HELP!!! Handbrake not working..

Hi all, so the handbrake cable snapped on my '81 GLS. Just the right side snapped so we've replaced both the cables today (in the FREEZING cold and ice!) and got the cables done ok eventually, plus we've got them attached to the handbrake properly..

..but the handbrake ratchet won't work! If you pull it up it just goes straight back down and won't lock. Any ideas?

Also the rod with a hook on the end (and the black button at the other) just moves in and out freely and isn't secured. We've checked nothing is jammed and the teeth are fine. Taken the handbrake off by popping the pin out and checked it and everything looks normal.


Any ideas please? I need this fixing tomorrow morning as on the night the new owner is coming to take the car away!


Thanks in advance

Can't offer a fix mate but you can have a bump. I'd also telephone the buyer and tell them to wait a while before they pick it up. Face it they'll be unhappy collecting a car they can't park.

T

mine has done the same after the cable wore through on the road (long story involving a low car and a lot of snow lol)

from looking at haynes, I believe what has happened, is the ratchet hook has popped off from the ratchet lever itself.

depends on the year of yours, as mine has the mk2 style mech which is detailed in the mk2 haynes in detail.

You need to get the hook attached to the button to hook back over the ratchet lever. until I have a look tomorrow i'm not sure how. if i manage to get a look i'll take a few pics!!!

Jon.

thanks guys I'll take some pictures of mine too. I have the brown mk1 haynes and it looks more like the american spec handbrake I think. In the sense that the equaliser bar attaches underneath the handbrake rather than above it. it's a 1981 so I can't imagine it being mk2 spec? Do you think I'd be able to rob a mk2 for it's handbrake mech just to get the car sorted? I'm swapping the mk1 for his mk2 but it'll just be sitting on my drive, chocked with wood anyway!

It may be sensible to steal the mech off the mk2 I'm getting and put that on until I can get a new mech from the scrappies?

the mk2 used the cable-under-lever handbrake

i had a quick look today and it does look like the mk2 mechanism

tbf vw did tend to use the old "if it aint broke don't fix it" mantra with the golf so the early series 1 mk1 had the aircooled style with the cable bar over the lever, and the mk1.2/2/3  have the cable under the lever.

so technically i should say that the mk2+3 use the mk1 series 2 handbrake mech…

Jon.

Thanks very much for the info Jon

So basically, I no longer have to fix the handbrake


I'm swapping it for a mk2 valver and today, before going to pick the mk2 up the heater matrix blew!! Soaking the passenger footwell. I was going to include some parts in with the swap so instead he's getting just the mk1 with a broken handbrake and I'm getting the mk2 with a matrix swap that needs doing.. horrible job!


Ahh well. I'll tell him that he can probably use a mk2 setup then!