Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Plus Four, Supersport & Plus Six (CX & CXV Generation Vehicles) Plus 4 CX Hand Brake

I wrote parking brake - also useful for hill starts

Failed MOT due to ineffective handbrake last week.
I've tried shortening the cable, but unless Geoff Capes is operating the lever I can't see how it will ever pass.
Anybody else in the same boat?

Yes... B&C used to fail my +8 on this every time (despite buying it from them). I now take it to Morgan where it passes first time every time.

The trick, apparently, is to leave the handbrake on a couple of clicks for a mile or so before the test - this then passes the test. I assume your fail is 'parking brake efficiency below requirements'?

Can’t help with the MOT but Geoff Capes lives in the next village so could ask him if he’s free to assist?
Hope this helps?
HB

Just passed 4k miles in the from new Plus Four. From day1 the handbrake was never confidence inspiring. Very little lever movement to hard with low braking hold. It was difficult at traffic lights on a steepish incline. VERY hard pull up on the lever but still creeping downhill. At the 1k service I asked for it to be checked. The tech adjusted it and it seemed slightly better.
I did a trip to Lakes and on to Scotland. Hoping the mileage would bed it. 3k miles and no different. Footbrake is no problem so it looks like the cable style handbrake is a clear problem. If the mechanism isn’t able to exert enough pressure then a redesign is needed to multiply the force. A change in the fulcrum effect might work on the leverage force generated. Having glanced at it briefly I can see a spring linked to the cable end lever/bracket. It looks to be tight against the mechanism body so wonder if that is restricting the movement during activation in some way. I have booked the car in for the dealer to look at it again so will discuss it then. In the meantime I’ll get Mrs sospan to use the handbrake while I look underneath.
Our manual Kia (£30k) has an electric handbrake with auto hold and is great. Hill starts so easy.
Morgan at £80k a poor handbrake. Hmmmmmm. The trad Plus8 with fly off brake on rear drums was good.
It looks like I might have to play with footbrake/handbrake to see if a pre-load helps.

Did you get a solution?

Interesting. I have to say I haven't had any problem with mine in a years ownership. Initially I found it strange after the fly-off variety on my previous Morgans, but soon got use to it.

My 2024 plus 4 auto has a poor handbrake. The dealer made some adjustments, it’s slightly better but still poor. I will raise it again asI want it working properly when mots become due.

From memory, the ‘modern’ handbrake first came to light on the limited edition ARP 4.
I remember it as an issue then,
My 20+ year old 4/4 has the ‘original fly off’ handbrake,
Never a problem and very effective.
So, not sure why MMC changed the design
Bud
4/4 - Stanley

Our Plus Six had a rear caliper rubbing noise from vehicle purchase, plus the handbrake was very poor. After about 1 year of the dealer changing pads, disk changes and multiple adjustments the complete rear assembly of brake calipers with their integrated handbrake mechanism and associated brackets were changed in one big swop out. Lo and behold, no more problems, no disk rubbing and a handbrake that holds. This was all done in warranty ( just ).. The only issue is that the shotgun method of changing everything does not pin point the fault (or faults). The dealer did reluctantly say after the swop over that the replacement calipers had vastly different ( better) build clearances to the old.

Maybe thats one of the reasons the factory changed the newer CX models to have the revised braking system with a different manufacturer and better build quality??.