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Sticking Handbrake (E Brake)


deekss
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Long time no posting mates. I've partly transitioned in these long years and have an FF now too..... Anyway, feeling manly again now. Back to the Murci.

Handbrake release has been getting worse, with dash warning map not going out when releasing handbrake (not fluid level) and feel of brakes binding. Binding is the handbrake. Found RHS rear cable very stiff. Replaced that, both handbrake calipers removed, they moving freely, copper grease on the pad edges. All pulleys moving freely, and rear LHS pivot. No real difference. One thing I notice is that both my cables are fitted like this, with ally cap on ferrule side of the lever.

handbrake 2.jpg

I just spied this photo in a workshop manual, ally cap is on top of spring. I guess I'm losing some return spring tension on both sides, if this is the correct way to fit them;

 

handbrake 1.png

Just from looking at these now, I think mine is incorrect.

When releasing handbrake, lever arm on RHS  handbrake caliper  stays under tension. Attention now on the cable from the handbrake to the underside of the car. Mine is the Coupe update with the cable from lever to underneath the car, and first pulley on the LHS of the car, not like the early ones, which were the same as the Diabolo with a pulley behind the lever too.

This cable is binding. Looks more stinky to remove. From another photo on the web, this one appears to have a further return spring behind the adjuster, which is located directly underneath the transmission.

 

handbrake 3.png

 

Mine doesn't have that spring. FYI, this is not the LHS rear cable, they have pictures of that too.

Anyone else have similar issues or fixes ? Is the cable with a spring a modified part ? Any other suggestions chaps ?

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Righty. Finally got to the bottom of this. The front section of the handbrake cable that connects to the lever had part of the sleeve collapsed. That was effectively crimping the inner core. It looks like it was twisted slightly when initially installed, and over the years had twisted further and compressed.

 

handbrake 4.jpg

 

A new one is about £300 GBP (~$400 USD) if I could get one. Factory still not fully open, part is on back order. I ended up getting a UK motorsport company make my a copy. Total cost just £60 GBP. All installed, handbrake has never been so easy to operate, and releases fully every time. I've had the thing 15 years now, and this was always tight, and often didn't release fully enough without wiggling to turn off the dash light. This must always have been sticky. 

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