Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms ARP4 Hand Brake

why is that folks who are not ARP4 owners making a much bigger deal of this than folks who are ARP4 owners?

I totally agree with all comments that MMC are the culprit in this thread. However i cannot agree with those who suggest that you can't drive without a handbrake. I NEVER use mine, i am happy to balance the throttle & clutch on any hill start, or elsewhere when driving. NEVER use hand brake to park, the 2nd gear is fine, and if on a steep grade, turn the wheels into the kerb, never fails, all very much common sense.

And more, to make the point about "safety" and "legality" and "insurance", surely it can be CONVINCINGLY argued that in any emergency where main brakes have failed almost nobody would have the time, or the wit or the wherewithall to use the handbrake to bring the car to a halt. Indeed has anyone here ever done so?

Yes, but not in a Land Rover...
Also not an "emergency" stop, just a partial brake fail - hydraulic hose split.

Yes in an Austin A40. It took a while too and I very nearly took out a postie on the footpath and then narrowly missed a day old Holden whilst sliding past a telegraph pole and a red traffic light before coming to a halt in a service station. Phewww!!!!!!!!

Let's face it, no expensive testing facility required in Malvern, there are plenty of hills around!

Its the law and safety, thats more in question, Than each drivers skill. There is also the chance of the car being impounded if found to be faulty.

But surely this is a thing of the past with all the modern manufacturing techniques and after 3 years, the MOT?

In my teens I drove a mini with no brakes from Bracknell to Ascot. Careful use of the clutch and handbrake did the job.

On a mini front brake there is a short brake pipe that joins the 2 wheel cylinders and runs very close to the cv joint. In this case it was too close and had worn through and all the fluid lost.