Handbrake failure

[bill ericay]

I have had my new Jazz ES since last November 28th. When I first got it I noticed the handbrake needed a lot of force to pull up. I went back after a couple of weeks, as although it seemed to work it semmed an excessive amount of force was needed, and tried another Jazz in the showroom whch also seemed quite stiff, asked the salesman to try mine, and he seemed to think it was OK, but said drive it for a 1000 miles let the brakes all bed in and bring it in if still not right. So in February, I took it into the service department  who coudn't find anything wrong  but slackened the handbrake which made it marginally better.
Well last Sunday while on a moveable car deck on a car ferry with the handbrake pulled on 4 clicks-which holds the car normally, plus one extra click to be safe, my handbrake failed  as the car deck tilted down and the car just rolled forward with no warning as I sat in the car with my wife. On hearing a warning shout I grabbed the brake,which was still on, an with the strength you get when you panic, managed to get 2 more clicks on which stopped the car as it hit the iron barrier on the ramp. The force to do this is really excessive, and feels like you are forcing-bending something at this stage. I have never had a car with such a poor handbrake from my first mini to a Mazda mx3 (which also had a disc handbrake).
The car is booked in for the 30th for investigation, the dealer doesn't seem over concerned over this problem.
Is it just my Jazz, or do all Jazzes have a rubbish handbrake ?
My wife doesn't feel safe driving this car because she can't pull the handbrake hard enough to hold the car on a hill- this cannot be right.
I , in the meantime, have a Jazz with a duff handrake and scrapes on my previously unmarked bumper form its meeting with the iron barrier.
Ironically I bought the Jazz instead of a Hyundai I20 because of brake problems reported on the Hyundai !
Has anyone else noticed these problems with their handbrake ?

[chrisc]

If the handbrake is operating on disc brakes, it will not be as effective as drum brakes.  I think the dealer is trying to downplay the problem.  Certainly you should not have to exert excessive force to operate the handbrake.

I once had a Fiat with a similar problem and found that if I applied the foot brake first, then handbrake was much more effective in holding the car

[madasafish]

My handbrake - 2012 car so comparable - is fine, no excessive force needed and holds car on steep hills.

Yours sounds as if it is maladjusted...Your garage appear to have a cavalier approach .. it's a safety item.

[guest334]

Ask the dealer to adjust the h/brake its not a 5 min task on the later models, then report back to the forum.

[guest1521]

As Chris says, it's a good idea to always apply the footbrake firmly before pulling on the handbrake. I believe it eases the whole mechanism as the pads are already pressed on the brake disc and so the handbrake cable just has to pull up the slack. Well, that's my theory, anyway!

I always leave any manual gearbox car parked in low gear, too... just in case. Autos in 'P', of course.

Having said that, I find my Jazz ('59 GE manual 35,000 miles) handbrake an easy, 'nice to handle' pull and it held very well for some steep hill starts practiced by my daughter (petite, arms not strong) recently. 

Don't be fobbed off by the service dept!

[bill ericay]

Thanks for all the replies so far.
Neither myself or my wife are weaklings, so I'm sure its not us.
Car is booked in for the 30th as it is the first date they can give me a courtesy car- I have said I don't want the car back untill they have fixed it, as their 10 minute attempt earlier on certainly didn't work.
I will report back when they have had a go- I'm hoping to get them to repaint the bumper as well as the damage was caused by the ineffective brake, but we'll see !

[culzean]

wish they wouldn't insist on fitting disc brakes to rear of low performance cars, rear wheels do only 30% of braking (the weight lifts off rear wheels and transfers to the front during braking) drums are much better as handbrake and I have had at least 100K out of rear brake-shoes rather than <30K out of pads.   It's another cost and weight saving measure that doesn't make sense. (it also costs less to make pads than shoes, but they charge you the same anyway).

[bill ericay]

Well it seems there is nothing wrong with my handbrake- dealer tested and says its fine.
I did try another Jazz in the showroom and the handbrake feels the same, you pull it until it feels solid, and thats the point where it isn't actually on. It does feel different if you use the noisy approach and ratchet it on, then the brake seems to work effectively, but if you pull the brake on with your finger on the button, as you do when stopping on on a hill at traffic lights it very difficult to figure out how much to pull the lever to stop the car rolling back.
 And yes, I got the lecture about leaving it in gear on a slope which you apppear to have to do all the time with a Jazz but I have never had to do it except in very steep hills with all my previous cars, also pushing the brake pedal hard while pulling the handbrake  helps as suggested by ChrisC-thanks for that- and confirmed by the dealer.
My old Hyundai Getz never had this problem, but there you go- I P/Exed it for the Jazz.

[culzean]

And yes, I got the lecture about leaving it in gear on a slope which you appear to have to do all the time with a Jazz but I have never had to do it except in very steep hills with all my previous cars,

it is standard practice to leave any vehicle in lowest gear (or auto box in park) when you leave it unattended, even on a flat road.  A handbrake cable can snap at any time and you would have trouble explaining why you hadn't left it in gear to your insurance company (or maybe even the Police).

[peteo48]

As I've only had my Jazz for just under a week, I've had a quick check on my handbrake. It does seem to have a lot of travel but it seems to hold the car OK.

I must admit that until last year we lived over in the High Peak and leaving the car in gear became second nature to me!

[Pine]

When I picked up my Jazz recently the service manager told me that the correct way to apply the hand brake was to firmly apply the foot brake then pull up the hand brake letting it click as you go. When firmly applied the correct adjustment is between 4 and 7 clicks.

[guest2662]

I had to stop on a steep hill in traffic today, I pulled the handbrake up as hard as I could and it wouldn't hold the car r they all like this or is it just me ?

[madasafish]

Needs adjustment. Mine holds 100% on some very steep hills.. but it needs a big pull. (Weightlifting helps:-)

[bill ericay]

There you go boatman, that's the problem I have.
Get the dealer to test the handbrake.
However my dealer (Glyn Hopkins) said my handbrake was OK, and gave me the' leave it in gear/ press brake pedal down as you apply handbrake' lecture-- not a lot of good stopping at an uphill traffic lights !
However, the way appears to be to pull with all your might and let it click away- don't press that button on the top like you probably did in all your previous cars, and the brake seems to work.
I haven't tried stopping on any steep hills since, so I hope it's OK !
 

[guest2662]

hi bill ,I got my jazz from glyn Hopkins to in Chelmsford Essex, I have just bought this jazz, pulled the handbrake real hard on a steep hill in Maldon Essex, its the handbrake it wouldn't hold I will get the dealer to have a look.