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General Information => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: Smokey Eddy on January 09, 2009, 07:28:11 pm

Title: hand brake accuator seems stuck? 2000 golf
Post by: Smokey Eddy on January 09, 2009, 07:28:11 pm

I disconnected one of the hand brake cables from the caliper because it was stuck from the freeze. Now it moves freely but i can't get the retainter that it slides into to move!!!

Anyone know what i have to do?

I try and accuate the hand brake on the caliper with my hands and with clamps but i can't get it to move more than about 1cm.

Any help would be very appreciated.

If i take the caliber off of the disk and reset the piston will that do it? i don't really know how the hand brake works on these calipers...

Title: hand brake accuator seems stuck? 2000 golf
Post by: Smokey Eddy on January 10, 2009, 01:10:29 pm

im going to use the adjuster thing on the underneath to try and loosen the cable enough so that i can slip it back on the caliper.

Can anyone tell me if this is normal? Any input would be really nice...

Title: hand brake accuator seems stuck? 2000 golf
Post by: the caveman on January 11, 2009, 08:51:56 am

Be careful. If either the cable or caliper are seized, then the brake may also seize up and case you some real problems. What exactly are you trying to do? If the cable doesn't seem to have enough slack ,it may be finished or adjusted too tight. Also make sure BOTH caliper handbrake mechanisms are free. The arms MUST return to their resting positions without the cables attached. If one side has a problem, then it will affect the other; the cables attach at the handbrake lever on a common bracket that floats, so if one side is seized or too tight it will pull the other side. If  the cable is stuck from where it slides into the caliper, just use some pliers to rotate it and it should come loose once the clip is removed.

Title: hand brake accuator seems stuck? 2000 golf
Post by: Smokey Eddy on January 11, 2009, 12:35:49 pm

I think... i get what you're saying.

It drives fine (the brake isn't stuck) and the brake seems to work from the pedal? as far as i can tell anyways...

Should the thing the cable goes into only move like 1 cm?

Title: hand brake accuator seems stuck? 2000 golf
Post by: the caveman on January 11, 2009, 03:41:34 pm

Once the cables are attached the lever at the caliper should move about 1-5 cm . With a wheel raised ,you should be able to push the lever to make it lock/unlock the brake, spin the wheel, pull lever, wheel stops turning. if the wheel doesn't spin when released, then you have to determine if it's the caliper or cable.