)This is bugging me, so I'm going to bug you guys with it too
I've been wondering what's so wrong with the 406 drum-in-disk handbrake, the cable set up is a bit odd but, thinking about it, I can't see any real problem with it. So it's the brake itself. On the normal drum brake the handbrake is done the usual way, with a 4 or 5 inch long lever that pushes the shoes against the drum. On the d-i-d (getting lazy now), the lever is there, but it's less than an inch long
No wonder they're crap. Then there's that really strong spring, does it need to be that strong? I reckon that half the time the 406 d-i-d handbrake doesn't work because the handbrake feels like it's doing something but all it's doing is stretching this spring, when it starts pushing the shoes it goes really tight and people usually think that's the lot. Get out, lock car, watch it roll away down the hill.What did the 405 have? Handbrake through calliper (there must a teknickle term for this). What does the 407 have? Handbrake through calliper.
I also noticed the rear pads for the 607 are the same as the 406. Looking in service box the earlier 607 had a very familiar set up (the calliper looks similar but it isn't the same apparently, the nearest is a Mercedes Vito which just seems to have the bleed in a different place), while the facelifted 607 has a completely different calliper on a carrier, with the handbrake through the piston.
Btw, the earlier and facelifted 607s are Z8 and Z9, how cool is that?
The callipers on the Z8 are held on with one M10 and one M12 bolt, just like the 406. The Z9 ones, well, the carriers, are held on by 2xM12s. The hub carrier also has a different part number but maybe that's just the hole. The other issue is the disk is 12mm, while the Z8 and 406 are 10. Same diameter though. Oh, and the piston is 38, compared to 33mm, I think that means the force on them will be greater (one of those fluid dynamics paradox things), which kind of says the rear brakes might be more inclined to lock up but hey, they got ABS so who cares. Also, if the rears are doing more work, they might actually stay clean, rather than rusting away like they seem to enjoy doing.
The handbrake cables also look a similar set up.
If I was back in blighty I could troll along to the breakers with a tape measure but I can't do that here.
I've also thought about changing the existing handbrakes to a better set up but that rather implies serious modifications to the backplates.
Any thoughts?
Incidently, these people seem to have some reasonable prices. Brembo pad fitting kits 12 quid plus v&t?
Ah well, I have a large supply of house bricks.
I never had that problem sending stuff to my son in Sweden.
