Handbrake ?

[Daddy Bear]

Hello chaps dose the hand brake have to be mechanical ? or can i make it hydrolic like on rally cars ? any thoughts much appriciated DB

[thebigdogsix]

Must be mechanical for MSVA im afraid

[Daddy Bear]

Bugger just a thought many thanks DB

[thebigdogsix]

The manual can be downloaded here

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/publications/manualsandguides/vehicletestingmanualsandguides.htm#P58_1513

[Daddy Bear]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH DB

[Manky Monkey]

One of the reasons I went for the VW Golf calipers for the Reliant disc brake conversion -they incorporate a mechanical handbrake. The caliper piston sits against a flat plate. Under normal braking, both the plate & the piston are pushed out to apply the pads to the disc. When the handbrake's pulled on it screws the backing plate out of the caliper body, carrying the piston with it & applying the brakes by mechanical means rather than hydraulic.
Many race cars use hydraulic line locks, which use a valve to trap brake fluid in the hoses -apply the brake as normal, turn the valve & the brakes stay on. Doesn't comply with MSVA requirements cos it's hydraulic, not mechanical.