Handbrake Cable Snapped?

[mumof4]

Guys, t'other day i went to put the handbrake on and heard a sound as if something broke. I couldnt see anything obvious so thought no more of it.

 

Now, when handbrake is in off position it can be moved around 2 inches with no resistance, just flops about; then when you meet resistance you push the button in to put handbrake on.

 

However, when you take the handbrake off, its as if only one front and one rear wheel ( opposite to the front i think) have been secured with the handbrake as it kinda goes down at an angle slightly.

 

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

Have i snapped a cable? how can i fix it?

 

Maz

 

dummies guide please :D

[Goofygolfer]

hand brake only operates on rear wheels.as cable is 'Y' shape sounds like one side has snapped you can buy cable for side affected IE not replace whole assembly

[seatkid]

Look under car in the centre just in front of the rear wheels. There is a a tensioning spring that connects to the end of the main handbrake cable. One end is on a metal clip on the chassis, the other connects to a plastic spring retainer that should be on the end of the cable. The plastic retainer may have pulled off. The internals of the push on cap will be stripped (bad design), but dont worry, the good news is they cost 74p+vat, the bad news is they are not held in stock but need to be ordered by a dealer. You can effect a temporary repair by applying a layer of duck tape or simmilar on the threaded end of the cable and screwing the retainer back on and reconnecting the spring.

 

You need VAG part no. 701 711 367 (its the cylindrical bit attached to the spring - to the left of the arrow)

 

If its still in place then one of the brake cables to the rear discs may be broken.

Edited August 30, 2008 by seatkid

[mumof4]

thanks for the info and pic..

 

 

ok...what do i do if one of the cables has snapped?? can i affect a repair?? solder it back together or summit?? cover in heatshrink?? make one up myself??

[faz]

If a cable has broken you will have to replace it, you would be unable to repair it.

[mumof4]

Ok, thanks Faz..... in kinda heatshrink and solder mad at the mo after building a flying wing... bit like i was when i was stapling flowers to the ceiling in my daughters room.... if the kids had stood still long enough they would of been stapled to the wall.lol

 

i will look first thing and see what the damage is....

 

best i not park on any slopes till its sorted!!

[mumof4]

had a look, got soaked doing it, ok.... cable comes down from front, the y bit in front of rear tyres, there is no spring, looks like something has broken off as there is a piece of metal dangling from a hole.cables themselves look intact, but for the life of me.. i cant see how i can reattach a spring if indeed it should be there, further up the cable, near front tyres,,, there seems to be a coil/spring... but a ive only got the car up on the pavement on one side, i cant get to it to look unless i want to risk loseing my legs as parked on main road.

 

will try and get a pic ina bit if it stops raining.

[seatkid]

You lost the spring retainer and the spring. That is your problem.

 

This is what it should look like. (From passenger side)

 

[mumof4]

sorry for the darkness..... was pouring down and dark under the car, used my phone.

[mumof4]

You lost the spring retainer and the spring. That is your problem.

 

This is what it should look like. (From passenger side)

 

 

gawd... where can i get them from? are they dealer only?

[stevie m]

Could you get these from GSF ? Might be good to give um a ring (If you have a local branch) They delivered to me when i coudn't get there.

[mumof4]

ive been told there is a galaxy in a scrappys on the way to scunthorp, so im going to give em a ring in the morning and hope thay still have the parts.

 

also going to see if they have any undertrays... if no luck with either part.... then it looks like i will have to go to GSF etcc....

 

thanks hun :angry:

[seatkid]

:angry:

The spring retainer costs 74p, the spring probably costs 40p!!.... hardly worth going to a scrapyard or paying

[mumof4]

ok, will order tomorrow.

 

thank you :angry:

[seatkid]

Maz, try and get a better pic.....

 

 

It appears

 

1. the threaded bit has remnants of tape on it (signs of bodge job)

 

2. the left hand cable rubber seal is not in the right place for some reason

 

3. the right hand cable has had some kind of repair.

 

 

Ebay gum

[mumof4]

there was a bit on the left hand cable that moved up and down, i thought it was just muck as it was black blobs.

 

will try and get a better pic in the morning.

 

last thing i want to have to do is replace a shed load of cable.

 

whereabouts on the right hand cable is the repair?

[seatkid]

 

Looks as if LH rubber seal is split or cut and top bit moving with the inner.

 

RH end looks as if inner was broken and somehow reattached with a curtain hook and a wire clamp/crimp - one good tug and it could come apart.

 

The tape on the threaded bit looks like the bodge I described as a temporary repair. Not a permanent solution as you have now experienced.

 

Only a clearer picture will show for sure - but if this is the maintenance standard of an ebay motor then............ :)

Edited August 31, 2008 by seatkid

[mumof4]

right, some clearer, but a wee bit fuzzy pics.

 

I cleared off all the muck off the cables whilst the car was on ramps having 3 firestone tyres fitted.

 

also a pic of the left rear disc...

[gregers]

the disc looks like its been working correctly then :)

[mumof4]

foobed i think you mean :)

 

new brakes and discs required me thinks

[seatkid]

right, some clearer, but a wee bit fuzzy pics.

 

I cleared off all the muck off the cables whilst the car was on ramps having 3 firestone tyres fitted.

 

1. 3 tyres fitted?? ;)

 

2. You need that spring and retainer ordering.

 

3. Hope you got a mechanic to check all brakes front/rear. That back brake looks like gross neglect and chinese pads/discs.

 

4. That left cable end still looks strange but cant tell as your pics are crap not very clear. I'd check if both sides are operating equally (caliper - lever wise)

 

5. I'd change your brake fluid too - its probably never been changed

Edited September 1, 2008 by seatkid

[mumof4]

aye, 3 tyres... none of the three were reinforced, and werent um...legal.195 quid lighter i am for them.

 

front brakes and disks are fine, its just the rear ones are knackered.

 

mechanic thinks the left hand rear caliper is seized a bit, but as he said, wont know till its stripped down.

 

aye, know pics are crap, car was only at waist level whilst the bods were doing the wheels.

[mumof4]

well, i am impressed with the Ford garage here, went in today to order the parts needed, and just asked if they would mind whipping the car on the ramps to check to see if the cable had broken, no problem they said, i asked how much, they said not a bean.

 

sooo... up she goes, good check later, there are 4 bits required to enable me to put the spring and the retainer on.. all explained to me clearly.

 

Also, the right hand rear cable is broken.Took about 15 mins to looksie at the car, mainly because i was asking loads of questions like where did they think my oil leak might be coming from and asking advice on how best to sort out the brakes etc...

 

Anyway, ordered the cable and parts and it came to 28 quid plus VAT.

 

The cable itself is 22 quid.

 

I was asked if i would be doing the job myself, said yup..was told good on yer..LOL.

 

I couldnt fault them at all. They showed me diagrams of the cable etc.... where the 4 bits go and the best way to fit everything. Was well impressed.

 

Parts will be here half 10 in the morning.

[seatkid]

Glad you didnt try scrappy. IMO brakes are too important to use anything but OEM parts.

 

Still think you should have change 4 tyres and not 3........

 

And don't forget the brake fluid change!

[mumof4]

I only got 3, as the other tyre has loads of tread on it and to be honest, i couldnt afford 4. 3 were so bald they had no grip but i didnt have the money to replace till the other day.

 

Will also change the brake fluid, but will get help with that as i cant afford to do anything wrong there.I dont mean in monatary sense either.

 

when i get the parts and do the handbrake, will take pics as i go along...

 

Thanks for all advice and help, much appreciated. ;)