Handbrake issue

[Ski]

Woke up this morning to a terrible noise from back brakes. Like a numpty I forgot about rear pads and they worse down badle and damaged the disks.

I ran to euro car parts, got some cheap disks and pads, and went to a random untrusted garage to have them fitted, and made it into work for 11am yipeee...

however, after changing the back pads / disks, my handbrake is loose. I can lift it about 2 inches with no effect or resistance.

Serious issue or a case of stripping the centre console apart and tightening it up?

[Ross]

Have the same issue; seems worse when it's really cold too (below freezing) - like the cable is sticking - I always have to yank the handbrake really high to make it effective! And it's loose for the first couple of inches. How is it tightened from the centre console?? Do tell (it'll save my clutch a little!) Sounds like I may as well go ahead and get a short-shift kit for crimbo and kill 2 birds with 1 stone

cheers
Ross

[Ski]

i belive u tighhten it behing the back ashtray ?

[Ski]

So.. anyone any idea what went wrong? this didnt happen gradually, it happened during the rear brake change.

Should i tighten it at centre console or is it a more serious issue related to rear brakes?

[WabTheKing]

sounds like the rear calipers werent adjusted properly

[Mikes2]

Handbrake can be adjusted from under the car - don't see how you can do it from inside. I would check everything else first. The handbrake adjustment should have been carried out as part of the job - normally it's self adjusting so someone has cocked up.

[Fat Audi 80]

With new pads it should be back down to one or two clicks. Mine is only on 3 and a half clicks with worn out pads.

I didn't do mine, so I can't tell you how to adjust it though....

Cheers,

Steve

[Ski]

Does anyone know how to adjust?

I was under impressions its from inside...

Aynone know how to adjust ? rear calipers ?

[PeterS]

Ski:

Unless new cables were fitted/and or someone fiddled with the adjuster, DON'T make ANY adjustments.

The installer would have had to use a caliper piston tool to turn the caliper most of the way into the caliper body to allow enough room for the new (thicker) pads. Once the pads have been installed, wheels bolted back on, etc, there will be some free play in the cable and ebrake mechanism until they push the piston to contact the pads and rotor. Pull up on the ebrake lever and let it down a number of times.

Given that the ebrake cables and the mechanism on the calipers ARE working properly, the travel should reduce to just a few clicks. If it doesn't , then either:
-someone played with the adjuster and shouldn't have
-one or more of the cables has to be replaced
-the ebrake mechanism on one or both of the rear calipers is binding

HTH
-Peter

[Ski]

The ebrake is working fine, just lots of slack on it. So best bet you say would be to leave it? and after a few days it will sort itself out?

So far, Ive pumped the brakes, and pulled the leaver about 5 times but no joy, not even a sign of it improving.

[PeterS]

Ski:

is there anyplace or any way that you safely get under the car and observe whether there is full travel on the ebrake mechanism on the caliper whilst a helper pulls up and down on the ebrake leverl

I have the sneaking suspicion that either the caliper ebrake mechanism and or the cables are not working properly ( which may have accelerated the pad wear in the rear).

-Peter

[Ski]

hmm interesting.

I first thought this would be a simple matter, but its turning quite complicated

To be honest I woudnt know what to look for unless i studies it for a while, nor would i know how far such ebrake mechanism should travel.

I think i will take a wheel off and take a look, and get a helper to pull the handbrake as u sugested and see what moves and what dosnt move.

[PeterS]

Ski:
Item 3 in the picture below should move freely at least 90 degrees of travel...if not either the cables or the mechanism in the caliper is fouled.

[Ski]

Ahhh thats greate! i now know what to look for

BIG THANX peter

[Ski]

Just out of curiosity, Should the ebrake turn the whole 90 degrees, and it all works fine there, how should I tighten / Adjust the slackness of the cable?