Vauxhall Agila. Peculiarity with handbrake?

Question

When leaving the car overnight with the handbrake on and then having to reverse the car out in the morning the rear of the car rises in the air and makes clonking noises in objection. The brake seems locked on but WHY????

Answer 1

My Corsa does it too!

This happens mostly when it has rained.

Its because there is a thin layer of rust formed between the brake disk and shoe overnight. When you take the handbrake off, the shoe remains "stuck" to the disk, as though its still on. When you reverse, the rust layer "breaks" which produces the bang you hear and makes the car "bounce". The shoe, now unstuck, moves away from the disk into the correct position.

I havent fixed mine yet, but plan to get some new brake disks.

I think Cross drilled or Groved disks are must less likely to suffer from this as the water (and brake dust) falls through the holes / groves. They also last longer and make the car stop more quickly. Only downside is that they cost more than regular disks.

Hope I helped.

Answer 2

Get you brakes stripped and checked most garages do a free inspection. Its either 1 of two problems 1st is dust build up in rear brakes when this gets damp it turns to a stick mud type substance which makes the handbrake stick or 2nd is a leaking wheel cylinder which also causes the same type of problem. but your not alone Astra's corsa's cavaliers have all been suffering from this for years. get them checked though u don't want to be driving about with fluid leaking from a wheel cylinder.

Answer 3

Its not just Agilas that suffer from rear brakes sticking on check that your hand brake cable is not frayed or sticking as a previous person has said the rear drums get a rust film on them which causes them to stick.If you carefully apply the hand brake lightly for a short time this will help disperse the rust.The rear brakes should be removed and checked .