Replacing Handbrake cables

Using axle stands

This show changes pages itself,

Jack the car up, use axle stands, remove the wheels

Follow the handbrake cable to the caliper and remove the spring clip under the pin

Remove the pin, it just eases out

With the pin out, undo the bracket

Get under the car and remove the under trays using a 10mm socket

Follow the cable from the caliper end to the first bracket, when undoing make sure you brace the top nut as well to prevent twisting

12mm, nut turns from below

The next bracket is about 12” along and uses 10mm socket

The next bracket is a clamp through which the cable runs, the nut is 10mm, undo the nut and the clamp falls out

Now you can undo the cable from the brake ratchet, twist it so the cable lines up with the slot, note that there are also two “beads” which the cable runs through, these pull away

One of the beads

Recover these brackets from the old cables

bracket

The bracket is secured to the cable by a slider clip, ease it off and clean it and the bracket up.

Reassemble in reverse order, I started from the handbrake ratchet end first making sure the cable was threaded through the appropriate holes first and that the beads were snapped into position.

I found it advisable to connect the cable to the caliper before reconnecting the caliper cable bracket

You will also have to slacken the adjuster on the ratchet quite a way for the new cable to let the caliper bracket bolt back on.

When it is all connected, adjust the ratchet so the handbrake pulls up about 5 clicks and that the wheels lock when you turn them by hand (after you have put them back on of course).

I quite expect that the new cables will stretch and will need re adjusting

These pictures showed the right hand cable being replaced, the left is very similar but the brackets are different shapes, the right hand one has the bigger brackets of the 2.

Oh yes, and you get very DIRTY !!!!!