Rear brake ceased

[VW_Celle]

Hi guys. This morning I went to give my friend a lift to the airport, and my car wouldn't move off, the front wheels were just slipping on the ice on my street. My missus pointed out to me at this stage that my rear wheels weren't moving. I gave the rear callipers a tap with a hammer to no avail. My friend had to get a taxi in the end!  But now I need to know how I'm going to get her moving! Any Ideas? Cheers, Kris

[VW_Celle]

Sorry I should point out at this stage, when the rear wheels weren't moving....the car itself was crawling along on the ice, with the rear wheels just dragging behind.

[rubjonny]

if they're still stuck on, look at the levers where the handbrake cables are attached. if the cables are all slack and wobbling about, then its the callipers themselves that have seized. if the cables are still tight up to the levers, its your cables that have frozen up.  This happens if the rubber boots have split, moisture gets in then freezes solid.  Had exactly this on my MK2 with MK3 calipers.  New cables and problem solved

[VW_Celle]

Yeh mate the cables are staying tight when I release the handbrake lever, Do you think there is any way of 'melting' them free so I can get her down the garage???

[rubjonny]

hot water or lighter/blow torch maybe? Just watch you dont set em on fire
what I did on mine was get a screwdriver and some pliers and popped the cables off the levers, then I had to park it in gear till i replaced the cables

[axewielder]

pur boiling water on them, used to work for me when the rear drums used to seize up

[VW_Celle]

Nice one fellas, the boiling water worked. Now to replace my cables. Simple task or will I need a garage to do it??? (note: the only garages here in Tidworth are rip-off merchants!)

[axewielder]

not sure on cables but its spelt seized 

[rubjonny]

pretty easy, hardest part is getting the centre console trim out so you can undo the cables inside the car, was a right faff last time I did it!  main thing to worry about is if the cables are stuck in the metal guide tubes under the car, if they are then you'll pull the tubes out with the cables. its not a big deal if you do, just gotta lift the rear carpet up so you can thread em back in again.  Best to do 1 side at a time, so if you do yank the tu8be out you can use the other side for reference getting the tube back in again!

[VW_Celle]

not sure on cables but its spelt seized 

No way! I usually never make such basic spelling mistakes, must be all this christmas booze circulating around my system