I've just noticed while working on the car today that my handbrake only seems to be fully applying on one side.

I slackened off the handbrake cable tension, started the engine, pumped the brakes heavily and re-tightened it to the point where 6 clicks is about the maximum but the problem remains.

If I push the foot brake it locks the wheel up as it should so I don't think it's the caliper.

Is this just one of the cables starting to go?

Cheers!

It could be a stretched cable or maybe the lever mechanism on the back of the caliper seizing? Best way to check that is to get someone to operate the handbrake while you look at both sides and see if the faulty side moves as much as the good side

Minus8 said:

If I push the foot brake it locks the wheel up as it should so I don't think it's the caliper.

Click to expand...

The fact that the foot brake works, doesn't necessarily mean the caliper is OK.

When operating the foot brake, the caliper piston is moved purely by hydraulics, whereas the handbrake is operated mechanically by a triple concentric screw thread inside the piston.

Problem could be caused by a seized cable (especially if it's the left side) or a seized or stripped screw thread in the piston.

Good advice from gadgemyster. I would suspect the nearside cable tight in its sleeve . New ones available readily. The calipers on the ns have a tendency to go but the cable is the most likely culprit.
update ---posted mine at same time as Davren . we all seem to agree 1

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll check it out when I get a chance

It's on the offside (UK car) but I do remember when I was doing the disks and pads that side was unnervingly stiff when I tried to wind it back. Upon saying that when the hand brake is fully on the right side cable does seem a little more slack than the left so hopefully it'll be a cheep fix

Over and out for now