Reversed down the drive in the cold yesterday and could feel the handbrake sticking ever so slightly (as it does in the cold). Handbrake lever "dropped" at the end of the release (i.e. you couldn't feel resistance, again the usual indicator that the cable has frozen).

However, I really needed to get into work early, and the rolling resistance was only minor, so I ploughed on in the expectation that it would unfreeze after a few miles (probably a mistake, but hey ho!)

It didn't release, and when I came to drive home it was in the same state, so I concluded that the cable couldn't be frozen on.

When I got home I jacked up the rear and took a look at the brakes on both sides to see which wheel was causing the problem. The offside wheel resisted manually being turned a little, so looked closer at the stuff underneath.

It looks to me as if something is broken (!). Can anyone here give me a quick diagnosis and a £££ indication? If its a £50 fix, I'll have it done. If its a lot more (bearing in mind MOT in April) it might be the reason to go out and replace the car.......

Pictures attached of the brakes on both sides. Am I right in assuming that the offside has lost some sort of spring, and that the cable with the worn / torn seal is the handbrake cable?

Thanks as ever for helping a complete mechanical numpty!!

Matt

Also, forgot to ask - where are the "right" places for jacking up the car with a trolley jack? Is it the round bulbous bit just in front of the rear tyres (slightly forward of where the jacking point is for the tyre jack?)

Cheers!

Matt

Hi mate,

Don't panic, you just need a new set of handbrake cables. One of them has seized.

You see that rubber boot in the picture? Well that prevents water ingress into the cables, it has perished so water has corroded the inner cable.

I fitted mine myself and I think parts came to £30.

It is a very simple job to do so shouldn't cost too much!

Also you are missing a return spring from one of the calipers.

Thanks for the advice. Cable was only replaced 12 months ago!! I take it the missing spring is also part of the same equation?

Matt

If the cable is only 12 months, no reason to replace it. Wouldn't even help I think, as it's the hand brake mechanism that needs your care.
Replace the springs first. Any firm springs will do, and won't cost much. Replace both sides.
Then oil the mechanism you see in the pics, be careful not to oil the brake discs. Then put as much thin oil inside the cable as you can, and leave it soak for as long as possible.
Piece of cake, that should do it.

And most important, don't use the hand brake when it's winter!

As was said, don't forget to replace the boot if it's knackered. Also don't be tempted to drive it with it stuck on thinking it'll thaw out.

I did that and the bill was a little higher

larkim said:

Thanks for the advice. Cable was only replaced 12 months ago!! I take it the missing spring is also part of the same equation?

Matt

Click to expand...

You really should replace the cables again I am afraid, you could fail the next MOT on parking brake effectiveness and balance.

Due to the weather we have here in England those handbrake cables if not already seized will in a matter of months anyway.

The spring is important as it helps return the cable and lever.

Hi

I had the same problem with a missing return spring.

I searched the internet and came up with the following replacement on fleabay. (just search for Lambretta Brake shoe return spring)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200954901105?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT



One end of the spring needed to be bent 90 degrees to the other end using a pliers, but it fit perfectly.

Hope this helps somebody

B

ive just bought new cables and not looked at how to do it yet, but as you say it was easy, what was your method ???
Saludos Dave

Hi,
When I bought my B 15 years ago the rear calipers were greased up with, I think, molybdenum disulphide grease. The car was imported from Italy and I assume there isn't the same of salt & wet as we get over here, They obviously thought that greasing them would help. They look messy but every few years I clean it all off & re-apply new grease. When the grease is removed everything is clean & shiny underneath, so the grease must help.
The calipers in the first plc look like they would benefit from a greasing and it might help the life of the handbrake cables.

Hola,

Ive bought new cables for the barchetta and removed the old ones quiet easily, but trying to get the new one back in is causing a problem.
Ive not removed the exhaust or anything so just poking the new cables back up the tunnel towards the handbrake mechanism but they just wont go through the holes into the interior.
Does anyone have any advise ??
Thanx Dave

Today, had further look at the situation and my new cables are longer than the old ones, so no point in changing because the whole point was that my handbrake lever was starting to get a bit verticle.
So I got 2 old bleed screws and took angle grinder and made a Groove down its length, big enough to push brake cable in. So now I am making the end 2 cm less !!
I poked old thick electrical wire down the holes at the handbrake back to the calipers. Then taped the new cables to the wires, point to point, then pushed and pulled gently the whole lot back up the tunnel and beside lever.
Put retaining clip in and attached ends to handbrake lever.
Then with great difficulty just managed to get other end back onto caliper, after taking handbrake caliper springs off.
Then tried handbrake lever and jeeeeezzzz, its on at 1 click, Im now thinking I bet when I take the car off the ramps the wheels will be seized even when handbrake off !!!!


Ahhh to my delight, NO, but only just, now handbrakes on tight at 2 clicks.


Anyone need more info then just ask !!


Saludos Dave

Nice work! Hope it all works Ok.

gar074 said:

Nice work! Hope it all works Ok.

Click to expand...

thanx, took car today for its ITV (MOT) here in Spain and the car sailed through, sin defectos !!
Not bad for a car coming up for its 21st birthday in July.