Lastnight as i pulled up on my steeply inclined drive i broke the handbrake cable on the o/s right at the end of it where it connects to the lever on axle. now has anyone any ideas on how difficult a job it is before i attempt to replace it? and are they the same cables as the pre facelift model? thanks guys
jon

A certain admin is good with handbrakes...

chrisgixer wrote on 16. Jan 2011 at 00:12:

A certain admin is good with handbrakes...

Or I should say he's had plenty of experience with his own.   :-X

chrisgixer wrote on 16. Jan 2011 at 00:12:

A certain admin is good with handbrakes...

Hoping that certain Admin may be going to the Cambelt meet... Mine needs some attention ::) ::)

Lazydocker wrote on 16. Jan 2011 at 00:19:

chrisgixer wrote on 16. Jan 2011 at 00:12: A certain admin is good with handbrakes... Hoping that certain Admin may be going to the Cambelt meet... Mine needs some attention ::) ::)

Now you mention it, mines worn the gator through from striking the underside of the arm rest, works ok just way too high.

chrisgixer wrote on 16. Jan 2011 at 00:52:

Lazydocker wrote on 16. Jan 2011 at 00:19: chrisgixer wrote on 16. Jan 2011 at 00:12: A certain admin is good with handbrakes... Hoping that certain Admin may be going to the Cambelt meet... Mine needs some attention ::) ::) Now you mention it, mines worn the gator through from striking the underside of the arm rest, works ok just way too high.

ISTR he wants some help with a LPG conversion :-X ::)

If it is any benefit, my problem is in the cable/handle mech... The shoes are very recent and adjusted :y :y

To the OP... Sorry for the thread Hijack!!!

Not sure if the cables are the same across the range (although I would have thought so :-/) but I think it's a 3 piece assembly... 1 to each wheel, one to the underside of the lever. Even if it's 2 piece I'm sure it's front and rear as opposed to sides...

Anyway, I'm getting distracted... Easy enough job to change that section of cable :y :y

i think it could be a 3 piece, because the n/s wheel still holds the car still. had a look earlier but need the car up on ramps before i go under as the cable dissapears beneath the exhaust etc  :-/  :)

jonny66 wrote on 16. Jan 2011 at 16:56:

i think it could be a 3 piece, because the n/s wheel still holds the car still. had a look earlier but need the car up on ramps before i go under as the cable dissapears beneath the exhaust etc  :-/  :)

I thought it was 3 piece... Pretty simple job then :y

Its easier if ya take the exhaust off it makes it eaier but it depends if ya want to make a tad more work for yourself, i was lucky because i was changing my exhaust at the same time ;D
  Think there bout 25 quid from unipart if that helps

I fitted a new one on my pre-facelift. Definitely came as one item but I seem to recall there being a balance bar that slides over the threaded rod attached to the handbrake lever and two cables permanently attached to it.

No need to remove exhaust pipes (or heat shields) but you do need to raise the car high enough (and safe enough) to work under.

The heat shields hide the balance bar from view. Using a (very) deep socket and ratchet makes it relatively easy to undo the retaining/adjusting nut. If you don't have a deep socket then you probably will want to take a couple of heat shields off for access.

Changed mine a few weeks back and I found it almost "must" to remove the front heat shields and also loosen the rear ones. Quite a tight fit between the heatshields and chassis. The new part is one-piece.

One last piece of advice.. Clean the heatshield nuts and give them a good coat of plus gas before trying to unscrew. It's easy to shear off the threads on the body.

Kevin

cheers guys!!! appreciate your advice, just need to get the mig on the ramps without ripping the bumper off!! lol  ;D :y

jonny66 wrote on 18. Jan 2011 at 16:33:

cheers guys!!! appreciate your advice, just need to get the mig on the ramps without ripping the bumper off!! lol  ;D :y

As you want to be under the back, reverse onto them ;)

job complete!!! :y and what a barsteward!! lol, i seem to need a section of middle box now too!!  :D ;D

jonny66 wrote on 18. Jan 2011 at 16:33:

cheers guys!!! appreciate your advice, just need to get the mig on the ramps without ripping the bumper off!! lol  ;D :y

These ramps were designed Donkey's years ago, you need ramp-ramps!
(Only required on the front)

http://i51.tinypic.com/wkh3pt.jpg

now them is what ya call romps!!! youve even sanded the edges lol  :y

jonny66 wrote on 19. Jan 2011 at 19:33:

now them is what ya call romps!!! youve even sanded the edges lol  :y

They have been sanded by my cars since my Mk1 Astra actually!  :y

going back a bit then! i had a mk1 astra gte, loved that car.  :)