(T) Handbrake won't go on!

I'm having this mad problem...

After having to change the rear brake shoes TWICE due to a blown cylinder first on one side, then the other, I no longer appear to be able to connect the handbrake cable to the linkages.

If the cable is connected to the linkages, one of the brake drums will not go on.
If The drum is on, I can't stretch the handbrake cable to connect it up to the linkage.

I have adjusted the handbrake adjuster nut to MIN - ALL the adjuster nuts and locking nuts are close together.

The first time I changed the first leaking brake cylinder the brakes were so tight that even on MIN, I could only get the handbrake up to 1 notch.

And now, my problem as you can see is that I can't get it on at all...

I have tried everything here - cleaned and re-cleaned the drums, shoes, etc. changed the linkages, bled all brakes, sanded the shoes, even drove around with no handbrake for a while to 'wear the shoes in'.

What is causing this? Can it be the handbrake cable?!

would have thought the handbrake cable would stretch if anything, not contract. I changed my brake shoes yesterday and it was an arse, u sure u got the upper and lower springs in the right order? also they need edging in to the right place, this took about 10 mins to keep edging them bit by bit until they were centralised

my cinq hand brake it amazingly tight..
it takes a huge heive to get 1 click.1! its like it was put on too tight , it looks like theres no adjustment left either...

It is the wrong length cable.? it ther a difference between Std cinq and Sporting.?

Red Cinquecento Sporting

Both my Cinqs are like that....Both require bodybuilders arms to get the handbrake on fully.

My SX is pre 95 (Older handbrake mech) and that comes on fully at the 2nd click. The Sporting with the newer h'brake comes on at the 4th click.

Yure prob, stefz might be bad adjustment or yu might have the older h'brake in yure car...not something that I could backup, but AFAIK, the cables are identical.

Tom (AofB)

GrpN Catback Exhaust system on...rattles like f**k, but very nice!!!

After dismantling the complete rear brake drums, shoes, handbrake lever etc. I had no alternative but to try my luck with the handbrake cable.

After sawing off about 3cm off the handbrake shielding (the springy bit around the cable itself), the bugger went on without any problems! It turns out the shielding must have been warped or flattened somewhere, pulling the handbrake cable in on each side.

That was the botch job done...
however I thought I'd replace the handbrake cable as I suspected the old one was warped or as I said, the spring had been flattened, tightening the ends.

Old cable off, new one on (without any heaving, huffing nor puffing to get the cable into the wheel under the handbrake lever unlike with the old one)... and hey presto!! The handbrake lever, (adjuster set on MIN) went up 3 clicks! PERFECT! The shoes were only a few months old so I guess they were worn in enough for the lever to do that perfectly!

I do agree though, that with new shoes the handbrake lever can be a nightmare to yank up to even 1 click. Either that or my old handbrake cable was to blame...

Moral of the story => if the handbrake cable can't go onto the latches at all even with new shoes, drums, handbrake lever checked etc. then it's probably your handbrake cable that has (believe it or not) SHRUNK due to warping or flattening of the surrounding spring in the handbrake cable shielding.

If only it didn't take me weeks to figure it out! [:(!]