[Now with Video] MOT failed - handbrake ?

[skidmark]

Hi Chaps,

My cars not been used for 4 months over the winter, but now I've taken it for an MOT and its failed with a seized handbrake on the passenger side.

Can anyone recommend a specialist near Reading (Berkshire) or would a dealer be the better option to replace the cable ?

I've got no chance of fixing it myself these days as my back is nakered.

Many Thanks
Mark

 m https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4lwyPFXxZ4 m

[Topdownman]

I have not used them myself but think I have heard good things about;

 m http://castleeatongarage.co.uk/index.html m

At least they should have experience of our handbrake issues!

[JoeCool]

Don't take it to a dealer! Pagid cables are about £30 a side from gsf/ecp and it's a couple of hours labour to partially drop the tank and fit them. So long as the calipers aren't seized that should sort it.

[ptennisnet]

I recently bought a pair off ebay for thirty-odd.  I was going to do it myself but the weather got the better of me.  My local independent charged me £97 to fit.  He took a few quid off as I'd removed the bins already.

[skidmark]

Got the centre console out and the wheel off and have taken a quick video.

I can't tell if the cable is at fault or the caliper.

Can anyone take a look and see what they think please ?

Thanks

 m https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4lwyPFXxZ4 m

[jvanzyl]

Brilliant video mate!  :-) :-) :-)  think mines doing the same thing....

[Carolyn]

Take the pin out.  (Might have to 'persuade' it with a flat-faced punch).  See what the cable does.

It looks like a sticky caliper to me, but once the pin is out, you'll know.

Then take the clip out that holds the cable to the caliper, bend the cable up and dribble some 3 in 1 oil down it and work it in and out (just to be nice to it).

[keeper2611]

My cables were like that, it seemed that they were moving ok, but when I got the new ones I could tell straight away that the old ones were knackered. Cables changed, problem solved! It's not as hard a job as it looks, you only have to drop the tank about 4" and crawl about under the car quite a bit, but not too difficult.

[skidmark]

Took the pin out of the caliper/cable and the arm on the caliper moves freely and the cable is almost impossible to move.

So looks like it is the cable.

[nimrod]

Good video.

[shnazzle]

That is a very helpful video. It's always hard to explain what it is that's happening. A video of the problem is often as helpful as the solution