MarcS2000

Hi guys, have any of you had experience changing the handbrake cables? I've managed to get all the bolts off apart from the 2 going into the subframe near the suspension. The previous owner has clearly been at them before without success as they're all chewed up and explains why the cables were in such bad condition, they've never been changed! So the 2 12mm's are fooked, can't get a good enough grip with mole grips and the just keep spinning on the bolt. Anyone got any ideas before I burn this car to the ground as its due its MOT on Thursday, got 2 refurbished rear calipers to fit, a new rear brake pipe and these bloody handbrake cables before Thursday!!!

Nick Graves

File some flats on the head & use a smaller-sized spanner.

Plus Gas or heat might help.

MarcS2000

Managed to get them off by squeezing in a bolt extractor. The bolts were thoroughly chewed up. Went to a local engineering supply shop and got some new bolts to replace them and they'll be thoroughly slapped up with grease. what a pain in the back side with their location! at least i'm somewhat back on track to get it to it's MOT on thursday.

noodels

Well done chap

MarcS2000

calipers and cables are all fitted, brakes bled. having an issue with the passenger rear caliper not clamping on the disk when the handbrake is applied. the cable is pulling on the caliper but its just not clamping onto the disk. i wound the caliper out as far as i could to get it over the disks and pads but doesn't seem to have made any difference, my brother in law is fitting the new brake pipe tonight and is going to take a look at the caliper. I'd hate to have to send it away again when they were away for almost 3 weeks getting refurbished by Brake Caliper Specialists.

s3swiss

from memory - don't you need to apply the footbrake a few times before the handbrake will work? If the piston is wound back, the mechanical action of the handbrake cam won't shift it forward enough to work. Once 'primed' by the hydraulic pressure of the footbrake, the piston moves into its normal 'resting' position i.e. pads just off the disk. This then lets the cam operated by the handbrake move it that last few mm to press the pads onto the disk.
Check the manual to be sure but I think that was how I set up my replacement calipers.