Getting a handle on the Handbrake

Bumpty · Post by **Bumpty** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:09 pm

..Might be a stupid question, so tell me if it is.

But can the handbrake be swapped from the front wheels to the back wheels? - I'm referring to a 93 lib wag.

If its possible for the DIY job, how hard is it to do?

cheers

Why you ask i would want to do this, well i see my front brakes for slowing/stopping, and back brakes as steering. And seeing i already have foot brakes to the job on the front, i'd like to have the handbrake on the back wheels for steering all round...

Matatak · Post by **Matatak** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:36 pm

it is on the backs isnt it

huh

u see the backs for steering....how does that work im confused

D3V1L · Post by **D3V1L** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:39 pm

liberty handbrakes are in fact on the rear..unless u have some wierd and wonderfull setup....lol..but i doubt it

Bumpty · Post by **Bumpty** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:43 pm

haha don't question whether its on the front or not because i'm pretty sure it is on the front, two of my mates with late 80s L wagons have handbrakes on the front. So i jus thought it was normal for most subies to have handbrakes at the front... or is it jus because it's awd that the handbrake feels its on the front, but really it just locks up all wheels?

I mean the back is for steering as in (handbrake around a corner), gives the car another option for steering... For example - mountain bikes, the front brakes for stoppin/slowin and back brakes for steering.

is that understandable haha

Suby Wan Kenobi · Post by **Suby Wan Kenobi** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:45 pm

Early Subarus L (leone)series MYs and Uglys(74-94), have the handbrake on the front wheels but the Liberty, Impreza and Forester ranges all have the handbrakes on the rear wheels.

Bumpty · Post by **Bumpty** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:52 pm

hmm so that means i have a normal handbrake (most common handbrake on back wheels) but because it's an AWD does that mean the handbrake cannot be used to help slide the back end out?

EDIT - haha whats the Uglys?

Matatak · Post by **Matatak** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:55 pm

is it centre LSD? of so how wuld that work with locking the back wheels up...wont it lock the fronts to seen as it wont let them slip enough for that kind of movement.

i see the usefullness of lockign the rear wheel while turnign on a mountain bike but not in a car...way to hard to keep control if u dont no wt ur doin and it wears flat spots on the tyres. whereas a mountain bike it just adds to the fun

Bumpty · Post by **Bumpty** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:09 pm

That's what i don't know, I'm not sure how these diffs work on AWDs and handbrakes as you've found out by this thread haha. so with an AWD all wheels brake with handbrake? is that it

..and i find it hard to live without a handbrake on back wheels, i'm meaning purely just for offroad though, so no flat spotting or any of that and i'm pretty comfortable with the handbrake... i've grown up in a FWD toyota seca.

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:12 pm

I think the car you are referring to is infact an L series - not a Liberty.
Both cars were manufactured in the late 80s (the late L series and the early Liberties) but were significantly different.

It's not easy to convert to a rear handbrake but it can be done. It's really not worth it.
I'm doing it but only out of neccessity because I've put Liberty front and rear hubs into my L series.

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:13 pm

transfer a grand into my bank account and next time you look under your car it will be handbrake on the rear

Matatak · Post by **Matatak** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:18 pm

AndrewT wrote:I think the car you are referring to is infact an L series - not a Liberty.
Both cars were manufactured in the late 80s (the late L series and the early Liberties) but were significantly different.

It's not easy to convert to a rear handbrake but it can be done. It's really not worth it.
I'm doing it but only out of neccessity because I've put Liberty front and rear hubs into my L series.

LOL this thread is confusing..
hes talking abotu a 93 Liberty i thught

Bumpty · Post by **Bumpty** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:22 pm

AndrewT wrote:I think the car you are referring to is infact an L series - not a Liberty.
Both cars were manufactured in the late 80s (the late L series and the early Liberties) but were significantly different.

? The car I'm talking about is in my avatar

matatak don't be confused, because i am... i think haha, yea my avatar car!

So this is what happens when i apply the handbrake on this car on mud when turning ok (keep in mind its AWD). the car simply sledges straight even with front wheels fully locked.

now it has been said that the handbrakes on these cars are on the back, so what causes the car to sledge, with no rear end action?

90brumby · Post by **90brumby** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:37 pm

Suby Wan Kenobi wrote:Early Subarus L (leone)series MYs and Uglys(74-94), have the handbrake on the front wheels but the Liberty, Impreza and Forester ranges all have the handbrakes on the rear wheels.

this sums it all up

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:39 pm

Yeah well I dunno what part of the car you are looking at but if it's the car in your avatar and it's factory standard then it has a rear handbrake - no question.

It has rear disc brakes with calipers operated by the hydraulic system when you put your foot on the pedal. The discs have a drum inbuilt in the middle with a pair of brake shoes which are operated by tension on the handbrake cable when you pull the lever.

Bumpty · Post by **Bumpty** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:40 pm

but why does the car sledge straight with absolute no sideway movement from the rear? (on mud)

haha and cheers for letting me know where the handbrake is. that is a new question ^

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:47 pm

who knows.... maybe it only locked up one wheel.....just slide under your car and have a look dude. it's easy to see handbrake cables comming out of the backing plates at the rear.
And easy to see that there are none going to the front hubs.

or pickup a service manual for the car or something.

mattl200 · Post by **mattl200** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 12:09 am

Bumpty wrote:but why does the car sledge straight with absolute no sideway movement from the rear? (on mud)

haha and cheers for letting me know where the handbrake is. that is a new question ^

probley because the centre diff cant provide that much slip so the front wheels lock up too

not a real good thing to do with an all wheel drive box if the centre diff is slipping it probley wont last very long

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 12:44 am

can get the rear end to step out if u try harder tho...

put your foot on the clutch to stop drive to the wheels and rip the handbrake cable harder!

but yes, certainly not good for the car overall =)

brumbyrunner · Post by **brumbyrunner** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:57 am

It is certainly possible to perform handbrake turns in your Lib just the way it is.
You just need to learn how to drive it.

Chris_Rogers · Post by **Chris_Rogers** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:05 pm

^^

agreed!

get it out on a skidpan and cut loose. what you are getting is understeer btw.

google that word.