1969Mk3Spitfire Posted August 12, 2021 Report Share Posted August 12, 2021 Is there a solution to having a handbrake gaiter function and remain in place? The travel of my handbrake far exceeds the bellows travel of my rubber gaiter. Also, the bottom skirt steadfastly refuses to stay in place on the underside of the carpet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted August 12, 2021 Report Share Posted August 12, 2021 Couple of things: the lever should only go 3 or 4 clicks and on my Vitesse the rubber gaiter has a cardboard base that as original is held with 4 screws to the floor pan... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted August 12, 2021 Report Share Posted August 12, 2021 What johny said. I have the same problem on my Spitfire because it's had new carpets and a new gaiter and the cardboard base disappeared many years ago. Plus the handbrake is WAYYYY out of adjustment at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted August 12, 2021 Report Share Posted August 12, 2021 Also, if needed, dont just adjust the travel at the lever as theres a pivot arm underneath the car which must have its positioned maintained for optimum efficiency. You have to do it at the wheels as well to get everything correct... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted August 12, 2021 Report Share Posted August 12, 2021 screen of c/o steves on line Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted August 12, 2021 Report Share Posted August 12, 2021 with any handbrake adjustment its important the initial set up is "set up" disconnect the cable from a backplate lever fully snarl up the adjuster to fully lock the wheel/drum now connect the csble to juts have a nice fit of the clevis with no tension de adjust to free the drum this should ensure the shoes are correctly adjusted and should give 3 to 4 clicks up the handbrake pawl /ratchet you must have the comp lever angle correct or you gain travel but dont gain any braking you will never keep the loose gaitor in place hence why iy was stapled to a stiff card to fit over the tunnel and was screwed in place https://www.canleyclassics.com/?catalogue=triumph-spitfire-mkiv/1500&diagram=triumph-spitfire-mkiv/1500-handbrake-cover Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggie Posted August 17, 2021 Report Share Posted August 17, 2021 All this is true. I still have the cardboard cover firmly in place and stapled a new gaiter to it but it lasted about two to three runs out. The fact is the the gaiters supplled today are absolute crap and nowhere near the shape or size of the original. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted August 17, 2021 Report Share Posted August 17, 2021 think i would sooner make one from stitching up some leathercloth to make a gaitor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted August 17, 2021 Report Share Posted August 17, 2021 22 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: think i would sooner make one from stitching up some leathercloth to make a gaitor Definitely. The original rubber ones were OK but a bit... cheap looking. Fine for a Herald but not for a GT6 (even the factory decided that) or Vitesse. A nice leather or even vinyl gaiter, with or without the armrest bit, shouldn't be too hard to stitch up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted August 20, 2021 Report Share Posted August 20, 2021 I fitted a new 'rubber' hand brake gaiter from one of the usual suspects. I also bought the brake/clutch master cylinder gaiters on the same order. You guessed it, absolutely dreadful. The handbrake could only be fitted by coating with soft soap to get the lever through and as for the MC gaiters, they are bad enough to fit properly at the best of times but these!!!! I eventually had a clutch fluid leak (dreadful quality MC cylinder seals) and had to strip everything out. I finally got the old gaiters out which were still flexible but looked old. Gave them a clean up with black shoe polish ( thanks Colin) and put them back on. They look great and actually flex. No wonder people go for new/old stock rather than new rubbish stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted August 20, 2021 Report Share Posted August 20, 2021 On 12/08/2021 at 14:14, Pete Lewis said: with any handbrake adjustment its important the initial set up is "set up" disconnect the cable from a backplate lever fully snarl up the adjuster to fully lock the wheel/drum now connect the csble to juts have a nice fit of the clevis with no tension de adjust to free the drum this should ensure the shoes are correctly adjusted and should give 3 to 4 clicks up the handbrake pawl /ratchet you must have the comp lever angle correct or you gain travel but dont gain any braking you will never keep the loose gaitor in place hence why iy was stapled to a stiff card to fit over the tunnel and was screwed in place https://www.canleyclassics.com/?catalogue=triumph-spitfire-mkiv/1500&diagram=triumph-spitfire-mkiv/1500-handbrake-cover Pete I must make a note of that, will be dong it shortly, but you left out the bit: don't do it with the wheels dangling... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted August 20, 2021 Report Share Posted August 20, 2021 yes i dont like anything "dangling" so good point you need to drop the jacked up car onto some bricks or support/jack up on the upright to roughly simulate the road running height of the wheels then find you cant get on the adjuster with the wheel on, i use a 1/4 drive socket extension back to front 4 clicks off should free the drum ok if you cant turn the wheels being on a brick pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68vitesse Posted August 20, 2021 Report Share Posted August 20, 2021 Made this for my Vitesse from offcuts bought from upholsterers, fitted over the rubber one. Regards Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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