So I think I have a hand brake issue, there rear left brake seems to be binding a bit, not a huge amount but enough to feel it and smell a bit. not every time but most drives in the last two days have had it happen. I think maybe the hand brake is part of the issue as it has gone very slack at the bottom (ie only grabs at top end of the lever travel). will it be both the caliper and the handbrake or just the hand brake? Any ideas? Also is it fixable by a novice mechanic (willing to attempt stuff). Cheers!!

It could be a siezing caliper, or a pivot in the handbrake.

 

Before doign anything else, buy a can of PlusGas, and one of brake cleaner. If it's a pivot, the PlusGas will probably release it (spray the pivot, go for a cuppa, and work it a bit when you come back). Use the brake cleaner to shift brake dust.

OK thanks for that, will give it a go.

This Thread might help you

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/290944-mooing-brakes-caliper-re-con/?hl=%2Brear+%2Bbrakes#entry3456662

 

Rear brakes binding covered a lot on this forum.

 

Should be  made a sticky..........

 

With your symptoms could be a trapped handbrake cable where the inner sleeve is binding. Seen that a few times where the car has been jacked up on the cable and crushes it. Might explain why your cable feels slack until you pull lit up higher. You should jack up car and get someone to see if the handbrake arm moves and returns fully to the bracket(stop) when you are using handbrake.

Renew cable both side is a good idea. Greasing the return arm may help but short term if you have a bad cable. Changed mine twice in 3 years now.

The new cable's are beefier because of the common issues of trapped inner cables.                           

So I think I have a hand brake issue, there rear left brake seems to be binding a bit, not a huge amount but enough to feel it and smell a bit. not every time but most drives in the last two days have had it happen. I think maybe the hand brake is part of the issue as it has gone very slack at the bottom (ie only grabs at top end of the lever travel). will it be both the caliper and the handbrake or just the hand brake? Any ideas? Also is it fixable by a novice mechanic (willing to attempt stuff). Cheers!!

 

If you need a hand with anything buddy give me a shout im just down the road.

Got this one sorted, just a sticky cable! 

Got this one sorted, just a sticky cable! 

 

Good to hear 

 

I need to get round to tightening up my handbrake a smidge