Handbrake Problem

[Guest james32496]

Hi everyone.

I wonder if someone can give me some advice.

My handbrake is only working on the offside wheel. I have taken both drums off, and checked. The offside one moves fine, but the nearside does not move at all. Even the cable does not move when I pull on the handbrake.

 

Can anyone offer any help please?

Thanks

 

James

[Johndouglas]

With the drums on, press the footbrake several times to get the shoe to drum distance correct. Use the handbrake several times to make sure the self adjusters are correct. When you pull on the handbrake how many clicks have you? There should be between four and six. If the nearside cable isn't moving, it's either seized or broken. Try pulling from the drum end. As a last resort, fit a new cable. It'll be less than a tenner.

[Guest james32496]

Hi John

Thanks very much for your quick reply.

I have tried all the normal adjustment with the handbrake. I moved the lever in the drum with a screwdriver, pushing it back towards the rear of the shoe, and then tried the handbrake. It moved, but only a tiny bit, and it did not return. The offside one moves perfectly.

I think I will do as you suggest and fit a new handbrake cable.

 

Are they fairly easy to fit?

 

Regards

James

[Johndouglas]

Are they fairly easy to fit?

 

Haven't had a ZX but a Pug 306 is usually fairly similar. You need the rear of the car supported on axle stands. The centre console has to be removed and all the adjustment taken out of the cables at the rear of the handbrake. Disconnect the inner cable from the handbrake. Underneath - on the 306 the exhaust has heat shields that have to be removed. Free the outer cable fom the body clips and the trailing arm. Remove the brake shoes and tap the cable from the back plate.

 

You could try working some WD40 into the outer cable.

[Guest james32496]

Thanks for that John. I'm going to try and get the cable today. I'll let you know how I get on with fitting it.

 

James

[Guest fusion]

:)

Hi everyone.

I wonder if someone can give me some advice.

My handbrake is only working on the offside wheel. I have taken both drums off, and checked. The offside one moves fine, but the nearside does not move at all. Even the cable does not move when I pull on the handbrake.

 

Can anyone offer any help please?

Thanks

 

James

:)

hi there sounds as if you have a partial seizure of the handbrake linkage or the cable.disconect the handbrake cable and get someone to operate the handbbake and see if the cable on the offending side moves,if it doesnt move youll probably need a new cable.if i was you id overhaull the brakes ,renew any problem items ,this should fix problem as it sounds as if hand brake system needs an overhaul. hope this helps . dougie

[Guest james32496]

Thanks for your replies. I have changed the nearside cable. (The old one was siezed) The handbrake works now, but it is not as good as the offside one.

I noticed that the adjuster for the shoes does not seem to move. Can these be taken off and cleaned?

 

I checked with Citoen about buying a new one, and was told that it would be £57 plus VAT. Any help and advise? Thanks

 

James

[Johndouglas]

I noticed that the adjuster for the shoes does not seem to move. Can these be taken off and cleaned?

 

Yes, clean up the threads and apply a bit of high melting point grease before assembly.

[Guest james32496]

Thanks John. You've been a great help. I'll give both sides a good clean tomorrow.

 

By the way, do you know if I need any type of special tool to remove the front flexible brake pipes. I have managed to loosen the ends at the wheels, but the other ends seem to have a serated end to them. They also looks quite rusty. Any ideas?

Thanks

 

James

[Johndouglas]

That serrated end is just to stop the hose turning. It fits into a steel holder and has a pipe union going into it. If you haven't already started get yourself a 10/11mm pipe union spanner. An open ended spanner will just round off the flats. If the union gets rounded off and can't be undone, there's not much option other than to cut off the pipe and make a new one.

[Guest james32496]

Hi John.

 

Thanks very much for your help with the brakes. I managed to change the flexible pipes today.

I only bled the front brakes, Should I have bled the whole system? The pedal does not feel spongy, but it goes down about halfway.

 

Also I noticed today with having the wheel trims off, after I have been driving for a little while, the offside rim seems to get quite hot. The nearside one gets warm but not quite as hot. Is this normal?

Thanks

 

James