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caesar · Feb 4th, 2008, 01:18 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by KIM FURNESS (original)

No, I still haven't had it repaired. I have had an independent brake check carried out at the request of the Mini garage. Didn't expect it to show anything, as it took 6 months for this one failure to happen. The brakes are fine according to the test. Stratstone Mini have had the car in again last week to carry out more handbrake tests and said everything is working efficiently.

As you say, I should have left it in gear, although I was taught by BSM, a large driving instructing company in the UK, to leave the car in neutral when parked. (I passed my driving test in November 2007.)

Obviously, I have now learnt my lesson and will always park in gear with wheels into the curb and have instructed my friends who have the new Mini.

I will now give in and go and get it repaired. I don't want to claim through insurance, as it is my first year and the premium was £2500 without ever having had a claim!!!!!

Any vehicle that has rear disk brakes including the Mini has to be careful. If the handbrake is applied when the disk's are warm/hot and they cool down, then the disks contract and the brake will partially release.

To overcome this potential problem you should do the following: -

a) Before applying the handbrake press the footbrake hard down, then with your foot still on the pedal apply the handbrake.

b) Engage 1st gear or reverse depending on which way the car is facing.
c) Turn the steering wheel angle so that the front wheels will touch the curb if it rolls back or forward.

Feb 4th, 2008, 01:18 PM	#17
caesar MINI2 Master Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wales Local Time: 05:31 AM Posts: 849 Offline	Handbrake Quote: Originally Posted by KIM FURNESS (original) No, I still haven't had it repaired. I have had an independent brake check carried out at the request of the Mini garage. Didn't expect it to show anything, as it took 6 months for this one failure to happen. The brakes are fine according to the test. Stratstone Mini have had the car in again last week to carry out more handbrake tests and said everything is working efficiently. As you say, I should have left it in gear, although I was taught by BSM, a large driving instructing company in the UK, to leave the car in neutral when parked. (I passed my driving test in November 2007.) Obviously, I have now learnt my lesson and will always park in gear with wheels into the curb and have instructed my friends who have the new Mini. I will now give in and go and get it repaired. I don't want to claim through insurance, as it is my first year and the premium was £2500 without ever having had a claim!!!!! Any vehicle that has rear disk brakes including the Mini has to be careful. If the handbrake is applied when the disk's are warm/hot and they cool down, then the disks contract and the brake will partially release. To overcome this potential problem you should do the following: - a) Before applying the handbrake press the footbrake hard down, then with your foot still on the pedal apply the handbrake. b) Engage 1st gear or reverse depending on which way the car is facing. c) Turn the steering wheel angle so that the front wheels will touch the curb if it rolls back or forward.