Handbrake Problem

[mickstobbs]

Hi everyone,apologies if this has been covered before but the search turned up nothing;for a while now the handbrake lever on my 00 Mk2 Tdi has been getting worse at returning down when the brake is released.Its now gotten so bad the handbrake switch is not getting released and i've got to hold it down to drive.I've checked under the carpet and trim for any obstructions in the bottom of the lever well but what else can i check?Something where the linkage goes through the chassis or at the back wheels?.Any help would be greatly appreciated as i'm just about carless at the mo.....

Thanks,Mick.

[Mary]

Is the handbrake actually going off and its just the light in the dash thats showing it to be on?

 

Mary

[mickstobbs]

Thanks for the reply Mary,the dash light is on yes,but the lever willnot actually go right back down to the bottom position,it tries to come back up slightly as if somethings stopping it going full travel.

Mick.

[Mary]

Do you have much of a handbrake?

If you look under the back of the car and see if the levers on the calipers are going back to the stops. It they are not try to prise them up with a screwdriver. It could be the cables if not the calipers.

I will be here for about 2 hours if that fails to find your prob

 

Mary

[Mary]

Just had another thought

 

Could be the compensater right under the car thats sticking

[mickstobbs]

Thanks for this Mary,i'm gonna have a look first chance i get.Its snowing like hell here at the minute so any investigating will have to wait.I'll let you know what i find though.

I assume the compensater is directly under the handbrake (cant find my Haynes at the mo)

Cheers,Mick.

[mk2vr6]

the hand brake is a cable operated mechanical system, where the two cables join to the compensator there is a big spring which purpose is to pull the lever down and hold it down! without this spring you will have to push the hand brake lever down and hold it down!

 

http://www.vagcat.com/p/B162/711500.png

Edited April 6, 2008 by mk2vr6

[mickstobbs]

Thanks very much mate,that'll give me something to go on.You can't do anything about this snow can you :rolleyes:

Cheers,Mick.

[mickstobbs]

Finally got under the car today briefly,its not the spring where the 2 cables branch of to the back wheels as i thought it might be.All the back componants seem in order so i 'll have to check the front under the car.Rain stopped me today but could'nt see much,is there a heat shield or some other type of under body shield that'll stop me getting access from the underneath?

thanks,Mick.