Hand brake button stuck!

[McNasty]

Help if you can, my hand brake button keeps sticking in so when you let go and come to apply it next time it won't engage the ratchet to hold the brake on. I have managed to get the Aluminium and leather cover off to expose the actual handle and ratchet thinking a squirt of WD40 would loosen the button but this has had no effect. It is possible to pull the button out with your thumb nails enough to engage the ratchet but it is pain the arse if you are in the town or traffic as it is a two handed job. I am hoping that it is a simple job but fear it may be a strip out of the full hand brake assembly.
If any body can point me in the right direction i would be grateful.
Regards,
Andy

[byker28i]

Mine did this. Have you a Leven upgraded one? I had to take it off and refit it, being careful with the securing Grub screws and it's fine now. I think it was because the grub screws make it slightly off centre and I'd rotated it through use.

[McNasty]

byker28i said:

Mine did this. Have you a Leven upgraded one? I had to take it off and refit it, being careful with the securing Grub screws and it's fine now. I think it was because the grub screws make it slightly off centre and I'd rotated it through use.

Thanks byker, she is a 2003 and i have had her for a year now, so wouldn't think the hand brake has been up-graded yet unless it is a factory up-grade. Either way i don't supose you could ellaborate a little when you get time. ie did you have to strip out the whole handle by un bolting it from the car and where are these grub screws as i didn't notice any when the cover was off?

[byker28i]

Ah no - my grub screws were in the aluminium cover itself. This made the cover slightly off centre which resulted in the button sticking in as I'd rotated the handle without noticing.

I know that somtimes the handbrakes get a little bent towards the right from use.

Sometimes you can sort the sticking of mechanisim by holding the handbrake at the bottom (at the pivot) and with the other hand holding the top (by the button) you can gently bend it slightly.

[byker28i]

See also

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=179973&f=6&h=0&hw=handbrake+button

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=102421&f=6&h=0&hw=handbrake+button

[McNasty]

byker28i said:

Ah no - my grub screws were in the aluminium cover itself. This made the cover slightly off centre which resulted in the button sticking in as I'd rotated the handle without noticing.

I know that somtimes the handbrakes get a little bent towards the right from use.

Sometimes you can sort the sticking of mechanisim by holding the handbrake at the bottom (at the pivot) and with the other hand holding the top (by the button) you can gently bend it slightly.

Cheers mate, I will try and bend it back from the passenger side tonight. I will let you know how I get on. Thanks for the links. (how did you do that?)

[byker28i]

Use the force/Search Luke

[jensena]

Unscew the button just a 1/4 turn, then press the button in again,

Edited by jensena on Tuesday 28th November 00:21

[McNasty]

Thanks byker, it took less than 10 seconds to fix it last night, just pulled it to the passenger window a little and the button sprung back out. It works perfectly now.
I wish all TVR problems were as cheap and as Quick to fix as this one!

[kojak]

Handbrake. Didnt know they hand such things.