Noticed the other day that my MK3 Fabia was slipping slightly on a hill when on the handbrake was applied when waiting at the lights. Car holds perfectly fine on the foot brake also been noticing that the handbrake feels less and less taught when applied requiring a greater amount of travel to apply it.

Is there a way of increasing/adjusting the tension on it. Phoned the local dealer and they won't be able to have the car in for another 4 weeks. 

Best that you go inspect the discs and pads first and see how they are.

Yes the hand brake can be adjusted, and an independent garage can do that for you sooner maybe than a Main Dealer if that needs doing, 

and they can inspect the brakes first.

I had this exact issue - car is brand new (September '17) with less than 1500 on the clock. Called the dealer and they had it in for the day under warranty - handbrake is now a lot firmer / tighter and I have more confidence that it's actually going to hold on the hill!

Just got roadside assistance out to me while at work to take a look at it, seeing as it's free. Discovered that the adjustment/tension nut under the ash/rubbish tray behind the handbrake was right at the end of the threaded bar which was preventing the handbrake from being applied fully. Was a simple case of tightening it back up again until the correct tension was met, I got it set to about 4 clicks. Giving me a little bit travel for peace of mind before the handbrake goes on tight. Also stuck an additional nut on the end to help lock the original one in place and prevent it from possibly coming loose again. 

This is weird, it has been reported in the past against this model of Fabia, I've not noticed that being reported against the equivalent Polo or Ibiza, surely all these parts and assembly processes are equivalent across the VW Group marques?

 

At least fitting a locking nut against the original nut will stop that happening again, might need to have a look at my wife's August 2015 Polo and see if I can get I there without trashing any trim pieces, and fit a second nut if it looks like this slackening is a possibility any time in the future.

Old post maybe but still relevant.  My car goes in for MOT tomorrow and I was worried about excessive movement of hand brake but the post by abaday789 saved the day!  The adjustment nut had not loosened but of course the cable had stretched.  A little spanner work and the hand brake operates without excessive play.  My thanks to the OP. 

@jonboy77, after passing this MOT, I'd be having a good look at your brakes, ie service them as normally this issue is caused by the  adjusters not working correctly if that car has rear drum brakes, if it has rear discs, a good clean up might sort that out.

 

Yes I know some people find that their handbrake cable has stretched but modern manufacturing methods tend to mean that you end up with a very stable cable over its life time - or a gorilla has been driving that car, or it has needed to be operated extremely heavily because there is a brake issue.

They dont stretch to any measurable amount, certainly not enough to require the nut adjusting.

 

Its nearly always a rear caliper self adjusting problem and the glaring indicator that most overlook is that when the handbrake is applied the compensator bar is at an angle.

 

You adjust it and next thing you know one of the rear brakes is smoking.

 

Check the compensator immediately if you had not already done so followed by the caliper attached to what appears to be the longer cable.

 

Both handbrake levers on the calipers should return against their stop and only move say 5 or 10° before locking up the wheel.

Due for a service on Monday I'll ask to have it checked out.  Passed the MOT.  I realise that service should ideally come before MOT, I blame the Pandemic!

ok for what its worth try this, (only if you have rear discs) firstly apply handbrake , and apply moderate pressure to the foot brake, then release the handbrake.

With your foot still on the pedal raise and lower the handbrake (as if you putting it on but keep your thumb on the end of the handbrake so it doesnt actually apply).

what your attempting to do  i believe is  free up **** from the handbrake mechanism and allow the rear piston to move out to compensate for pad wear .

Do this for at least ten times take your foot off the pedal and see if adjustment of handbrake has been restored.

I swear thats how my Roomster handbrake adjusts itself up. As sometimes after heavy rain and driving long distances 400- 500 miles my hand brake does slacken.

I just sit in the vehicle for about 10 mins and hey presto it all sets back to about 5 clicks. (someones going to say i got it all wrong but hey it works for me! lol

 

It does indeed work where for whatever reason the self adjust mechanism is not working at its best, probably **** as you say!

 

You can even feel it working as you do it through the handbrake.

 

I find sometimes that you really have to stand on the brake pedal, I think that might be when the rear discs are corroded and the pads tapered.

Yes standing on the brakes does help, but being an old mini owner i dint want to mention that, just in case you break the master cylinder seals doing that process lol .

If you have rear drum brakes (which I imagine most Fabia MKIII models will) I would always strip, clean, and adjust the rear brakes rather than just wanging the cable up.

Edited 10 November, 20205 yr by Tech1e

11 hours ago, Tech1e said:

If you have rear drum brakes (which I imagine most Fabia MKIII models will

It was the 1.0 MPI's that had rear drum brakes I think.

My 1.2 TSI 2016 came with rear disks as standard.

 

When the 1.0 TSI came in ( 2017 ) I saw that rear disks was an optional extra.

Not sure on the Diesel's though.

 

Thanks, AG Falco

Tech1e and AGFalco I totally agree with stripping rear brakes if they are Rear drums (as these have brake shoes not pads) thats why i said in my comment "ok for what its worth try this, (only if you have rear discs) !"  I hate to be snobbish but purchasing a vehicle with rear drums is rather a backward step in the 21st Century. lol The amount of times ive had cars with the drum springs snagging up and scoring the drums, also the linings coming off/contaminated with leaky rear cylinders, yes i really am that old lol

 

Edited 17 November, 20205 yr by bombheads12
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