MOT failed - too low for ramp! - Mk2 Escort/Dutton

[montythemole]

Odd request but here goes.

Picking up a taxed and insured Dutton tomorrow at 4:30, taking it straight to an MOT place to get it in and lock in tight for the night before 6pm thereby using the "on the way to booked MOT" excuse if any police inspection.

Car will be getting MOT'd on Friday, we're just getting it there to be inside overnight (no covered parking yet) and no-one able to drop Friday.

All the car needs (we believe) is the handbrake adjusting so the seller says, and my mate has inspected and agrees (although no expert).

So basically we have from 4:30 until 6pm to quickly adjust the handbrake in the car park of the MOT place. I have no experience of Escorts at all (based on a Mk2) so if anyone could give some pointers I would be grateful:

Adjusted where - can slack be taken up on the handbrake lever itself with adjustment screw as per a lot of VW? Or is it someplace else (like a strip drum off and wind the wheel around like my old Rover).

What tools likely to be needed?

Any other tips or advice? Sorry for the vaguest post ever! Keen to get the car passed and get some track days booked.

Photo as a thanks:

[Rusted Pistons]

If its like the capri there will be a plasticky threaded or knurled bit along the cable with a big plastic nut that winds up and down... but I don't know if its like the Capri!! thatss normally on the top of the axle

[bortaf]

if it's like 90% of old fords i get in for "handbrake " adjustment what it really needs is the drums off and the shoes adjusting, not just winding the cable up ?

[Rusted Pistons]

Ay bortaf - probably right there, either way, not too tricky monty

[montythemole]

Thanks for assistance gents!

So drums off and adjusting the wheel that pushes them out we think?

Failed miserably to find anything online other than this:

So presuming the side opposite the cylinder is an adjuster rod type affair that I'm expecting?

[PhoenixCapri]

It should be self adjusting, so as you pull the hand brake on its got a mechanism on the back of the drum arm that takes up the slack. This might be sticking, so not self adjusting, or the shoes might have very little material on them. Either way it can be self adjusted pretty easily from what I remember - get a Mk2 escort Haynes, will be very useful on a dutton

[TerraRoot]

some clearer pics from my blog, 8" drums btw

[midmounted]

I seem to remember a big (usually white) plastic nut type adjuster going across the axle as Davyboy stated,
a big flat screwdriver between the nut and the lock-nut and mole-grips should crack it free,
Then just wind up the slack!

[montythemole]

Thanks muchly gents, picked up car armed with tools and found on the way to drop off that the flashers weren't and one indicator bulb out. So hour we had to fix up ready to be locked in garage for MOT tomorrow was spent dashing to Halfords for new flasher and fault tracing wiring instead so have asked garage to do brakes tomorrow prior to MOT.

On the plus side they won't fail the brakes if they've just rebuilt.

Some discussion with MOT man on whether it needed door mirrors or not. Currently only has a single mirror mounted on the dash in the middle. Anyone know if this will pass?

[RobinJI]

Pretty sure you need 2 mirrors, a right hand wing mirror, and either a left hand wing mirror or a central rear view mirror.

[IDY]

Sept 16, 2010 19:15:22 GMT montythemole said:

Some discussion with MOT man on whether it needed door mirrors or not. Currently only has a single mirror mounted on the dash in the middle. Anyone know if this will pass?

If it was first used before the 1st of August 1978 then it should pass See here

[montythemole]

Damn, registered as 1985 Q on the docs, based on Mk2 Escort so likely donor older. So depends how clever the tester is.

MOT guy didn't actually know since not a normal question. Did look in halfords for one of them screw on frame type but none. May bosh on one tomorrow before test if I get down there.

[montythemole]

Ok fitted a drivers mirror this morning and was all good for MOT.

Garage rang and said it's too low to get on the MOT ramps, as the sump is not clearing the trolley section (presume the bit they slide up and down) so test abandoned.

Fecking hell. They're ringing the other MK garages of same chain to see if they have different ramps or can assist. Failing that anyone know somewhere in Milton Keynes that can MOT a lowish car (it's not excessively low at all!

[HARDCORE]

Have they not got any blocks of wood..!!?

Alternatively..

[rmad]

I have to lift my car for the tester while he slides the jack under. It makes me proud.

[montythemole]

Sept 17, 2010 12:49:50 GMT rmad said:

I have to lift my car for the tester while he slides the jack under. It makes me proud.

So stand under ramp and lift weight of car whilst jack slid under and along? Hmm.

Didn't think of block of wood oddly enough.

[retrowagen1234]

My station wont let me lift ours... For anything low i take it to a garage with a pit, as cars ive had that were too low grounded out the valance going up the lift.....

[montythemole]

Been recommended Spicers around the corner who have special low sunken ramps as suggested (thanks guys) and have done Ferraris etc. Good news is will be getting tested tomorrow, bad news is may end up paying them to do the brakes and if they do Ferrari it don't sound cheap!

[MrSpeedy]

I get my cars done in northampton, with no problems and the Merc has a similar issue. He just puts a gearbox/engine stand under the car, lowers ramps a bit, slides jack under and roberts your mothers' brother. Takes him all of 3 mins extra effort !!

I'd say they were just loking for an excuse ?

On a side note, be carefull on the brake rollers and if it won't go on them don't be fobbed off with more excuses. They DON'T have to use them, it is quite acceptable to do an on road brake test. (They just did this on my Ford Maverick due to the LSD's fitted !

[Copey]

get a clip on peep mirror for the drivers side, they don't need hole drilling and wont damage anythin if you want to take it off after the MOT, for £24 its worth it for peace of mind!

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