Handbrake ratchet

[grasmere59]

I pulled the handbrake on today and i was just about to get out the car and the handbrake released itself now it won't hold on the handbrake lever ratchet,it pulls up o.k. but just goes down again and the ratchet slips,any ideas?

[omega]

rachet teeth worn out due to being pulled up without the button pressed in

[steve_earwig]

Dahn the breaker's. I've never seen one worn out, even on all the crappy vans I used to drive, but I guess it's possible. There could always be some grot in there stopping it engaging (dead rat?) so you could have a squint - worth doing anyway to check which you have as I think there's two different sorts, depending on the cable adjuster(s).

[lozz]

check the cables.
the back pair .

[grasmere59]

Well i've just wrestled the centre console out (broke an infill side panel!) and after a bit of a fight got the handbrake lever assembly out,i can't see anything wrong but on the bench in the vice the ratchet just won't hold,off to the scrappies methinks unless someone out there has one kicking about which is a bit hopeful i know.

[omega]

i have and a infil panel

[lozz]

Grasmere
does your handbrake lever have an adjuster on it for the Cable ?

some do some dont,
make sure you get the correct one,
ive been looking for one that dosent have the Adjuster, carnt find one plenty of the other ones floating a bout tho,

[grasmere59]

Lozz,the cable has the adjuster on the end and threads through the handrake lever assembly.The outer cable clips into the lower part and then you have to thread the inner cable round a semi circle guide then adjusts via a 10mm captive nyloc nut(held in a spring steel clip),there's a brand new one exactly the same on ebay for 92 quid!,scrappie for me.

[grasmere59]

All done,went to a french specialist breakers today and got a replacement handbrake lever assembly and infill panel which i broke,all work can be done from inside the car so no real dramas just a bit fiddly especially getting the centre cconsole back in,french plastic don't you just love it........not!