Hey folks, Considering buying a hydro set up. Just heard mixed verdicts on the legality of it. Can anyone clarify this?
It's legal as long as you still have a parking brake for MOT's etc. So just keep your standard one as well
Its a completely different system. Presuming you're talking about the s13 in your sig, you'd have a cable handbrake and a hydraulic handbrake.
MOT needs a cable or mechanically operated brake that stays on by itself that is seperate from the hydraulic braking system of the car.
my car passed an mot fine with the hydro, got pulled numerous times and when asked what it was i explained, i even had to show one policeman that it was actually a hand brake and not a lever for NOS but if its for the 13 in your sig, then dont bother with a hydro as it wont be an improvment i dont think.
its legal, aslong as you can leave it on when parked... just plumb it in alongside your existing cable brake.... but as Mick says...no point in an s13
its a world car requirement that all handbrakes mechanical or electronic (most modern top end cars have electronic handbrakes, calpier with solinoid to wind/rewind) to be seperate to the hydraulic breaking system. Aditionaly if electronic should have a manual release. so kam is right, as long as you keep the stock cable one in your all good.
forgot to mention, that i did still have mt standard handbrake aswell, but as for actually having a hyro fitted its perfectly fine
yep you need the original still installed and in working order. My mate took his out as his hydro has the ability to stay locked on and be used as a parking brake but his car failed. Once the standard one was back in alongside hydro it passed straight away (bmw m3 '98)
f*ck me if that dont lock the rear wheels up nothing will! A working s13 hand brake is amazingly good anyway
My stock handbrake is very good. I have an R32 GTR setup, i think, inboard drums and then rear callipers. I might leave it as it is just now then and see how it goes.
I think it can stretch the cable if it's given beans too often. Not really a problem for S13/14 but avaliability is a prob for my S12 (as an example).
Id just leave it as it is. As far as ive seen the stock handbrake is very good in them anyway and ive been in a few without hydros
unless uve got a very friendly MOT guy your hydro alone will not pass. as said abive you need a mechanical handbrake.
It is also worth mentioning that even if you can lock your hydro brake, the pressure in the fluid can fall over time (overnight) and then you will be finding your car at the bottom of a hill. Even if your car isn't road legal, keep the cable there just for parking.
