Handbrake et al.......

[Sleedale]

The handbrake isn't working very well and as our usual, knowledgeable mechanic is snowed under, I took it down to our local garage for a look see - I even left the Haynes open at the relevant page
I also asked if he could check the engine mounting bolts etc as the van makes a weird knocking shudder when cold and in the wrong gear and I'd picked up on here they might be suspect.
Later, I go pick up the van to be told

The handbrake cable has seized?
The brake cylinder is stepping and some? Brake shoes have come unbonded?
There is serious rot where the suspension arms are - he said where the springs sit and it wouldn't pass an MoT

Now, the guy I spoke to wasn't the one who checked it

It was MoTd in May, this year, no mention of said rot

Can the handbrake cables seize? Or do they need adjusting?

I've tried to phone our usual man, but can't contact him as yet

AND WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GOING TO CORNWALL NEXT WENDESDAY

So, who do I trust? How can I check with no mechanical knowledge and a very rough, stony driveway?

Thanks peeps, our other vehicle is also poorly, suddenly developing sticking brake or worse today

[vanisveryrusty]

Maybe a second opinion from another garage is the best route.

[mark]

the hand brake cable can seize, do you leave it parked up with the hand brake on for long periods? this can lead to the rear brakes seizing. without pics of the brake linings and cylinder its hard to answer.

on the rust issues get a second opinion or stick a pic up, on my old tool box transit it went from no rust and no advisories to me being asked if I parked it under the sea inside a year

mark

[Sleedale]

Thank guys

It's used daily, although was parked up over winter, but over regularly and parked without h/brake

I'll have to get the Haynes to find the rusty suspects and hopefully can get hole of our useful man tomorrow. It's still running, so I'm still using it, but might well order some new cables from Brickwerks

[California Dreamin]

I go pick up the van to be told

The handbrake cable has seized?
The brake cylinder is stepping and some? Brake shoes have come un-bonded?
There is serious rot where the suspension arms are - he said where the springs sit and it wouldn't pass an MoT

Can the handbrake cables seize? Or do they need adjusting?

Yes the handbrake cable could be seizing...
Handbrake cables to drums:
http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/t ... heels.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wheel cylinders leaking? and shoes coming unbounded
Rear brake kit including wheel cylinders/shoes and fitting kit:
http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/t ... it-t3.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Trailing arm repair section:
http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/t ... on-t3.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I can't really comment on the seriousness of the above without seeing it myself.

Martin

[Sleedale]

Thank you Martin, really helpful links, I can get the bits and hopefully get them fitted very soon, will need to get hold of the man who can

I wish I'd learned mechanics

[vanisveryrusty]

All helpful stuff, and its great to try and mend it yourself.
But, if you havent got the knowledge or the facilities, get it checked by another garage.
Brakes is brakes after all.

[California Dreamin]

A bit more detail.

The cables generally seize when the seal perishes on the end of the cable letting water enter the inner cable....they just rust and seize.

The original VW rear brake shoes were generally riveted not bonded so the ones you have on are probably cheap after market items...the Brickwerks replacements are good quality.

Wheel cylinders commonly start weeping behind the seals and so it's just not worth messing about with seal kits..just change the cylinders and change the brake fluid at the same time.

Rear trailing arms do corrode and it is not uncommon for the spring mount to corrode through and the spring to move....this is why Simon at Brickwerks had these repair plates made.....will need welding.

Martin

[Dazco]

If you get the brakes done be prepared to get new rear brake lines as well . Flexis and copper, I had to replace mine all the way to the union just behind the fuel tank, not a big job but could be very time consuming if unprepared for .
Daz
Ps got the 2 flexis from GSF as brickies only do full sets now at over £60 and just couldn't afford it .

[California Dreamin]

The list can.......get longer......rear trailing arm bushes, rear back plates, rear brake adjusters etc etc....but let the ferret see the hole otherwise we will be replacing everything before we know it!

Martin

[Sleedale]

Now I'm scared don't want to replace the whole back end of the van

Seriously, all this is very, very helpful, and I feel that, at the very least, I can have a slightly more informed discussion with our man who can - just hope I can get hold of him tomorrow, he's got some time to look, and maybe even some time to fix the essentials, assuming the trailing arm things aren't going to appear through the bed any time soon, or maybe drop me on the floor over night or on the motorway

[vanisveryrusty]

It may not be as bad as all that.
Some mechanics that usually look at more modern cars can paint a grim picture sometimes.
Modern cars dont last long enough to look as bad as the T25

[Sleedale]

Yes the handbrake cable could be seizing...
Handbrake cables to drums:
http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/t ... heels.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wheel cylinders leaking? and shoes coming unbounded
Rear brake kit including wheel cylinders/shoes and fitting kit:
http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/t ... it-t3.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Trailing arm repair section:
http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/t ... on-t3.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I can't really comment on the seriousness of the above without seeing it myself.

Martin

Spent a frantic hour and half on the phone this morning, couldn't get hold of our usual man who does, so he won't be! Tried another place in Thirsk but no answer, tried all sorts, finally ordered the above parts, plus hoses, and the man who said it all needs doing CAN do it on Tuesday so, hoping parts come on Monday, drop van and bits Monday evening and it'll be done Tuesday (not the welding bits but I've order those as well, might as well have them) and then



Cinderella, you SHALL go to Cornwall on Wednesday

Trips to Cornwall are jinxed for us, something major ALWAYS goes wrong, either once we are there, or in this case, before we've even set off, but as OH family is there, we do need to go. Am desperately hoping the site is good, staying a few days at BiL then on to Dennis Cove and Padstein.....oooops Padstow

So, once again, thank you everyone, especially Martin for the direct links, made ordering much easier this morning while I was phoning the vet and trying to get organised to go to work.


Think I deserve a beer

[DuaneEddy]

Sue - You will feel a lot more comfortable when the van has had the work done.
Good Luck with the trip

[Sleedale]

Sue - You will feel a lot more comfortable when the van has had the work done.
Good Luck with the trip

I know, it'd be nice to have some brakes that work better, we do live in the middle of nowhere on top of a blummin big hill down a narrow, winding lane and I've had some near misses really, but just thought that's what it was like. Hopefully, with the work done, hill starts now won't mean a dead clutch, which I'm sure would be MUCH more expensive to fix. And I might not frighten as many folk going down the hill especially the local boy racers in their works transh****s