Handbrake woes

[re2500]

My handbrake has always been fairly good on the quattro. But it has started misbehaving randomly since I've put it all back together. None of the rear brakes have been fiddled with recently "ain't broke don't fix" philosophy. But like I said its been playing up and it failed the mot due to rubbish hand brake and excess travel (had a feeling it might)

Took the caliper off and it's obvious the handbrake cam lever is not returning. I can move it if I grip it with something but the spring is not strong enough to return it.

Can I strip clean and rebuild the handbrake mech or is it a specialist job??
Any other tips/advice??

[andy10v]

Instructions for strip/rebuild, includes diagrams and pictures

http://20v.org/brakere.htm



Travel adjust is above the prop, you can use a deep socket on a long extension with the ratchet in front of the rear diff to adjust it without removing the heat shield



If you search for "handbrake" in thread titles on here there are loads of threads with useful info

eg

http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showthr...ight=handbrake

[re2500]

I had found Paul's thread on fitting calipers, it's well worth a read. I just needed to know more about sorting that handbrake mech. That info you have posted is perfect! Thanks Andy

[gadget6970]

hand brake

my hand brake mechanism wasnt returning fully and found hand brake cable a bit on the stiff side so sprayed lubricant into cable was better but still not sorted so purchased 2 new pagid cables but are not as protected as ones on my avant they have a stiff plastic sleave on the new ones have a rubber sleave on + its a right pain in the butt to get to drivers side cable where it hooks onto hand brake .So ive left it for now and for a tempary measure i,ve put a spring over the cable to push the handbrake mechanism up.It works a treat and it got me through the Mot.Ebay £1.98 for 2 springs quick fix to stop hand brake sticking on.

[Rusty]

Quick fix is to push the brake pedal hard down and hold it there while you pull the handbrake on and off. The combination of hydraulic and mechanical pressure does the trick in mist cases...