When I was a kid in my '52 xk120 I was able to lock up the rears with the emergency brake at thirty mph on dry pavement. With my '94 an energetic pull on the "parking brake" seems to only gently slow the car down. I can't even lock up the rears on snow, and a powerslide in these cars is just an exhibition of massive understeer. should I go through all the fun of replacing the shoes on the parking brake, or is this just a weak system, really just for parking? Has anybody gotten a Rockford out of one of these? I have a feild of occaisionally wet grass that I can work with! also I am about to embark on new pads for all four corners so I will have the system apart. I could shoot myself, by the way for setting the xk120 free, best car I ever drove for fun.

 

I've never even tried to do a bootleg turn in a Jag saloon, but from your description, I'm wondering if your handbrake needs to be adjusted. If I recall correctly, in the U.K. the MOT test calls for the handbrake to be fully engaged in no more than three clicks of the ratchet. If your lever pulls up more than three clicks, it's certainly possibly your pads are too worn, but it may just be that the cables have stretched and some of the slack needs to be adjusted out. I think I recall that the adjustment mechanism (turnbuckle?) is in the central section of the cable that runs along the driveshaft to connect the handbrake lever and the "wye" or "Y" yoke near the differential that pulls the cable that runs between the wheels to engage the brake.

 

I believe I saw somewhere that the British MOT requires parking ( not an emergency brake ) was required to hold at a 30 deg incline.

 

The U.K. MOT website actually says, "There should be around six clicks before it is fully engaged."

MOT Test - Handbrake, how to avoid MOT failure


Owner reports on some of the U.K. forums indicate that the MOT inspectors take into account differences in handbrake operation depending on the model of car.

 

Be prepared for a 2 hour job if you are going to do an emergency brake repair on these xj40's, its a bear.