I`ve just replaced the discs all round on my 2003 Focus. I can`t reconnect the handbrake cable on the driver side, the passenger side is on. How do you loosen off the cable to hook it up? do you have to adjust it from the handle under the car?

 

There are both, a plastic adjuster nut and a locking nut on one side of the cable, you undo the locking nut and then undo the adjuster this will give you slack in the cable to hook over the handbrake 'hook' on the caliper.

I don't see why you have taken it off though if your just replacing discs?

Martin

 

It gave me more room to wind in the caliper and also to get my hose on the bleed nipple.
I didn`t notice a plastic nut it looked all in 1 piece at the bracket onto the caliper.

 

You will need to be underneath the car to see it, it is not near the end of the cable, it will be on either the nearside or offside cable, follow each back toward the actual lever and you will see it.

Martin

 

I did from inside the car. adjusted the nut that holds the cable to the lever itself which is under the handbrake boot.

 

Same thing really, on older cars it was on the cable underneath the car, where as on these it must be moved to the lever itself.

Martin

 

Hi all the hand brake on my focus 2003 has become slack i heard that the rear ajusters are common not to work to well and this is most likley the fault any body els no anything cheers.

 

It should be self adjusting, it seems from above it can be adjusted from the lever, going by that I should think that the adjuster may be built into the handbrake lever itself.

Martin

 

Cheers martin just looked there is an ajuster under the hand brake might still drop it in on the theory the ajusters on the shoes aint all that.

 

Are the shoes in good condition?

Martin

 

???????? Marti i dont know about the shoes gonna take a look the week end i spoke to a local garage he said 9 times out of 10 they just dont ajust like they should

 

you have done somthing wrong and i know what it is, you have fitted the pas caipler havnt you (with the cable on it) ? and what happens then is it pulleys the other side of the cable which makes it realy tight you can pull the drivers side up but then you also have to push the leaver on the caipler to so the easyest thing to do is take both caiplers back off and fit the cable first then fit caiplers back on.

 

sorry i dont know if that makes sence to you heres how to do it from the start.

put hand brake off
remove wheel
remove caiplers
remove discs
refit new discs
fit caipler holders
fit new pads
ensure hand brake cable is still on both cailpers
wind the pistons back in
fit caiplers
next bit is easyer with two people (now i cant excalty rember how to do this bit and i dont want to say the wrong way but i rember one of you has to be in the drivers seats either pulling up the hand brake or pushing the foot brake and you have to push the cailper leave up)
and fit the wheels and your done

 

It does not have rear discs.

Martin

 

sounds like it does have rear discs from what hes saying, otherwise he would of say just replaced the rear shoes and cant connect the hand brake cable but he said he toke the cable off to wind the caiplers back in hence he has discs all round

 

My bad, just re read initial post (In fact I even mention discs then I start talking about shoes hence me thinking drums), I really need a holiday right about now!

Martin