Handbrake cable replacement

[Carolyn]

Hi all,

I've checked the 'how to's' and not dound one.  Of course, it could well be there!

I would appreciate in tips on this.  One seized and one not looking great.

Thanks in advance.

[shnazzle]

Nobody has written a how-to yet. But the long and short of it is that you need to drop the fuel tank a bit to get to a bolt for a bracket on one of the lines. So, if you're lucky, the one you want to replace most is the one with the accessible bracket  s:) s:)

 m http://mr2roc.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=34821#p417184 m

Obviously you'd need to remove the center console, which is a lot easier if you remove the seats. (one screw on each side of the center console).

So I guess it's
1) Remove seats
2) remove center console
3) loosen cables from handbrake lever
4) drop fuel tank a couple inches and remove brackets for handbrake cables
5) remove cables from calipers.

[krazysteve]

Fun if you have aircon.
Run the tank empty too.

[shnazzle]

Fun if you have aircon.
Run the tank empty too.

Do the aircon pipes not go around it? Guess not...  s:) s:)

[keljon]

its not that difficult really, you can drop the tank enough without disconnecting everything

Nobody has written a how-to yet. But the long and short of it is that you need to drop the fuel tank a bit to get to a bolt for a bracket on one of the lines. So, if you're lucky, the one you want to replace most is the one with the accessible bracket  s:) s:)

 m http://mr2roc.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=34821#p417184 m

Obviously you'd need to remove the center console, which is a lot easier if you remove the seats. (one screw on each side of the center console).

So I guess it's
1) Remove seats
2) remove center console
3) loosen cables from handbrake lever
4) drop fuel tank a couple inches and remove brackets for handbrake cables
5) remove cables from calipers.

[Carolyn]

Thank you, all for the help.  Fortunately I've only got to do the nearside - the off side works fine and looks new.

[Mr X]

be VERY sure you need to replace it. I have the same trouble every year (MOT time). This time last year I had 2 new disks, rear pads, 2 new callipers and 2 new cables. I've never removed the seats to get at the cables.
This year i have..... Off side wheel spinning when I apply the hand brake!
This weekend's job: remove the handbrake cable, pump the foot pedal 10 times, re-attach the hand brake cable, check it's just off the stop, apply handbrake 10 times.
That should then fix it.

Make sure the cable T where they both attach the the hand brake leaver is parallel and both leavers are just off the stop with the hand brake un-applied. You can make sure both are free by detaching them from the leaver on the calliper and check they pull up evenly.
From what I read on the forum, most cases are solved by re-setting the callipers and cables. Nothing to do with the cables themselves.

[shnazzle]

be VERY sure you need to replace it. I have the same trouble every year (MOT time). This time last year I had 2 new disks, rear pads, 2 new callipers and 2 new cables. I've never removed the seats to get at the cables.
This year i have..... Off side wheel spinning when I apply the hand brake!
This weekend's job: remove the handbrake cable, pump the foot pedal 10 times, re-attach the hand brake cable, check it's just off the stop, apply handbrake 10 times.
That should then fix it.

Make sure the cable T where they both attach the the hand brake leaver is parallel and both leavers are just off the stop with the hand brake un-applied. You can make sure both are free by detaching them from the leaver on the calliper and check they pull up evenly.
From what I read on the forum, most cases are solved by re-setting the callipers and cables. Nothing to do with the cables themselves.

Sound advise. Are you sure it's the lines themselves? The belated Les once wrote a thorough how to on caliper refurb, which included the handbrake mechanism, as this is the part that seizes.

[Carolyn]

The caliper is in good nick.  The cable is seized solid!
Thanks very much for the tip on doing the reset.

[locobuilder brian]

Recently renewed both handbrake cables with genuine Toyota replacements. Took 2 of us 5hrs on a four post lift without completely removing the tank.
The problems are getting the tank passed the various pipes (air con etc) & reaching the front cable pipe clips especially the off side with the limited access.
I ran the tank right down way below the fuel warning light coming on ( spare fuel in container in foot well ) to reduce the weight.
If you use genuine Toyota cables would you report back  what  colour bands on the old & new cables ? l/h nearside part no 46430 should be a white band (slightly shorter cable). rh off side part no 46420 should be a yellow band
Even after all the work i am still left with the equalising lever bias to the L/h nearside & dont know why.

[loadswine]

I used pattern cables and had exactly the same, despite double checking that they were fitted to the correct sides.
I think Toyota cables would have made the job easier for me, as the design of the securing clips on the ones I used was poor and all had to be modified.

[1979scotte]

I hate to say this but headcase did mine in less than 2 hours with me getting in the way.
Experience i suppose.

[Mr X]

I hate to say this but headcase did mine in less than 2 hours with me getting in the way.
Experience i suppose.

Last year me and my dad swapped them both. I did one side and he did the other. Took about 3 hours.

Lowered the tank on a jack, didn't disconnect it. Just dropped it about an inch and wiggled it about to get the cables round. Just be a bit careful lowering the tank as its centre of balance is off centre as the tank is a odd shape.

I used pattern cables and had exactly the same, despite double checking that they were fitted to the correct sides.
I think Toyota cables would have made the job easier for me, as the design of the securing clips on the ones I used was poor and all had to be modified.

The pattern cables I had were fitted with the wrong hand of brackets (left cable had right hand brackets and right cable had the left hand) meaning we had to swap the brackets over! Didn't find out until they were fitted but weren't pulling up evenly. So a good idea to check against the one you take off.

Bar the fiddlyness, it's not that bad of a job!

[Carolyn]

All good input.  I'll be doing the job in the next few days (waiting for cable to arrive).  I'll let you know how I get on.

[jinxedkitten]

Good luck, hope it goes well - you're saving circa £250+ in labour  s:D s:D

[Carolyn]

Ok - reporting in!

Have only just installed it - It's a piggy job! not connected or adjusted yet.  
Replacement one (nearside) no colour code.  Old one BLUE!!  Go figure.