Possible Cure for Dodgy Handbrake..

[James_Death]

Now hand brake... I had followed the guide for adjustment but still handbrake failed mot but i think i found the reason... please read on...

What a kerfuffle that was, i know it says take seats out to remove centre console but i did it without.

However i have had seats out before to replace the seats and console, and its easy. I would if i was you especially to make it easier to get the carpet back to unscrew the lower hand brake securing bolt...

So console out and cut along the carpet behind the handbrake to get into the centre cable connector to release the clip and remove the handbrake.
Not yet cut in the below picture but cut between the back of the handbrake and the open piece that shows the centre console rear securing bolt holes.



Now the handbrake is out i measured the new cable and the old... Old on the left side..



Exactly the same length apart from the base of the shoulder been shorter on the new one but makes no difference as both the thread and overall length the same... so no stretch as others have said..

However the new handbrake came with the securing plate that connects to the rear handbrake cables and my old one looked longer in situ.

Now no matter how hard i tried to uncouple the rear cables it was apparent i would need to remove the rear seat the c pillar trims or whatever in order to lift the carpet to get to the bolts that secured the steel plate over the bracket. This is the bracket that the rear of the centre console fastens to.

So carpet lifted and plate removed...



Now easy to unfasten and remove ready for the new one...
This is where it gets interesting... the general consensus is the cables dont stretch, well the connecting plate for the centre cable to rear cables appears too....





The easy route of just winding in the adjuster below the handbrake has lifted the curved metal and so as it lifts the centre cable just gets slacker.

Replaced with the new and all re attached...



Handbrake centre cable adjusted to 25mm...



Now put on 2 clicks and adjusted on the rear wheel adjusters through a wheel bolt hole... After some faffing with how much wind on and grip whether on 1 click or 2 clicks... I wanted to make sure my wheels turned with no drag when handbrake off.

So settled on been able to move the drum and disc with firm pressure on 2 clicks.

This resulted with a solid brake at 4 clicks. Just adjust to what you feel is good for you.

So in conclusion for me when i had the hand brake on 2 clicks and fully tightened up on the drums my car failed the mot.

I replaced the whole handbrake unit not knowing if any centre cable stretch etc and the cable was not in stock.
However on replacement the cable was fine... but the actual coupling for the centre cable to the rear cables could have been longer of old but to my eyes it has been distorted by over zealous handbrake adjustment resulting in some 15mm extra length over the new replacement.

So worth consideration if you are having the handbrake woes even after following the great guide on here.

Hope i have helped...