hand break stuck :(

[mchugh]

just brought a mk3 and its been stood for a while ebfore i brought it it came from the location fine whne i parked it up and put hand break on next day the back drivers side break has stuck ive take the cover of the hand break and u can see the cable isnt going back, any idea or suggestions would be really greatfull of!

[davidhawkins_78]

If it's an early mk3 it'll have the same calipers as the Mk2's and a know problem is the handbrake mechanism sticking as it's exposed on the rear of the caliper and gets covered in crap and siezes.

Have a search in Mk2 Section for a read on what's possible - most people (like me) end up fitting later mk3 or mk4 one's ...

Hope this helps u get started 

[mchugh]

thanx its a L reg and are newer calipers dear ?

[...joe]

they're probably more than you want to spend as you've just bought a car but i seem to think they are around?80. try c&r enterprises, or maybe people like german and swedish, or do what i did and find a mk4 in a scrappy and get those! but these may need a bit more tweaking to get them to work. depends how good you are with a spanner?

[mrwotto]

As i posted in the mark3 section sometimes pumping the break pedal will free a seized caliper, depending on how badly it is seized.

Paul

[mchugh]

tried pumping it driving it a bit hitting it with hammer... no luck 

[Mr Blue]

I would take off the calipers and give them a good bashing 

[audiquattro]

Pumping the brake pedal won't free up the handbrake.
Try disconnecting the cable from the caliper, and moving the lever by hand to free it up. A bit of WD40 might help as well.

[druid]

Sounds like you need a new cable.

Ive just had that same problem.


Take the caliper off. 

Check that the hand brake arm on the caliper will move. (use a screwdriver to prise it round)
(only do this once or twice as it tightens up each time) you will have to retract the piston if it comes out too far.

If the arm moves then change the handbrake cable.  It may have worm away the outer plastic cover.

If the caliper handbrake arm is stuck solid then you will need to either a: try and unsieze it
or B: get a new one.


Hope this helps.

[audiquattro]

Good advice from Druid.
I would add, that as i basically said before, you can actually(and should) be able to move the lever without removing the caliper. Remove it if its stuck solid.