and put it back in. It will work for a few years, then it will eventually start locking up again.

[BP-Festiva]

It shouldnt as long as it is used frequently, and greased up.

[lancerevo]

They work well if the mechanism is working properly. The problem is that the actuator(the part inside the wheel that you are moving when you pull the brake lever) locks up over time. The mechanism is made up of two pieces that are pinned together. They are supposed to swivel freely, but after time they bind up which causes the hand brake to quit working(or work poorly). To fix it, you need to take that part out, put it in a vise and beat on it with a hammer back and forth until it moves freely again. Then lube it up really well at the pivot point and put it back in. It will work for a few years, then it will eventually start locking up again.

Which parts are you mentioning to free up? Is this the one?

[lancerevo]

What is this metal thing used for?

[Mike McKown]

Which parts are you mentioning to free up? Is this the one?

The part is mostly inside the brake drum but it's the part where the cable hooks up.

Remove the brake drum and you can see what's under discussion.

Make sure you understand how to adjust rear wheel bearings before you do this.

[lancerevo]

How to adjust rear wheel bearings?