Handbrake not applying on one side

Started by mk2mitch, September 17, 2018, 06:45:29 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

mk2mitch

My car failed its WOF for the handbrake not applying on one side. It pulls a little bit but you can still rotate the while with some force and obviously, it doesn't hold enough to pass a WOF. The foot brake works perfectly fine.
The shop it was at said that the caliper needed to be rebuilt so that's been done but it still hasn't solved the problem. Both the shop that is doing the WOF and the place that rebuilt the callip er (who can't fault it after the rebuilt but haven't physically inspected it on the car yet) have no idea what is going on.
I've had a look at it myself which is why I've gotten someone else to look at it now and it almost seems that there need to be some adjustment made on the callip er itself. I've gone through all the correct procedures in the Bentley manual but can't get it to bite enough.
Anyone have any ideas as to what might be going on?
- Golf MK2 GTI
- Golf MK3 GLI
- Golf MK2 CL

Mitch

Have you adjusted the bits by the hand brake itself? remove your cover on the handbrake and adjust them. They can be a bitch. either that or Your cables might be stretched man. Mine were, Replaced them and it fixed the issue.

mk2mitch

Yup, done all that. I thought about a stretched cable too and threw it out there to the WOF guy but I does seem to be that. The leaver on the caliper spins right round to the stop so it physically cannot go any further.
- Golf MK2 GTI
- Golf MK3 GLI
- Golf MK2 CL

mk2mitch

Took it to the specialist place that rebuilt the caliber and they got it sorted it. So if anyone comes across this, here is what was wrong. Had both me and the place that did my WOF very confused but turned out to be a simple fix.
Still doesn't make sense how this fixed it as the side in question was hitting the end spot when the handbrake was pulled but this is their resolution:
They rebuilt another spare calliper I had and it still was doing the same thing so they had a bit of a play around. Apparently the other side was too tight on the adjustment on the handbrake leaver so they backed it off and the side that wasn't biting enough started biting better that the other side. Not too sure how that works cause each side is independent of each other.
- Golf MK2 GTI
- Golf MK3 GLI
- Golf MK2 CL

johnp

Quote from: mk2mitch on September 24, 2018, 06:08:20 PM
Took it to the specialist place that rebuilt the caliber and they got it sorted it. So if anyone comes across this, here is what was wrong. Had both me and the place that did my WOF very confused but turned out to be a simple fix.
Still doesn't make sense how this fixed it as the side in question was hitting the end spot when the handbrake was pulled but this is their resolution:
They rebuilt another spare calliper I had and it still was doing the same thing so they had a bit of a play around. Apparently the other side was too tight on the adjustment on the handbrake leaver so they backed it off and the side that wasn't biting enough started biting better that the other side. Not too sure how that works cause each side is independent of each other.

They are linked at the handbrake where it is adjusted by the plate that pivots on handbrake pin.
So the tightening of the cables does need to be balanced or you will end up with more strain on one than the other.

mk2mitch

Yeah, that's the thing. They we're balanced to begin with. You could manually pull around the leave on the caliper on the side that was having the issue and it still wouldn't bite enough.
- Golf MK2 GTI
- Golf MK3 GLI
- Golf MK2 CL

scrubber dub

ive had the on mmine too, replaced the cables, had the caliper rebuilt and still not gripping on the LHS, ill try the adjustments on mine now and see if it works, strange issue though..

BB

So they rebuilt it and the handbrake screw part was ok?
You have to loosen up the handbrake cable to make sure both the caliper acuating levers are all the way back against their stops fully in the off position.
So many people have the cable to tight and the levers are half pulled so when you pull the handbrake on the lever only travels through a few small arc and wont work.
If this is not the problem then the caliper screw must be no good.
The end is nigh, but the end of what is the question?