How to Repair a Faulty Handbrake?
3 Answers
Prepare the necessary tools and remove the handbrake screws. The owner can adjust the handbrake's operating cable to resolve the issue of ineffective braking. Generally, if there is a problem with the handbrake and the owner is not a professional mechanic, it is best to have the handbrake's operating cable adjusted and repaired by a 4S shop.
Last time I helped a friend fix a similar issue, and found the most common cause of parking brake failure is a loose cable. Lift the cover plate of the drum brake or disc brake parking brake mechanism at the rear wheels, and you'll see that thin steel cable. Use a wrench to adjust the cable tension screw, but don't overtighten it or it won't release properly. If the cable is rusted through, it needs replacement - last time at the repair shop I saw a mechanic replace one in half an hour. Another potential issue is worn-out rear brake shoes, especially in older vehicles where shoe thickness should be checked. If there's brake fluid leakage in the hydraulic system, it can also cause weak parking brake performance, and the brake warning light on the dashboard will illuminate. Remember to test on a 30-degree slope after repairs - the car shouldn't roll when the parking brake is engaged at three clicks.
My old Jetta had the same issue last year. When parking on a slope, I noticed the car rolling backward. I first checked the handbrake lever travel and felt an obvious lack of resistance. After removing the center armrest and plastic trim cover, I found the mounting screws were loose. Tightening the lever base screws with a 10mm wrench didn't solve the problem. Eventually, I discovered excessive wear on the rear brake shoes - the return springs were completely slack. When replacing the shoes, I applied grease to the adjuster gears. Now it holds firmly with just two clicks. I recommend monthly slope parking tests to catch issues early.
