Handbrake cable gone loose?

[prt57]

Hi,
There is always a small amount of free play as I move the handbrake lever up and down before feeling the tension of the mechanism on my 1.8T from 1998.
Wifey has driven the car for the last week and when I got in yesterday that amount of free play has increased a lot. I asked her if she had been applying the handbrake excessively hard and so the cable had stretched. She said no and as she is only 5' 2" I would think OK.
The feeling is like someone has loosened off the adjuster giving lots of slack.
Anyone come across this before?

Cheers,
Peter

[EsSeX dAn]

does it still work? it could be 2 things
1, one of the cables might have snapped
2, one or both the calipers may be slightly seized which means the mechanism wont fully go back, so therell be more slack between handbrake off and the cables pulling the mech on the caliper. does the handbrake click on the ratchet before being harder to pull up?

[prt57]

Thanks for your reply.
Due to being at work today I have only had a short time to investigate. I think that the handbrake mechanism on the passenger side is seized in the on or nearly on position. This accounts for the floppy feel to the handbrake lever as the slack is not being taken up in the cable as the handbrake mechanism is not returning to the home position.
This was backed up today when wifey returned with the car. The freshly cleaned wheel had fresh brake dust on and the disc would boil spit !!
The car is booked in for a service on Monday but the garage is 15 miles away. As the pads are continually rubbing you can hear the pad to disc noise.
Is it possible to manually pull the handbrake actuating mechanism back so that I can get to the garage?
Cheers,
Peter

[prt57]

Just an update.. The linkage had partially seized on the back of the caliper.
I wiggled it backwards and forwards and it did free it partially. As the car is going for a service today, I have asked them to clean and lubricate the linkage and adjust the cables if required.

[Bellend]

As a side note for anyone searching it is possible and simple enough to strip MK4 rear calipers and clean up.

[prt57]

As another update, I have found a modification that will ensure that the handbrake will always release properly. Please see this link to see the part codes to 2 springs as fitted to a Sharan which has the same rear calipers.
The springs fit 2 existing slots in the mk iv calipers and so they should fit fine. Total cost less than £6. The original part numbers in the thread have been superceded but the VW parts person gets a link to the new numbers on the screen. Note the updated numbers are listed in the thread also but the right spring starts with 7 and not 6.
Cheers!

http://www.clubgti.com/showthread.php?207880-mk4-golf-rear-caliper-modification-to-help-unstick-handbrake

[Wazzzer]

Yep got a set of them for my new calipers when they go on, very simple but effective mod

[prt57]

Thanks for the confirmation Wazzer.
Looking through your build thread, I noticed that you have fitted an R32 dog bone. In what way has your car improved? I have got a bit of "slop" when accelerating and then deaccelerating. Does this fix it? Also, is the R32 part a straight replacement fit. Have you noticed any increased vibration or harshness due to the more robust part?
Cheers,
Peter

[Wazzzer]

Yes it's a direct fit but I can't comment on the feel of the R32 part vs the standard part as I replaced it a few weeks after buying the car. I have been in poly bush equipped Golfs however and mine is nowhere near as harsh as theirs.

The missus has never complained about it so it must be ok