Quick handbrake question (disco 1)

McBad · Aug 31, 2013

Hi, I've spent the day unsticking my stuck diff-lock lever. Everything was going back together just fine until I got to refitting the handbrake cable to the lever.

Couldn't get the cable to slide up into the handbrake lever far enough to put the pin through. Tried several times then had a closer look. Looks as if the thin rod from the push button on the brake has fallen down, so that it is blocking where the cable end should go up.

Can't see how this can have happened, I can't push the thin rod up out of the way. The ratchet doesn't feel or sound right either now... Wonder if somehow the ratchet mechanism has managed to 'flip over' or invert somehow? Is this possible? If so how do I fix it?

Thanks for any help.

M

jamesmartin · Aug 31, 2013

it happens when you put lever vertical ,just pop it back when levers up ,sometimes you need to adjust rod with a screw driver to get it to run smooth and not jam when buttons pressed

chris34cad · Aug 31, 2013

Happened to me the other day. Console back out, pull handbrake up beyond the ratchet, lever the pushrods and cam back round with small screwdriver. Console back in, careful not to push the handbrake button, and you should e OK. Should only take a pole of minutes but its bleddy annoying!

McBad · Aug 31, 2013

Thanks guys, I was hoping the answer would be something simple (although taking the console out again is a p.i.t.a). Will sort it tomorrow morning.

McBad · Sep 3, 2013

More advice needed please... I've had the console out again, lifted the handbrake to vertical and corrected the position of the ratchet and push-rod. However, it's not working. It's as if the spring in the handle has failed; the push button isn't being pushed out and the ratchet (pawl?) isn't being firmly pressed onto the fixed ratchet half-moon at the back of the handbrake.

I can't find out how to get the handbrake lever apart to check out the spring. There are no screws or anything that I can see, which suggests the hand-grip just unscrews from the lever... but it doesn't seem to want to, and I've used a fair bit of force. (As an aside, if it doesn't how can the handbrake gaiter be replaced??)

Any ideas please? My Haynes manual doesn't give any clues about taking the actual lever apart to get at the spring.

Thanks.

McBad · Sep 8, 2013

OK, in case anyone else has the same problem in the future...

Took the console out again and had another close look. The handbrake lever does not seem to come apart*. Both the pivot points involved, for the lever itself and the pawl on the pushrod, are pressed fittings that a diy mechanic can't unscrew or remove. The only way to get the lever out is to remove it as a complete assembly, by undoing two bolts. This would also involve disconnecting the cable tensioning mechanism.

I shot a load of WD40 up the back of the lever towards where the spring must be in the handle and also around the pivot point for the pawl. I then pushed a long screwdriver up the inside of the back of the lever, pressing it against the rod that runs from the button to the pawl, flexing it a bit in an attempt to remove any curve that might have been introduced to the rod.

To my surprise this worked. Button started springing out positively and the ratchet was firmly engaging. My levering seemed to have reseated or positioned something...

All reassembled and it seems to be good and working. Result.

(*This does not explain how the handbrake gaiter can be replaced, because the narrow end of this funnel-shaped bit of leather is too thin to slide over the handbrake handle. A mystery for another time.)

jamesmartin · Sep 8, 2013

McBad said:
OK, in case anyone else has the same problem in the future...

Took the console out again and had another close look. The handbrake lever does not seem to come apart*. Both the pivot points involved, for the lever itself and the pawl on the pushrod, are pressed fittings that a diy mechanic can't unscrew or remove. The only way to get the lever out is to remove it as a complete assembly, by undoing two bolts. This would also involve disconnecting the cable tensioning mechanism.

I shot a load of WD40 up the back of the lever towards where the spring must be in the handle and also around the pivot point for the pawl. I then pushed a long screwdriver up the inside of the back of the lever, pressing it against the rod that runs from the button to the pawl, flexing it a bit in an attempt to remove any curve that might have been introduced to the rod.

To my surprise this worked. Button started springing out positively and the ratchet was firmly engaging. My levering seemed to have reseated or positioned something...

All reassembled and it seems to be good and working. Result.

(*This does not explain how the handbrake gaiter can be replaced, because the narrow end of this funnel-shaped bit of leather is too thin to slide over the handbrake handle. A mystery for another time.)

hand brake lever grip should pull off with some effort ,its just a matter of getting rod straight to get button and ractchet working usually poking about with a screw driver fixes it

Quick handbrake question (disco 1)

McBad

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jamesmartin

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chris34cad

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McBad

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McBad

Active Member

McBad

Active Member

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

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