Handbrake very high- no adjustment left on nut

[L162LZ]

Hi All, amongst the lots of little things to do on "Penny" I noticed the handbrake comes quite high, so I thought I'd adjust it to take up some slack in the cable. However when I looked at the adjuster (that doesn't look old by any means) the nut is actually fully up the threaded part and when the handbrake is down/off there's around 10mm of unthreaded metal/cable end visible before the nut. Is there somewhere else it can be adjusted under the car or is this it? Do the drum brakes on the A2 use the same auto adjustment mechanism (wedge on a spring) like my old A4 did from same era, although if the adjusters were stuck I'd have assumed the brake pedal would also be long, which it isnt?
Is it acceptible as an interim fix to add a 1" alloy cylinder/spacer onto the cable behind the nut or is this not advisable? Any advice would be appreciated. See pic for what I was considering as potential "spacers"
Cheers

 

[robskiA2tdi]

Hi All, amongst the lots of little things to do on "Penny" I noticed the handbrake comes quite high, so I thought I'd adjust it to take up some slack in the cable. However when I looked at the adjuster (that doesn't look old by any means) the nut is actually fully up the threaded part and when the handbrake is down/off there's around 10mm of unthreaded metal/cable end visible before the nut. Is there somewhere else it can be adjusted under the car or is this it? Do the drum brakes on the A2 use the same auto adjustment mechanism (wedge on a spring) like my old A4 did from same era, although if the adjusters were stuck I'd have assumed the brake pedal would also be long, which it isnt?
Is it acceptible as an interim fix to add a 1" alloy cylinder/spacer onto the cable behind the nut or is this not advisable? Any advice would be appreciated. See pic for what I was considering as potential "spacers"
Cheers

What is condition of brake shoes? Are cables ok?

 

[L162LZ]

What is condition of brake shoes? Are cables ok?

I was told by the previous owner that the brake shoes were changed this year, don't know about the cables underneath the car but the cable and adjuster in the car look almost new. I'll check properly tomorrow and see what I can find

 

[Howey]

You don't adjust the handbrake by tightening the cable. Back that right off so it's proper slack and not influencing the shoes. Remove drums, inspect, clean and adjust the brake shoes . Now and only now remove the slack from the cable in the cab, however it's possible the shoes will have already been ruined if the adjustment has all been made in the cabin. Once corrected you may well notice how much better the foot pedal feels as the brakes will now be working correctly

 

[L162LZ]

You don't adjust the handbrake by tightening the cable. Back that right off so it's proper slack and not influencing the shoes. Remove drums, inspect, clean and adjust the brake shoes . Now and only now remove the slack from the cable in the cab, however it's possible the shoes will have already been ruined if the adjustment has all been made in the cabin. Once corrected you may well notice how much better the foot pedal feels as the brakes will now be working correctly

Thanks, will check out tomorrow

 

[BigBang]

Also post a picture of the adjuster. From the info you wrote I have feeling you loosen the cable instead of tightening it.

In regards of what previous owner said - he can say anything but if you don't have proof it hasn't been changed...

 

[Little Dog]

I suspect your cables are ducked. Can’t think how else you would get where you are. As advised by others get everything right at the drums then see what the cables do.

 

[Robin_Cox]

Aren't the disc-brake axle cables a small difference in length to the drum ones - and more available / poorly identified online often? Could it be that the wrong cables have been fitted with the screw adjuster then cranked right to the end of its range to get the handbrake to work?

 

[L162LZ]

Aren't the disc-brake axle cables a small difference in length to the drum ones - and more available / poorly identified online often? Could it be that the wrong cables have been fitted with the screw adjuster then cranked right to the end of its range to get the handbrake to work?

I'll do more investigation tomorrow, but that could be the case as the cable that enters the cabin by the adjuster certainly looks relatively new and the nut has a nylon locknut on it. There's also no stretch in it, when I pull it up once the handbrake is on theres no additional movement in it and its not catching when I release it, like with a worn tube or frayed cable

 

[audifan]

Firstly never fit a spacer or clamp to take up slack in brake cables. Find the problem and sort it. Cables do stretch or to be totally correct it is the springs on the brake shoe end of the cables that weaken and compress.

If the shoes are new / good and the drum is not near its maximum diameter, replace if they are worn then reset everything in the rear axle making sure everything is routed and located correctly as @Howey has instructed above re the cable tensioner. Make sure the adjuster wedge for the shoes is fitted correctly. Once the drum has been refitted press the brake pedal about 8-10 times to centre the shoes and bring the adjuster down. Check the wheel still rotates with the brakes off and hand brake released . Back in the car slowly tighten the cable adjuster, stopping to recheck the action of the hand brake, the resistance to rotate of each rear wheel and their ability to rotate with the hand brake off. The wheel should be locked with the hand brake on its third click on the ratchet. If this does not happen then the wrong or damaged cables have been fitted to the car.

 

[L162LZ]

Aren't the disc-brake axle cables a small difference in length to the drum ones - and more available / poorly identified online often? Could it be that the wrong cables have been fitted with the screw adjuster then cranked right to the end of its range to get the handbrake to work?

Thanks, I suspect this might be the issue. I've checked through the documentation the previous owner gave me and can see invoices for new rear shoes and drums, so these are not very old at all and changed within the last few thousand miles. Can't see anything related to the cables but will check the condition in the morning. Do they have part numbers on them anywhere (would youknow what the part number for the drum specific cable) or is there a measurement I can do to check if the correct one has been fitted?

 

[datsundrew]

Aren't the disc-brake axle cables a small difference in length to the drum ones - and more available / poorly identified online often? Could it be that the wrong cables have been fitted with the screw adjuster then cranked right to the end of its range to get the handbrake to work?

No the disc cables are completely different, different bullets on the calip end, and no spring. The drums have that long spring over the cable that runs in the drum, the one that’s a pain to get into / out of the shoe arm.

 

[Howey]

When new shoes bed in the handbrake can become mighty slack, we always offered customers a free re-adjustment after fitting shoes as it was better to not try and over adjust them trying to compensate for the bedding in. Start with adjustment, a little makes a lot of difference!