My old 2001 1.416v has just passed it's MOT (Yay) after initially only failing because one of the indicator bulbs wasn't yellow enough - obviously now replaced. Not bad for a 17 year old , HOWEVER:-

 

Shortly after it's minor service and MOT my son borrowed the car and phoned asking if it was normal for the handbrake lever to stick up 90 deg from the floor - er nooooo!

Handbrake still actually sort of worked and footbrake was fine so he drove it back and we sent it back to our local independent. I thought it was going to be a cable issue of some sort but the news wasn't great and a decision had to be made re the future of the car. Basically the back-plate was in the process of rusting through and they could only source them from Skoda (lots of £100's) and obviously the brakes should be built back up with new parts, springs, cylinders, shoes, adjuster wedge(cream crackered) . Not looking good as many expensive parts needed and then there was the cost of labour.

Consulted dr Google and found fully assembled backplates for an amazing amount but they were based abroad! https://www.skoda-parts.com/spare-part/1j0609425ckom-back-plate-left-complete-de-32026.html . I risked it and ordered two back-plates assemblies and two drums all of which appeared three days later (rather heavy parcel!).

 

Octavia now a happy bunny - infact as well as a working handbrake the footbrake now feels loads better. Don't know how long to keep the old bus for but it drives really well and has been uber reliable in the 17 years I've owned it. Despite it's theoretically piddling engine it's still surprisingly happy on motorway runs and has driven through Europe many times.

 

PS - Just in case, I have nothing to do with this company. Just wanted to point them out as a cheap source of parts. Might potentially save another Octavia I

 

 

Edited 15 March, 20188 yr by bigjohn
typo

Thats a good news story