handbrake adjustment pointers pls.. (aka this weeks f'in problem)

[Overseer]

anyone got any good pointers on re-adjusting my handbrake?

its got to the point where when i pull it up i have to use 2 hands to make it 'click'
whereas it used to be an easy task...?

or is this a sign of impending doom?

[mrwotto]

NO idea how to adjust the cable from the top of my head mate but will have a look in my haynes manual for you if you wanted, wont be able to look till i get home tonight tho!

If needed will scan in any pages required and email them over to you!

And your thread title is faf

Paul

[Overseer]

thx.. i've got a haynes at home so no need to scan


hoping theres just something i can tighten up somewhere... preferably inside the car near the handbrake.. think thats where it was on my old car.. ya popped the cover off and there were some nuts on long threads (if that makes sense.. lol)..


i know the back brakes need sorting soon.. i have pad's n discs.. just gotta get fitted..
am wondering if they're an issue in this..

[jte]

Your handbrake adjustment is the same as your old car.  Just remove the handbrake cover, the bit with the ash tray, and you will see the same two long threaded bolts with two nuts (on each thread) that tighten against each other.  You just need two 10mm (i think) spanners.

Logic suggests that if the rear pads are worn then the handbrake will travel further.  Yours sounds the other way.  Probably worth getting the mechanism and cables checked when you fit the discs and pads, but probably just needs a bit of adjustment.

[Overseer]

how come it sounds the other way? i'm having to pull further to get the "clicks" so it seems worn.. or am i missing something?

i have a good supply of 10mm spanners.. the truck bolts on my skateboard are 10mm i keep tools in the car

[jte]

how come it sounds the other way? i'm having to pull further to get the "clicks" so it seems worn.. or am i missing something?

Sorry, misunderstood, i see what you mean now.  Sounded like the lever was stiff and you needed a lot of force to apply it, rather than you had to force it really high.

So, yeah sound like it's probably due to worn rear pads.  Get them changed and adjust the handbrake afterwards.  Should be fine.

[Overseer]

ok cheers... might adjust now as a quick fix... then sort rear discs pads out ASAP.. then adjust again after... hmm..

depends upon when the guy donig it is free.. i've had the pads/discs sat in my room for 6 months lol

[AudiA8Quattro]

The brakes are self adjusting so shouldn't affect handbrake performance, unless the brakes are down to the back plate.
Could be a seized cable or caliper. Disconnect the cables from the caliper lever, make sure the lever moves free, and check the inner cables moves without friction.

[jte]

If they haven't been done already have the wheel bearings replaced at the same time.  It's hardly any extra work as you have to retrieve the old outer bearing bit from the old disc and put it in the new disc if you don't get new bearings.  New bearings are less than £20 a side from vw.

I had the rear discs changed recently without new bearings and the old ones were quite worn and disturbing them in the change of discs meant i had to get them changed about two weeks later!  Shockingly the vw dealer agreed to change them for the cost of the parts only as i'd had the discs done there so recently.

Saves time and money in the long run.

[AudiA8Quattro]

Thats unbelievable.
You have to knock the bearing shells out of the old discs, so not really worth doing that as you say. Just fit new.
Good old vw dealers