Replacing handbrake cables

[finlay666]

Well for some time (pretty much since I got my car) the handbrake has had difficulty holding the car on anything but a slight slope

Already replaced the pads (as it's callipers on the rear) and still nothing, when it got serviced a few weeks ago it was ok for a bit, but has gone back to how it was, have to have it as far as it will travel just to get it to hold at all on a slope, and it's quite annoying to have to sit on the clutch on a slope at lights to stop it rolling back.

Long story short, bought a pair of cables (one for each rear brake system) (£50 delivered for both instead of £100 each at the stealership). Is there much involved in fitting them, anyone done it before on a car with callipers at the back instead of drums? Or is it worth just getting a garage to fit it for the peace of mind?

Cheers

[GoNz0]

take the cables back, calipers are for the foot pedal, they are not the handbrake shoes.

if you remove the disk you will find a farty little pair of handbrake shoes stashed away in there.

i would do a bit more homework on them 1st m8, as with mine they need adjusting manaully inside the drum by removing a wheel bolt, positioning at 60 degrees to expose the adjuster and setting back so many clicks after locking the drum, after that you tighten the cables up at the handbrake lever to get the required force per notch on the handbrake.

you should be able to find a guide for your car like i did

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/tech...Adjustment.htm

[finlay666]

i would do a bit more homework on them 1st m8, as with mine they need adjusting manaully inside the drum by removing a wheel bolt, positioning at 60 degrees to expose the adjuster and setting back so many clicks after locking the drum, after that you tighten the cables up at the handbrake lever to get the required force per notch on the handbrake.

I did... which is why I am buying the cables, my car doesn't have handbrake 'shoes', that is having the car up, with the calliper removed, and both my dad looking at it and a mechanic on separate occasions, the latter said he tightened the cable and there is still practically no resistance on pulling the cable. It's also a common complaint among Rover 600 drivers on the forums.

I'll pull down a Rover 600 guide as it's the same car and easier to be specific as the US Accord is different to the UK one

If it isn't just the cable it's also going to be a calliper problem I suspect


Need to remember to check tomorrow to see if my ECU in the boot was removed for the locking, as I have no remote locking I suspect it's either been removed/unplugged or the fuse has been removed

[GoNz0]

wtf, it uses the pads

i never knew that, then again its a rover

[filbert]

More rear disc handbrakes use the pads than having seperate shoes, and I daubt it'll be the cables and it sounds like the service wasn't done well, could be the pads not free enough, the calipers need adjusting, or the adjusters not working correctly.

[GoNz0]

how far up does the lever need to be until resistance is felt ?

[finlay666]

More rear disc handbrakes use the pads than having seperate shoes, and I daubt it'll be the cables and it sounds like the service wasn't done well, could be the pads not free enough, the calipers need adjusting, or the adjusters not working correctly.

I'm not sure, the piston was fully depressed when the pads were replaced, then bedded in before checking the handbrake cable again

Could be the adjusters, but I do know at least one cable is stretched from examining it under the centre console between the front seats, there is definite uneven wear

how far up does the lever need to be until resistance is felt ?

pretty much to the top, sometimes there is give all the way up, sometimes it's just before the end. depends on the slope and pressure on the brake. (apologies if the previous post seemed a bit peeved off, was very tired and had a long day)

[GoNz0]

dont worry about uneven wear, i fitted 2 new cables to mine, 2 new shoes and new disks, one cable was 10mm longer than the other.

check the adjusters again now its had time to bed in b4 committing to new cables.