hand brake problems...

[keith1275gt]

hi all

just got in my car to go to the shop and a problem occured

the handbrake has no resistance and the back brakes are locked on..
the adjusting nut at the front of the handbrake can be turned by hand

i'm assuming the cable is snapped. how much of a job is it to replace??

i've had a quick look underneath and can't see a cable dropped

[zulu ferret]

Hi and welcome:If a cable has snapped, the coil spring on the top of caliper, should return the brake to the off position unless you suspect the cable has rusted solid in it's outer sleeve? If you can safely jack her up, with good support, axle stands or the like, it's not too much of a task to fit new.:

[keith1275gt]

thats what had me puzzled.... if the cable snapped wouldn't the back brakes be off?

i don't think its seized, i was only out on monday night and its used daily...

i've also had a look on ebay and it seems the cable is in three parts... is this correct?

[NineOneSix]

well yea, but its only the ones to the calipers that seize up, they get water in them then freeze in the cold weather

[thorleyman]

Just had the same problem only slightly frozen on though, drove round for a bit and it released its self.

[KAZZI]

Had same problem with my cloverleaf ,drivers side stuck on,i jacked her up and worked the nut on the calliper that the hand brake cables attatched to back and fore with a squirt of wd40 till my wrist went numb, did the trick though.tha was 2 months ago and hasent happend since,

[keithglos]

Probably frozen. Try not to leave the handbrake on over night.

[keith1275gt]

half an hour, a can of wd40 and one bloodied knuckle...

she rides again!!!!

many thanks!!!!!!!

[KAZZI]

Originally Posted by keith1275gt

half an hour, a can of wd40 and one bloodied knuckle...

she rides again!!!!

many thanks!!!!!!!

NO PAIN NO GAIN

[raf300]

Guys, just logged on to check why my 146ti handbrake was locked on today when I got in the car. As I suspected it could be like what has been said above, water has frozen the caliber. Fingers crossed.

I havent had a problem like this before but have only had the car since summer 2008. So havent experienced a winter with the alfa, but the temp outside has been pretty cold. At the moment it is -2.

[NineOneSix]

top tip for winter is to not use the handbrake and use 1st gear instead

I often experience this on my 147. I put a complete set of Mintex brake discs and pads and a new pair of handbrake cables (lubed before fitting) on the car about 8 months ago and I often find that when I release the handbrake the rears are locked on but as soon as I move they release.

As they are not stainless discs and they grate the first time I use them I put it down to rapid oxidisation - rusting causing it.

Other than that they work very well and I am not overly concerned about it, colder weather certainly brings out the owrst in it though,

[chrisw]

I had the same problem this morning too. Thought she was struggling when I realised the rear o/s was stuck on. Tried driving for a few hundred yards and that just created alot of smoke. Eventually I kept rocking back/forwards and also pushing the brake pedal. That seemed to do the trick and probably the amount of heat that had been generated. I have now parked it without the handbrake on but is in gear with the wheel up against the kerb.
What happened a few miles down the road, as I was pulling into Weston Favell shopping centre, was one of the bloody petrol tank securing straps broke. On closer inspection they're both extremely rusted.
Are these straps easily obtainable or is it a trip to the glorious (heavy sarcasm) Motorvogue?

[NineOneSix]

just make some up from 2 strips of sheet steel or even stainless which will help against the rot, but the tank wont drop if the straps failed though

[chrisw]

I have thought of making some up, I'm just too damn lazy. Looks like that what I'll be doing depending on price of new ones.
My first concern was whether the tank was likely to fall, but it;s still got the four bolts and the second strap.
Maybe I'll have ago tomorrow.

[NineOneSix]

you can buy new straps but the original are riveted to the tank though

[celadon]

Hahaha
Mr Smuggy Smug from Smug city here has had no problems in the 3 years that I have owned the car, never had a problem with the handbrake freezing in the winter.




















Until this morning
Had to leave for work at 7 this morning, handbrake was solid as a rock, wouldn't budge, had to drive a little way to warm it up, and eventually it moved.

So no more smugfest for me .

I was working in Alton, Hants early Saturday morning. Stayed at the Basingstoke Holiday Inn and got up up to leave at 7:00am.

Handbrake released but - the calipers were locked on. The passenger side released after reversing but the drivers side was binding. Pulled into the shell next door and tried to hose them clean but the water was frozen - minus seven degrees centigrade.

Opened the toolbox and gave the caliper a few belts with the hammer handle which freed it up enough to drive but by the time I got to the brewery the disc was blueing a bit.

Parked in gear at the brewery and when it came time to leave it was fine. I am wondering if it is safe to use the aerosol de-icer on the calipers in these situations or if they contain an oily residue that might cause issues?

[celadon]

Not sure that the problem is the calipers, as i could release the handbrake, but the brakes stayed on.
The cable itself gets frozen inside the sheath I think.
This is probably because the cable feeds in at the bottom, and goes upwards, thereby allowing water ingress into the top of the sheath.

i was thinking of keeping one of these in the car to see if it helped to unfreeze ..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12v-CAR-CARAVA...1%7C240%3A1318

[1552.0]

Hey. I've had this happen on the 16V and the 8V. Unlucky? lol. Can't say about anyone else but my fault was with the cable both times and not the callipers. The cables get a crack in them or slightly split, then fills with water. Then, when it freezes it also freezes the cables. Pain in the ****, but like you all say, in winter 1st gear :-)

[Ralf S.]

Dudes, take the back wheels off .. squirt some spray grease inside the rubber gaitors at the end of the cables.. then cram as much grease in to and over the end as you can. That'll expel any moisture and prevent any more getting in. I did mine in 2006/7 and have had no problems at all this year.


Ralf S.

[celadon]

But Ralf, it's cold outside and there's white stuff all over the car today.

[Ralf S.]

Aye! It's why new telly's come in big cardboard boxes.. so you have something to lie on while you're squirting grease into your cable ends (you can do it from behind the car).

The rubber gaiters perish anyway.. it'll be a cinch to squirt some G70 in the there.


Ralf S.

[NineOneSix]

roof lining also makes a good thing to lay on

[celadon]

Originally Posted by explosive alfa

roof lining also makes a good thing to lay on

That means the car has to be on its roof though !!

I suppose it would make it easier to do any jobs on the underside




















ps. I realise that you have yours stripped out from the racer