how do u know if u broke ure handbrake?

[dasachmo]

hi, i was working on my handbrake, coz the mot guy said it needs to have more leverage and clicks, so i fiddled with the cable, and tightened it, and when i pulled up the handbrake, it just thudded, and the right cable just shot forward,
the handbrake is now really lose, and u dont havbe to press the button to move it properly, and the right side of the wheels brakes dont engage,
i jacked the car up and the wheel just spins,

how do i know if i havent just pulled it off, or actually snapped the cable?

and how do u fix this?

[Dizzie]

since when did the MOT rules cover how many clicks you had to have lol
if you've got a gti you should be able to see the end of the handbrake cable (if you can see through your wheels). there's a little ball on the end of the cable.
on the lever, look under the cover. there will be threaded ends to the cable with 2 nuts on there. this is the adjustment.

[...joe]

it does sound like you've snapped a cable. easiest way is to pull it and see if it comes out! you can do this from the inside easy enough. its easy to replace too, just a matter of thrading it through the guides and attatching it at both ends. do both to balance it out as much as possible.

[dasachmo]

cool, will def try that, btw, how do u get more power from ure handbrake, i was told my back wheels are 2 weak on the handbrake, or is it a case of replacing the brake pads?

[Mr Blue]

Disks, pads would help if they are very old and worn but they sound alrite to me as the MOT station hasnt said anything about them have they???

If your cables are sticking then change them. Sticky cables dont help and can make the handbreak weak

[dasachmo]

ye, he didnt say anything about the cable as such, bascially, he put the handbrake on, while the car was on those roller things, and the car just moved forward str8 away, and he said uve got weak rear brakes, and he goes it might be due to the fact that when he put the handbrake on, fully it only gives 1 click, and it should be 3, so it might need adjusting to get more performance

[Bazzer]

Sounds like you might have stiff or sticky calipers on the back.... My mk2 did that one MOT time, and the bloke sorted it by really MASHING the brake pedal about 10 times. freed the caliper up just enough to be able to do the MOT before it went back to being sticky again. And after that the bloody thing stuck on! was glowing after about a mile! So that was time to replace the lot...

[dasachmo]

ye, i aint got a GTi, im gna try "mashing the pedals a bit", b4 i went in, i did test the handbrake, like i drove at 15 mph, and just pulled it a few times, but u sohuld immediately stop, but it was a gradual stop,

how much does it cost to replace rear brakes ruffly?

[Bazzer]

Hmmm, in that case mate, you've not got calipers on teh back you've got drums... Don't bother the mashing thing with those, it'll do bugger all!

And I canne say how much they are to replace either... Could be shoes, could be the drums or could be the cylinders.... Sorry mate!