Handbrake cable. Don't you just love TVR.

[TJC46]

Hi guys, MOT time within the next two weeks, so started to check the chim over, after its usual winter lay up. Everything was fine but the handbrake wasn't too good so i decided to adjust it. First pull of the handle and it came straight up. The plastic knurled nut had decided to strip its thread,so now i cant adjust it at all. A new handbrake cable has been ordered, but now to fit it.
This being TVR i have had to drop the rear anti-roll bar and the exhaust system just to do this! I'm pretty sure on most other cars it would be an easy job, but no NOT ON A TVR!

DONT YOU JUST LOVE EM!

[domV8]

Hi TJC46, do you mean that the "clicks" have disappeared and the handbrake just falls back down again without "locking" in place..?

If this is the case, is it definite that you can replace whichever bits by removing only the ARB & exhaust..?

Someone suggested that the gearbox might have to be moved in order to get at the handbrake to fix this "loss of clicks" - I am trying to find out whether this is correct or not, in order to fix the above mentioned problem...

Thanks,

Dom

[TJC46]

domV8 said:

Hi TJC46, do you mean that the "clicks" have disappeared and the handbrake just falls back down again without "locking" in place..?

If this is the case, is it definite that you can replace whichever bits by removing only the ARB & exhaust..?

Someone suggested that the gearbox might have to be moved in order to get at the handbrake to fix this "loss of clicks" - I am trying to find out whether this is correct or not, in order to fix the above mentioned problem...

Thanks,

Dom

Hi Dom, my problem is only with the handbrake cable and not the handbrake lever.
Ive just had a look under the car, now the exhaust is removed, and you can clearly see all of the bottom workings of the handbrake.I think if you remove the transmission tunnel from inside the car, you will be able to access all of the top parts of the lever. Between under the car and inside the car, im pretty sure you could remove your knackered handbrake lever and replace with new.No need to remove the gearbox.
link to a pic from inside the car.

[peaktorque]

domV8 said:

Hi TJC46, do you mean that the "clicks" have disappeared and the handbrake just falls back down again without "locking" in place..?

If this is the case, is it definite that you can replace whichever bits by removing only the ARB & exhaust..?

Someone suggested that the gearbox might have to be moved in order to get at the handbrake to fix this "loss of clicks" - I am trying to find out whether this is correct or not, in order to fix the above mentioned problem...

Thanks,

Dom

I've had to do the full works with my handbrake. The ratchet didn't work (the handbrake would just drop back down again once applied) on the lever itself and my cable had seized.

The handbrake lever mechanism is accessible from inside the car via an access panel (contrary to what I was told by a 'specialist') and the cable is fairly easy if you use the old one as a draw wire, you don't need to remove either the ARB or exhaust, let alone the gearbox

A Saturday's morning work

[domV8]

Thanks Peaktorque -

was what I thought too...

[peaktorque]

The cause of my handbrake lever failure was due to a sheared bolt as it is secured to the chassis.