HALLEJUAH!!!!Handbrake now behaving excellently on both sides .It 'seems' to have been the cable .I replaced it on passenger side and manually adjusted the 'self' adjuster ( I reckon I broke it either by poking or more likely aggressively jerking car to and from with handbrake on to 'make ' it self adjust.)

Of course if I were a glass half empty kinda guy I could lament the fact I'd spent over 200 euro (£150) and the best part of four full days working on them but the sense of relief is enormous .At risk of tempting fate Im assuming it will pass NCT/MOT now so I'm going to try reach the 200k miles mark .( First owner was a Northern English lady who brought it over to Ireland ) .


This is the longest Ive ever owned one car having gone through many years of chopping and changing every few months in my younger years . If it passes test I will seriously consider replacing the very tired steering wheel and front seat cushions (have already swapped left for right-simple job) Pity it's faded red paint under the lacquer can't be revamped like the old 'pink'Cinquecentos

Missed this - only saw your post in the other thread as I'm subscribed.

https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/340756-read-brake-self-adjuster.html

Think I spent around £200 on parts doing mine but included the cylinders too.

Looks like you sussed the cable before I posted an adjuster vid.

you should be able to make the adjusters adjust out by pumping the foot brake about 50 times while stood still (using the Brava theory) if the cable is slack enough (note to self slacken my cable).

First time I did my panda shoes the lining had falen off from the shoe (bosch shoes I may add) and I put the shoes in the wrong side - first one went on OK - could not get the second drum on as the leading edge was in the wrong place... start all over again

I'd say I've had passenger side drum on and off again 12-18 times in last three days !!!

Glad to hear that you've got it sorted. You must have been burning the midnight oil this past few nights. Hopefully all will go fine for the NCT.

Wee Smurf said:

Glad to hear that you've got it sorted. You must have been burning the midnight oil this past few nights. Hopefully all will go fine for the NCT.

Click to expand...

PASSED!!!Was so keen to get this over with set alarm for 555am to make 725 am test appointment in distant venue .On holidays so was wasting (3) daytimes.
Anyway done now ,phew .

Good result then.