handbrake

[deano1]

my partner went to pick kids up from school parked car up as normal came back and its rolled into another parked car and damaged bumper how does it do that with handbrake fully on.

[Ste]

Were the brakes really hot when the HB was applied?? If so, the discs / pads / structures cool down and shrink, therefore reducing braking efficiency and the car can sometime even roll if the 'hill' is steep enough.

One plausible reason anyway, prob more if I thought about it. Cables intact? Brakes properly adjusted?

That's why I ALWAYS leave the car in 1st or 2nd as a back stop for HB failure.

[Duncan]

There was a thread on this recently - seems to be a bit of an issue as it's happened to a few people. I'll see if I can dig out the thread.

D

[Duncan]

http://forum.vectra-c.com/showthread.php?t=10499

There we go - that's one thread anyway, looks like there may have been others.

[wardy]

Always leave mine in gear, & if on a hill, turn wheels towards the curb

[bigcraig]

Had To Get Handbrake Ratchet Replaced On My Facelift Under Warranty....prob With Them

[ukdrewdrew]

Had the handbrake fail on my 52 sri, wife had parked it at the top of a hill, got out and was walking away when she heard a popping noise, turned round to see what it was only to watch the car start rolling down hill gathering speed......she ran after it but not being built for speed couldnt get in the door. Now at this point a bus had come round the corner at the top of the hill seen what was going on and sped up till he got in front of the car , he then pulled infront and started braking till our car hit the back at which point he stood on the brakes and brought both the bus and our car to a halt...........
Handbrake rachet had failed and the button had popped out...the story was in the local paper.

[Ste]

Coooooooool, in the local paper and everything

[Islander]

My Signum ran over the wife last Sat.!!! - she parked on the drive facing uphill
( approx.10 degrees ) went round the rear to get the shopping out and the car started rolling back, when she realised she could'nt stop it she tried to get clear,
tripped and the cars rear wheel ran over her left arm and shoulder, she's black and blue now, ****** lucky though,could have killed her. I blamed her for not applying the H.B.properly seems I could be wrong.

[ion]

I have always parked in gear.