handbrake cable adjustment

Hi folks,

It's been a loooong time since I fitted the drum end of my handbrake cables and at the weekend I went to fit the compensator bar at the handbrake end, and the cables don't protrude enough to go through the comp bar - I reckon about 10 mm short. Before I take the drum off, is there any adjustment at the drum end, or have I likley bought the wrong cables (20 years ago!).

thanks.

J

Well when I got the wrong cables for my Rabbit they were for the aircooled beetle and too long for them to go up the feed through.

Never seen a shorter one for a golf/rabbit/cabriolet
I would make sure that the cable is fitted tight at the feed through as if your cables broke internally then you could pull it out from inside the cabin… I have had issues when I was replacing one that the other side fell down the feed thru a wee bit and I had to get under the car and wiggle push it back up as you may have caught the lines and broken one of the hold fasts off or bent it and until you loosened it you didn't know.

all cables same length 1.7m

Cheers chaps - further investigation required. When it stops bl00dy raining.

They are a pain to get on, the MOT tester kindly snapped my hand brake cable so I've just fitted a new one.
Make sure the cable is positioned fully home in the brake drum, and the tube underneath the car.

I've tried 2 ways to do, and found you do need to pull on the cable to get it reach the metal bracket.

1. Remove handbrake and fix the metal bracket to the 2 cables with the nuts near the end of the cable, with some water pump pliers grab the metal bracket and pull, try and get the handbrake lever onto the bracket and fix to the car with the hand brake pin fixing.

2, Handbrake fixed in the car and 1 cable attached with the nut on the end, with some long nose pliers grab the lose cable near the leaver so you can lever the cable forward and poke it through the metal bracket and get the nut on the end.


Maybe try 2 first as you don't have to remove the handbrake, you need to make sure the racket is in its tab when putting the handbrake back on, you'll see what I mean if you have to remove it.

Thanks Mark, and there was me thinking it would be a 5 minute job!

I'll let you know how I get on… I suspect there will be swearing.

J

Yes lots of slipping off the cables, just not quite there frustrating moments etc…

A few years ago I tired removing the handbrake and fixing the cables to it then fit the handbrake lever by pulling it into place, the plastic handle came off and I broke the little clip which holds the plastic cover on, a wrap of black electrical tape now hold my handbrake cover on  

Job done - wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
Got the mini mole grips out, pulled on cable enough just to get the compensator bar on, then with a bit if pulling and levering, managed to get the bar on the other cable. Need's properly adjusting, but it's on!
Thaks chaps!