Grinding noise in rear

Not hugely urgent but still concerning.
So…
When I put my car in reverse regardless of what direction I'm turning, as I travel backwards there is the worse grinding sound you ever heard coming from the back wheels.
It's definitely not the gearbox.
It sounds like the brakes or handbrake are still on and gets louder the further you drive backwards.

Does anyone know what might be wrong? It only started a day ago but has become progressively worse today.

Plus it's really hard to reverse silently when you're the sort of person who comes home from work way past midnight 😂!

Thank you! 

X Kirst

Hi Kirsty,

Possible causes, two of them as you said.

A. Your rear brake shoes need servicing/replacing.
B. Handbrake cables not releasing the shoes properly.
Or
C. After a late night out you left your handbag in the boot and it fell over spilling it's entire content all around the boot.

A and B relatively easy to solve but C an absolute nightmare to clean up!      

Thanks Mike, hope you're feeling better now!

… Cheek! 

Do you reckon it might be related to B..for me being lazy and my handbrake is currently really slack and rattling when I drive and I don't know how to tighten it so I have just ignored the issue… 

It is isn't it.

How do I tighten a handbrake ? 😂

Trizcatt02 said

Thanks Mike, hope you're feeling better now!

… Cheek! 

Do you reckon it might be related to B..for me being lazy and my handbrake is currently really slack and rattling when I drive and I don't know how to tighten it so I have just ignored the issue… 

It is isn't it.

How do I tighten a handbrake ? 😂

Thanks Kirsty!  
My recovery will take some time but my hopes are up and I'm in for the long haul.  

Any brake issue is serious whether handbrake or not.  
I don't mess with mine anymore that's one of the main reasons my wife and I had just one child a son 18 nearly 19 years ago.  
Don't have a dog and bark yourself etc…

Clearly it's brake related but rather than me sending you off on a wild Goose chase I'd rather wait for one of our experts to jump in.  

But as for adjusting the handbrake cables, it's a bit like what you Ladies do with your stocking.
You tighten the two cables up until it feels right and holds everything in place!      

Take a close look under the handbrake lever and you'll see the two cables that need to be adjusted.
Read this but it's not perfect!

Volkswagen Golf Front Axle Hub Nut Torque & Handbrake Repair

All the best and if our paths don't cross before, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  

Thanks Mike, well I truly hope that you recover properly and soon x

Lol I know it is, I'll have a go today and see if I can do it, lol I ain't the type to wear stockings 😂😂 I'm a paint covered jeans worshipper… But it sounds like when you adjust your pivot pin in skate trucks so hopefully I can do it… We'll see haha.

Thanks and have a great ChristmAs and New Year too

Hey there,
You can adjust the cable length at the handbrake end, under the black cover you should see the nuts on the cable ends.
Could be as Mike says it even the cable loose and catching on the drum as it rotates.

You need to jack up under the ream beam, pop couple axle stands under. Put car in reverse. Or chock the front wheels with bricks.
climb under and have a good look.
Might be something simple.
When did you last have the rear brakes done?


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Ooops!
Double post Mike lol


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Thanks chortle  

I think they were done  just before January 2014 :/

I have stands and bits so I will see if I can do that, always get scared I'm going to fluff it when I jack the car up 😂

Just make sure the car is supported properly.

You could do one side at a time.
Jack up, handbrake off.
Spin wheel see if it's noisy.
Then check other side.
That way you have three wheels on the ground at any given point.
I mention putting in reverse will help stop the car rolling forward, when you working on it. Just don't forget when lowering back down.
Especially if the handbrake isn't working..
Safety first Kirst….
Lol see what I did there?
Let us know how you get on



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Just a tip Kirsty when you do for your MOT each year, put your pretty face on and say something like "Oh I'm sure my handbrake is fine, it works well but could you just check for me pleeeeeeeeease?"

He/she will check adjust it and not charge you for it hopefully!   

Just don't mention the suspenders bit.    

My mechanic does it every year and I don't have to do any of the above thank God as he owns a Mk1 Sportline and he's a mate of mine!  

Definitely will do chortle

Haha thanks Mike golf Cabrio lol I am quite pally with the MOT garage as the guys who run it are musicians as well so it's quite good and we have chinwags about all sorts.
I normally give them biscuits and in return I might get some new windscreen wipers or something lol which is nice  

I might try that with my mate, to give him biscuits instead of Schnapps!  

I'm sure your get the brakes sorted with all you contacts from here and at the garage!  

Hand brake Cables stretch and break internally.
The wires will unspool and actually can cause the Brakes to stay engaged and you wear the shoes off.

On a new to me car,  I will replace the cables, the wheel Cylinders, the Drums, shoes, and bearings so that I don't have to worry for a few years about anything in the rear…..

Grinding in the rears isn't a show stopper, but can cause issues if not addressed.  

I have also had the wedge adjustor spring break, and the wedge come out and grind on the drum.  (this was on the way driving the car home from purchase) so I don't know how long this condition existed.

Having others work on your car isn't a bad option, over here I have had folks try to take me for monies on jobs partially working after repairs…. So I tend to do things myself….

Brakes are the number 2 safety feature of the car, the way you drive and maintain it is number 1…

Briano1234
Definitely agreed 

I'll try this and if it's not solved the noise and it still feels though the cable is loose then I will take it to Powerbell tomorrow and see if they can pinpoint if I need a new cable or something.
Knowing my luck it'll need a complete overhaul 😂 just when I thought the month couldn't get tighter haha!

I'm just about to go and try it but been a bit of a diva because it's so cold outside!

So…

Handbrake cable is snapped on my driver side.
When the car was up and after adjusting the handbrake cable I was still able to spin the wheel easily, whereas the other stuck.

And to top it off whilst I was jacking the car up I accidentally knelt in dog p**p. 

So… Yeah.. Nice 😂

Trizcatt02 said

And to top it off whilst I was jacking the car up I accidentally knelt in dog p**p. 

That is better than laying down in it and getting it in your hair.  

Briano1234 said

Trizcatt02 said

And to top it off whilst I was jacking the car up I accidentally knelt in dog p**p. 

That is better than laying down in it and getting it in your hair.  

Haha 😂😂

Oh… Well now I'm freaking out in case it went in my hair! 😷

If the hand brake cable has snapped the wheel should be able to still spin, the cable pulls the brakes on.
If the wheel is stuck still then the problem could be the brake shoes, the braking material has come unglued from the metal shoe or something else has gone wrong inside the drum.
The problem being is getting the drum off with the brakes on, you can just about see the auto adjustment wedge through a wheel bolt hole, if you push the wedge up it may free up the shoes enough for you to get the drum off.

I meant that the wheel was stuck cos the brake works on that side.
Doesn't on the other.
Didn't know how else to describe it. So my cable's definitely gone on the drivers side. I haven't fixed it yet. Cos we all know I'm skint … As per normal 😂😂😂

X