Hey again all,

Just wondering how I would go about fixing the hand brake in my 2001 vRS, basically its got miles too much travel in it to engage the brake, it still holds the car fine once its up far enough.

Is it a cable thats got stretched or is it a more involved job?

Thanks!

try these threads

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/168710-handbrake-help/page__hl__+fabia%20+handbrake%20+adjustment#entry2052959

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/199251-adjusting-the-handbrake/page__p__2364095__hl__handbrake+adjustment__fromsearch__1#entry2364095

Thanks for that

Thanks for that

oops, just noticed you have an Octy, those are for Fabia, apologies.

try this thread http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/81715-handbrake-access/page__hl__%2Boctavia+%2Bhandbrake+%2Badjustment

Having just done my mates MK5 Golf the adjuster nut at the back of the handbrake is in the same position as on the Fabia..........Just that on the MK5 Golf we had to remove the CD changer in the arm rest, remove 8 screws, three bits of trim and faff around just to get the rear of the centre console up to get access to the adjuster nut!!!!!! AAARRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

I can actually see quite a long bolt with a nut on it in under the arm of the handbrake thats probably it?

I can actually see quite a long bolt with a nut on it in under the arm of the handbrake thats probably it?

If it's to the rear of the handbrake and has a cross bar with two cables attached to it then yes.........what I do is is tighten the nut until the excess slack in the cable near the handbrake is taken up......then I jack each rear wheel in turn and check that it freely rotates with the handbrake off....and that it starts to grip on the first click....and is fully locked on the third or fourth click on the handbrake

Sweet, what im seeing is different so :p I will try that soon and report!

Had it in for a service yesterday and they were telling me id have to buy new cables etc... luckily i didnt take them at their word!

thats the one, 10mm spanner if memory serves me right.

Did the handle become loose suddenly?

If so then it could be a caliper lever sticking.

No its been gradual over 3 years or so

Is this the nut i need to tighten?

Yes, that's the one. Slacken it off completely. Check that the levers on the calipers are sitting on the stops. Then tighten the nut until both are sitting about 1mm off the stops.

Im afraid thats gibberish to me.

just wind it tighter with handbrake off, apply to see travel, off again tighten some more so-on until your at 3 clicks holding the car

No its been gradual over 3 years or so

Is this the nut i need to tighten?

looking at your uneven cables i would say you are in need of a replacement nearside handbrake cable as looks like it has stretched which is probably why you have lots of travel. They are cheap and easy to do. you should have equal length cables in that retaining bracket. Or you have a suspect operating rear caliper.

How can you tell the cable is stretched its the bracket that they are attached to thats bent as best I can see from that pic?

How can you tell the cable is stretched its the bracket that they are attached to thats bent as best I can see from that pic?

I can tell because I have stripped enough of these and serviced them. That bracket is not bent it is cupped to surround the central nut.

here is a better pic of mine..

Fair enough, well for the moment ill try tightening up, how difficult a job from a total noob perspective would it be to put new cables on?

Fair enough, well for the moment ill try tightening up, how difficult a job from a total noob perspective would it be to put new cables on?

very simple, it is a easy job, do you have a haynes manual? gives a good guide in that or probably find on line

I assume im best changing both cables at the same time so its all even? Anyone happen to know the part number? Its not in the useful parts thread :(