Can anybody help please?

My hubby change our callipers and after along time of trying to get the handbrake to self adjust its still at about eleven clicks. Thought the cables were worn because of the old worn callipers so hubby changed them today also but stll no improvement after 40/50 pumps of the handbrake. When he fitted the callipers he wound the piston right back then slowly wound it out so that it fitted snugly over the discs. Its mot time tomorrow and I know its gonna fail unless someone can suggest a way of sorting it out. In the words of bonnie Tyler "I need a hero"

 

What car?

Has the handbrake cable been adjusted correctly? Again, it depends on what car, some don't have any adjustment in the cable.

In any such case, you don't need to wind the piston out after it has been wound in.

 

Mk2 Mondeo. Its a self adjusting handbrake. Haven't a clue personally what the best way of fitting them is because people have told us conflicting methods. Some say wind the piston in some have told us to wind it back out a little. All I know is that I'm sick of the bloody pile of crap lol! Haven't got a clue what more we can do

 

some cars require you to press the brake pedal as hard as you can while operating the handbrake to make it adjust
others, mainly fords have some adjustment on the cables themselves, a lot of them but not all have one cable longer than the other as well

 

There is no manual cable adjustment on mk2 Mondeos ... there is however an adjustment ratchet and pawl on the handbrake lever itself. I have seen ones that have seized or where the teeth have worn away which have in turn caused handbrake issues.

 

thats a possibility yes and worth checking, ive had that on other vehicles

 

I think it might be that cos the lever is wobbly on ours and when I am putting the handbrake on it feels like it isn't catching the little teeth on the ratchet. Can get one from the scrappy but how easy are they to fit?

 

they wont be difficult, a few bolts and screws at most, if yer fella can do pads and cables he will be more than capable of changing the lever and ratchet

 

You shouldn't wind the pistons out, you do need to press the brake pedal vigorously several times as said after replacing the pads, BEFORE applying the handbrake, otherwise you get the very problem you describe with the handbrake and it doesn't work properly.

The cable will also need adjusting since you have replaced it, in fact this is the only usual reason you would need to adjust it as it's self adjusting.

Martin

 

Thanks everyone but its all sorted now. Just needed new cables and new handbrake lever. Its like new now but what a pain in the arse.
It passed its mot but still having probe with sticky handbrake light but ive put another post on here lol

Ta guys

 

It's going to be the switch, you would have seen it if you changed the handbrake, either it's "Sticking" or faulty.

Martin