TR2/3/3A TR3A Park Brake Compensator Bar Assembly Picture?

[karls59tr]

Does anyone have an actual photo of the rear park brake assembly installed on the car? Which way is the compensator bar tilted 17 degrees? One cable always ends up 1/2" short to connect up. I'm going to measure the cables to see if the PO has changed them out. Is the compensator bar supposed to be free to move when everything is assembled correctly? Karl

 

[Don Elliott]

Re: TR3A Park Brake Compensator Bar Assembly Pictu

Can these help ?

 

[NutmegCT]

Re: TR3A Park Brake Compensator Bar Assembly Pictu

Don - where do you find those pictures? Are they from the Piggott (which is now out of print and only available used for $300 ...)? They are *really* helpful.

Tom

 

[Geo Hahn]

Re: TR3A Park Brake Compensator Bar Assembly Pictu

I suspect those pics are from the soon-to-be-published "The Compleat TR3A" by Don Elliott.

 

[karls59tr]

Re: TR3A Park Brake Compensator Bar Assembly Pictu

Thanks Don Excellent visual. Seems as if the compensator is supposed to stay stationary? What locks it in place to the axle?.... or do you just turn it in till it bottoms out? Mine is loose unless I need to crank it in another turn...will that put it at the 17 degree angle that the manual mentions? Karl

 

[Don Elliott]

Re: TR3A Park Brake Compensator Bar Assembly Pictu

I took those photos in 1988 when I was restoring my TR3A. My Minolta SLR XJ7 35mm used film. Maybe some of you older than 25 years of age will remember what film is. I scan them as needed where they might help.

Now you know the rest of the story.

BTW, I seem to remember that there are two lengths of the short cross cables. One is for TRs up to a certain VIN and then later TRs used the other length. The difference in the sets is 1/2" per cross cable. Now isn't that interesting ?

 

[TR3driver]

Re: TR3A Park Brake Compensator Bar Assembly Pictu

Seems as if the compensator is supposed to stay stationary? What locks it in place to the axle?.... or do you just turn it in till it bottoms out? Mine is loose unless I need to crank it in another turn...will that put it at the 17 degree angle that the manual mentions?

Nope, the compensator has to be free to turn on both pivots. It won't turn, much, on the pivot attached to the axle; but it still needs to be free to do so.

The angle is not critical, it's just an observation. The angle is controlled by the length of the two lateral cables to each rear brake, which the factory manual says to adjust by measuring their length directly rather than worrying about the angle of the compensator.

BTW, the infamous Bentley is just a reprint of the factory workshop and owner's manuals. The owners manual in it is a very early edition and not quite correct for later cars. For example, it shows the wiring for the non-self-parking wiper motor, which will blow the fuse if you try to wire a later motor that way. Although they are less common than they used to be, genuine original manuals in tatty but legible condition do show up on eBay from time to time, for not much money. Think I paid $10 for the last workshop manual I bought (minus it's covers and first few pages).

Also BTW, cool photos, Don. Thanks ! Your attention to detail is just amazing; now I know why you have such good luck with your TR3A /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif

 

[Don Elliott]

Re: TR3A Park Brake Compensator Bar Assembly Pictu

Randall - As you know, there is only one way to do a job properly. It doesn't cost any more to do a job correctly than to do it poorly. And it'll last longer.