Right i got my rear discs and pads changed at the weekend at a local garage. I have now noticed today that my handbrake barely works it does hold but the handle is pointing to the sky when it holds. Is it just a matter of adjusting the nut at the base of the handbrake handle? Or do i need to adjustit at the caliper? I have noticed that the metal clip thing at the base of the handbrake is not sitting straight its kind of sitting at a angle if you know what i mean.

Cheers

Your description sounds very much like the garage did not preset the handbrake properly. IIRC the metal "clip" has 2 cables on it? If so, then its function is to balance out differences in cable stretch and pad wear side to side, and after a disc and pad replacement, it shoud be pretty much normal to the lever.

Since your hb is self-adjusting, you might get it to tighten up by applying the hb with your foot on the service brake pedal and the engine running, and then releasing the fb and hb in that order.

I'd take it back to the garage & get them to do the job properly.

So if i was to adjust the nut at the metal clip that aint going to get it to work? I am not sure i follow your idea mate of how to tighten it? I am planning to take it back to the garage if i can't sort it myself, i have changed rear discs and pads before and never had this problem i wish i just done it myself now

Since it may help someone else, fuller expn.

Self-adjusting handbrakes work on rachets at the braked wheels.

1) With the engine running, apply the footbrake hard, which takes free motion out of the rear brakes.

2) Now apply the handbrake, which should pull the handbrake rachets round a bit.

3) Now release the footbrake, relieving the service brake pressure on the rear pads.

4) Now release and reapply the handbrake. It should be much "tighter". If it's not, then either there's something wrong with th HB adjusters, or the garage has left the slack adjuster/balance bar (metal clip) way slack, and you should expect them to sort the issue out for no charge (other than parts if you need new rachet(s)).

Thanks Ken. Brakes have always had loads of travel on my Octy. I did the above and it is now massively reduced

hi,

had a similar problem myself when I had my rear breaks cleaned ect. to get ride of squeeky noises. Hand brake when applied had to be pulled up very high to be effectly, as my partner was doing the driving test a few days later I brough the car back and the hand break was adjusted by removing the sorround ariund the hand brake and adjusting the cables there until it worked as previously.

If you have paid to have your car repaired bring it back to get the job finished correctly.

Self-adjusting handbrakes work on rachets at the braked wheels.

I have a similar problem with mine at the moment.

Is this ratchet something that I can test?

I have the problem where I apply the handbrake, release it, and only one calliper actuator returns to it's stop (nearside).

The other actuator floats with about about a 5mm gap (offside). I can push it back to the stop, but can't keep doing this forever!

I have removed the actuator, cleaned it up, cleaned the splines, the cable fixing bracket, and the back of the calliper, to make sure it isn't sticking, but this hasn't improved it.

I noticed that when I apply the handbrake very hard, that the offside actuator can reach the 'fully on' stop on the calliper bracket, where the actuator on the nearside wheel only moves to about half way.

I have spotted in another thread that there are some springs (a VW part) which can be bolted onto the back of the calliper, to help with handbrake return.. Might these be what I need, or does the problem sound more fundamental?

Cheers all!

I have spotted in another thread that there are some springs (a VW part) which can be bolted onto the back of the calliper, to help with handbrake return.. Might these be what I need, or does the problem sound more fundamental?

For anyone else experiencing this problem, here are my findings............

Springs obtained from local Seat garage last night for a total price of £4.15

Fitted them and used the handbrake adjustment procedure above, and it has sorted my problems out.

Pic of the offside spring fitted - very strong spring, and a right PITA to fit!

Cheers, Andrew.

HAve you got the part number for the spring as mine does this during the winter and groans a lot too!!!

For anyone else experiencing this problem, here are my findings............

Springs obtained from local Seat garage last night for a total price of £4.15

Fitted them and used the handbrake adjustment procedure above, and it has sorted my problems out.

Pic of the offside spring fitted - very strong spring, and a right PITA to fit!

Cheers, Andrew.

bump for spring part number please !!!

Here are the part no's for Fabia ones:

http://www.briskoda....ost__p__1758478

Look the same but he's got his fitted the reverse of what they are on the Octavia in the pic earlier in this thread.