Handbrake ratchet worn

keeley26 · Post by **keeley26** » Wed Feb 27, 2019 9:33 am

MOT due soon so thought I'd try and adjust the handbrake as it wasn't holding.
Unfortunately when I took the handbrake gaitor off I noticed most of the teeth in the ratchet are worn, I. get 3 clicks then it won't hold any further up.

Do you have to take the exhaust and propshaft off to replace the handbrake lever?
Sounds like a PITA job

Any other solutions?

Attilio · Post by **Attilio** » Wed Feb 27, 2019 12:20 pm

Had it done on mine: real PITA job...and expensive!

Sorry for your troubles

Marlon · Post by **Marlon** » Wed Feb 27, 2019 12:23 pm

Had my handbrake replaced by a local Indy BWM specialist for a very reasonable £242 inc VAT.
I was prepared for a bigger bill, labour was 2 hours.

biojo · Post by **biojo** » Wed Feb 27, 2019 9:21 pm

What year are your cars? just curious

keeley26 · Post by **keeley26** » Thu Feb 28, 2019 9:50 am

Mines is a 2006, with 150000 miles so had a fair amount of use. However seen cars with double that mileage that don't have an issue, BMW must have used some very soft metal.

hopz121 · Post by **hopz121** » Thu Feb 28, 2019 10:32 am

Had this issue on my 53 reg before it was written off.

My Indy managed to adjust it to 4 clicks and it passed an MOT fine back then

MrPT · Post by **MrPT** » Thu Feb 28, 2019 12:40 pm

Mine's booked in for replacement in a couple of weeks. Long overdue, although as above, it's passed MOTs fine as the handbrake will still hold the car at the very top of its travel. It's a 2008, coming up to 70k miles.

Marlon · Post by **Marlon** » Thu Feb 28, 2019 1:14 pm

MrPT wrote: ↑Thu Feb 28, 2019 12:40 pm Mine's booked in for replacement in a couple of weeks. Long overdue, although as above, it's passed MOTs fine as the handbrake will still hold the car at the very top of its travel. It's a 2008, coming up to 70k miles.

Pretty much the same scenario as mine - 2008 78k miles, would only hold at top of travel

keeley26 · Post by **keeley26** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:07 pm

Woohoo passed the MOT today.
I managed to adjust the handbrake to hold on the 3rd click, there was a very slight drag on one wheel with the handbrake off, but obviously not enough to fail the MOT.
Still plan to change the handbrake lever at some point, but no rush now.

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 11:00 pm

Great news.

Sadly mine feels like it's living on borrowed time, but it's a 56 plate with 89K miles so it looks like it has done well!

Hopefully it will get through the next MOT in June.

MrPT · Post by **MrPT** » Tue Mar 12, 2019 7:15 pm

Just picked mine up. Feels great now.

I had a couple of other things done at the same time, but I'd guess that the handbrake labour on its own came to about £270 inc VAT. Seems consistent with Marlon's invoice, once you factor in Daan Saaf Tax.

ronk · Post by **ronk** » Tue Mar 12, 2019 9:40 pm

Im one of the push the button brigade - There are many who just rasp the handbrake up. I think theres a thread on here somewhere ?

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