Adjusting the handbrake

[5509433]

Am I right in saying to adjust the handbrake just open the centre console and tighten the nut a few turns?

The handbrake currently clicks around 7-8 times before it locks.

Thanks

 

[DEAN0]

Am I right in saying to adjust the handbrake just open the centre console and tighten the nut a few turns?

The handbrake currently clicks around 7-8 times before it locks.

Thanks

YES correct - under the rear cup holder.

If you are on rear discs - the handbrake should be adjusted so that the little arm on the caliper is 1mm off it's stop.

 

[5509433]

Sweet thanks for your help.

 

[RUM4MO]

One thing that you should consider is, there might not have been any "stretch" taken place in the cables - something else might be causing this. If I were you, I'd leave the cable alone and take the pads out, fully retract the pistons, clean up everything, refit pads, use brake pedal to drive pistons back out, and then and only then operate the handbrake quite a few times to let the mechanism re-adjust. Also, consider fitting external lever return springs - I suggest original shape Alhambra as the source car.

Edit, by all means remove the trim and have a look at the cable equaliser when the handbrake is fully "on" - if it is just stretch then the yoke should be sitting across the car - if it is "canted to one side" then things definitely need cleaning up.

 

[5509433]

I have drum brakes in the rear. Does this then change circumstances?

 

[Biker]

You should really make sure the brakes are set up correctly before adjusting the cable. The excess travel on the handbrake could be down to brake wear rather than a stretched handbrake cable.

 

[5509433]

Can anyone shed some light on checking the rear drums for wear?

 

[DEAN0]

Can anyone shed some light on checking the rear drums for wear?

That would involve removing the drums and inspecting the inside of them.

Some drum brakes have a rubber gromet on the inside plat that lets you inspect the shoes through it.

Try this little exercise to see if you can get the adjusters to work :

1. Park on level ground.
2. press on the brake pedal and whilst it is pressed - pull the handbrake up.
3. release the brake pedal - then release the handbrake.
4. repeat 2 & 3 a few times then check to see if the handbrake feels any better

 

[RUM4MO]

Ah, drum rear brakes! I think that lots of mechanics consider that the auto adjuster mechanism is just not good enough on any car regardless of marque - including non VAG cars. I've always found that if you do look after these areas, they will continue to work okay, though I do need to say here that after cleaning up my daughter's 6J Ibiza rear brakes, I needed to ease the adjusters out a click or two to improve things. The adjusters are reached from the front of the drum through one of the wheel fixing bolt holes. Maybe buy a Haynes book so that you know what you are adjusting when you poke a screwdriver in there! Might even be plungers that you can check on the outside of the brakes to make sure that the cable adjustment is correct - I can't remember.

By the way, that car I was talking about passed its MOT in late October and has since been serviced (at dealer - to get stamped!)and its handbrake does have what I could describe as "long" travel - I think that this is allowed for on modern handbrakes so it is taken into consideration at MOT time - unless it becomes excessive (whatever that means exactly)