Handbrake woes

[Ilogik]

So the other week, pulled hand brake up and ping, no more hand brake.

Dropped the car off today to investigate, £160 down and they think it's the lever, which sounds like a horrible job?

If the cables all look ok is there anything else that could be causing it not to work i could suggest to them. Gutted as wifes on maternity at the moment so didnt really want a silly bill for something that should be so simple.

[bigwinn]

Levers rarely break- the teeth wear out but gradually

Is it the cable that’s snapped or the way the cables attach to the mech?

[Ilogik]

Garage messaged me to say cables looked ok so I don't really get what they've been doing tbh.

[Ilogik]

this is all i was told:

had the rear brakes off and the cables seem ok. He's got part of the console off and suspects that the handbrake lever is the issue and may require a complete unit. To get access to this the exhaust and covers have to be dropped down to investigate further.

[bigwinn]

To change the lever they aren’t wrong it’s exhaust and prop off

[Umfaan]

Or from the top ….if you know how

[Rockhopper]

Plus they are no longer available and haven't been for quite a few years now. Did they take the rear disks off? What often happens is the material comes off the handbrake shoes.

[bigwinn]

Good point Barry. Take them out the sunroof way

[Mike6]

That seems very expensive to partially diagnose the problem.

[pvr]

My expense at the time when the handbrake pulled through the disc guard (Scottish ...) was over £2k

[colb]

Take a look at this thread to see how the lever can be removed from the top which negates removal of exhaust and prop
viewtopic.php?t=142304

[tug]

If it helps, i have a complete ratchet with perfect teeth for sale, £148 posted.

[Ilogik]

Considering just selling it as it is, repair with parts I’m now looking at around £600 if it 100% fixes it if it is the part.

Pulling hand brake all the way up today, must’ve clocked about 8 times but it was holding it now which is weird.

[tug]

Did they have the rear hubs off mate?, cos if they did they would have noticed that the shoe assembly has probably broke through the dust gaurds. They are only held in by a single pin both sides. Ask them to check, and if it is then its a matter of changing the dust gaurds with a hand brake shoe kit. Dust gaurds are a few quid and the kit is little money. It sound like the hourly rate will be more than the parts. As the handbrake is used randomly oem parts are not necessarily needed.

[enuff_zed]

Considering just selling it as it is, repair with parts I’m now looking at around £600 if it 100% fixes it if it is the part.

Pulling hand brake all the way up today, must’ve clocked about 8 times but it was holding it now which is weird.

Ah, I've had that a couple of times. There's a spring and tab under the lever which you are supposed to engage to take tension off the cable when you're adjusting it. On both occasions for me that tab was engaging every now and then and of course making the cable go slack. I assume something gets weak in there?
If it happens again, don't move anything, whip up the gaiter and see if the tab has engaged with the slotted disc at the end of the spring. If so, ping it back with a screwdriver.