Technical Hand brake cable.

[Peter Pick-Up]

Today I changed the original, about 18 years old original factory handbrakecable on my Pick-Up.
The handbrakes weren't working well lately, and I suspected the cable to be stuck/worn.
It wasn't stuck, but the part that keeps the cable in place right next to the drum on the left side, was so badly corroded, it didn't keep the cable in place anymore, so I had to adjust and adjust and adjust the last months....in the near future, it would have been non adjustable at all!!!
Anyway, luckily I had a spare, aftermarket cable in my workshop, but it took me almost 3,5 hours to change this bastard!
Everything was stuck, specially the plastic clip-ons everywhere, I damaged several ones along the way, but used tie raps instead.
The handbrake is working fine again now!
I have to keep an eye to the adjustment, because I expect some stretch during the first weeks.

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

Well, I had to go under the car again.....!!
The new aftermarket cable wasn't working like it should have.
Turned out it was completely dry.....not lubed or greased at all!
I put on a lot of Teflon spray, and now it works fine, but I wish I had done this while the cable was on the workbench.....!!
Lesson learned for the next time: lube any aftermarket, non Fiat cable well, before mounting..!!!!!

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

With the new cable in place, I noticed that the left rear drum was warm after a ride, while the right one stayed cool...
Earlier this week, the red brake warning light on the dash came on, and I had to top up brakefluid.....
Yesterday I saw brake fluid on the ground beneath the right rear drum, which is not good.....!!
Took the drum of today, and to my horror everything was covered in brakefluid......a big leaking brake cylinder!
Luckily my parts supplier had an original ATE brakecylinder at a very low price, about 7 GBP, I cleaned everything with brakecleaner and sandpaper, put the new cylinder in place, and now I have 4 brakes again....!!!

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

The neverending story....
The Pick-Up was vibrating badly during braking lately, so I decided it was time for new discs and pads.
Today, new Brembo discs and Ferodo pads were mounted, the vibrating is gone, stopping power will increase the next few hundreds miles, after bedding in.....!!

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

Story continues:
Yesterday I changed my alloys with summer tires for steel wheels with winter tires.
As a rule, everytime I change wheels ( twice a year..!!) I take of the drums to clean and inspect the brakes.
Guess what: after taking of the left drum, I noticed the brake cylinder was sweating brake fluid....!
So today a new one went on the car.
Botomline, if a brakecylinder goes bad from age ore mileage, change them both sides, cause the other will fail shortly.