Handbrake

[gbbird]

Not that it ever really worked much anyway, but my handbrake has given up the ghost - the button you press when pulling it up has lost all connection with the mechanism, and now does not pop back out again after pressing, plus the handbrake does not engage at all when i pull the arm up, and there are no ratchet sounds.

Any idea what has gone wrong with the thing, and if so is it easy to get at and fix? I was thinking it may just be the cable that has snapped or come undone?

Regards

Greg

[mars]

If the button's stuck in, that's why you get no ratchet sounds. Should be easy to resolve. Try a little WD40 on the mechanism to release it.

Poor handbrake effectiveness is something else. Probably needs adjustment at the drum end.

[jbvipercerb]

Ive just fixed this problem with mine, the handbrake button started to stick in more and more, especially when releasing it. The problem was the lever was bent so the rod from the button to the ratchet was jambing inside the lever, to fix it I jambed the bottom of the lever with a bar and pushed the top of the lever straight, easy and hey presto its as smooth as a babys now.
I think its because you can only pull the lever up at a strange angle, because its high up on the tunnel, and over time it distorts.
As for it not working, is it because the lever has dropped down letting the brakes off again?

[gbbird]

jbvipercerb said:

As for it not working, is it because the lever has dropped down letting the brakes off again?

Thanks All. Yes this has happened - the lever is just slack now, and whether i pull it up or just leave it down, the brake is not being applied. To me it does feel as if the cable has snapped or come loose

[kojak]

Could be the locknuts on the cable under the cat, above the diff area. They are plastic and may have slipped a thread or two. Mine did the same, so I put a small jubilee clip to stop it doing it.

Edited by kojak on Monday 15th January 16:19

[gazzab]

Bent handbrake lever is the most common cause. You can bend it back easy enough. From memory I just held the lower end of the lever to stop myself from putting pressure onto the bottom of the lever. Then I pushed the top of the lever towards the passenger door. Button springs back and handbrake 'works'.

[gbbird]

Excellent - cheers all - i will try these suggestions at the weekend

[byker28i]

All above are excellant suggestions. The other common one is that the aluminium sleeve on the handbrake lever has slipped because the little locking grub screws have come loose. The button then fouls on the handle surround.

[copilot]

gbbird said:

Excellent - cheers all - i will try these suggestions at the weekend

Mine went first day I bought it. There is a plastic adjuster under the car which had simply slipped. It was possible to reach this from below (from a pit) without removing anything (need to be a contorsionist) and simply re-adjusted it by turning it round and round a few times. Probably will go again so I fitted a jubilee clip to stop it moving again. Some remove the exhaust & heat shield, but there is no need if you percevere. Its also easier if you have someone in the car to keep moving the handreak and to let you know what you are doing is making a diference.

Hope that helps