So my car failed it's mot on the usual of poor handbrake effort, so replacing the 5 year old cables as they have seen better days. As usual the cable inners just aren't quite long enough to hook up to the handbrake lever easily.
Does anyone else have this problem or any tips on ways to get it back together? I'm struggling as this is the second pair of cables this week, trying a pair of topran one's from GSF which are closer than the Pagid one's from ECP despite the Pagid's being longer.
Trying to get the car back together tonight for a retest tomorrow.
Thanks
Tim
Standard drum handbrake cables
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Hints, tips and guides for repair and modification - the FAQ section on the main website is worth checking first for information relating to common faults and technical help. Useful posts and guides will be added to the FAQ http://www.sciroccoregister.co.uk/scirocco-faq
Hints, tips and guides for repair and modification - the FAQ section on the main website is worth checking first for information relating to common faults and technical help. Useful posts and guides will be added to the FAQ http://www.sciroccoregister.co.uk/scirocco-faq
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the edmundator
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Re: Standard drum handbrake cables
I can't help, other than to tell you that it is a common problem.
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bengould
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Re: Standard drum handbrake cables
I did post about this a while ago but I can't remember the outcome.
The overall length doesn't really matter to how they fit, although you do need the right overall length, it is the difference in length between the cable inner and outer. When I did mine I found there are 3 different length cables, and I'm pretty certain it should be 1705mm, although the closest I could find was 1700 which was what I went with.
I would have to check back through my old posts to confirm this though.
Ben.
The overall length doesn't really matter to how they fit, although you do need the right overall length, it is the difference in length between the cable inner and outer. When I did mine I found there are 3 different length cables, and I'm pretty certain it should be 1705mm, although the closest I could find was 1700 which was what I went with.
I would have to check back through my old posts to confirm this though.
Ben.
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unknownmale
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Tim_R
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Re: Standard drum handbrake cables
Thanks Ben, I couldn't find anything in ETKA about cable lengths, only the part number (171 609 721C). My topran cables have a sticker giving the VW part number they replace which appears to be correct. They are the 1700mm ones.
I've ended up using the topran cables, still a bit short and ended up having to wedge the lever the cable attaches to on the brake shoe, forward enough to get enough thread to the handbrake lever to fit the nut. Once the drums were back on and the self adjusters took out some slack (heard them ping) and worked the handbrake a few times everything seemed to have settled, stretched and adjusted properly.
Not something I wanted to be finishing at 6am before going to work but the car passed MOT yesterday afternoon so it's worth it.
I've ended up using the topran cables, still a bit short and ended up having to wedge the lever the cable attaches to on the brake shoe, forward enough to get enough thread to the handbrake lever to fit the nut. Once the drums were back on and the self adjusters took out some slack (heard them ping) and worked the handbrake a few times everything seemed to have settled, stretched and adjusted properly.
Not something I wanted to be finishing at 6am before going to work but the car passed MOT yesterday afternoon so it's worth it.
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