mk2 golf handbrake not adjusting?!?!?

[vdub_badger]

Hi,

Iv just bought an 1985 mk2 golf as a project car, which has been off the road for the past 3 years, one of the things the MOT failed on was the hand brake efficiency.

The handbrake works of the calipers, so my initial thought was that the caliper might be sticking as it hasn't been driven for so long. When i stripped out the rear brake and wound back the caliper, I found it to be ok!! i then cleaned and lubed the discs and pads. When I adjusted the h/brake in the car, I found that neither wheel was locking, even when fully adjusted

I'm not familiar with h/brakes working of the caliper cause I work with h/brake shoes on a daily basis...I was just wondering if there's any was the h/brake can be adjusted at the caliper???

cheers for any help!!!!

[lotisi]

The rear caliper seize up. Sometimes you can free the quadrant that the HB cable goes round with some WD and a load of wiggling it. The calipers are rebuildable but unless you are really competant just go buy a new pair.

[vdub_badger]

well im a qual. mechanic, like i said, iv stripped the rear brakes out and the piston is moving freely, besides, both the rear calipers have been re-conditions by ap brakes recently anyway, the caliper itself it pretty clean

[lotisi]

OK so remove the caliper and hold the piston in with a pair of grips then turn the handbrake quadrant with another pair of grips you should be able to feel the piston move in and out. Try that and then reply I am not wasting your time I recondition these calipers and may be able to save you money