Vauxhall Vectra C 1.9 cdti 2004 - Drivers side hand brake not working

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Thu 31 Oct 2013 11:46
Vauxhall Vectra C 1.9 cdti 2004 - Drivers side hand brake not working - messa

Hi all ive taken my vectra for mot today and it failed on the handbrake not working on the drivers side the when you relise the hand brake in the car the lever on the caliper isnt relising its staying in the on position but you can still turn the wheel by hand ive tryed pushing the lever back but its stiff it will go but when you pull the brake on it wont relise again ,anyone ever sufferd this is it caliper or cable any help will be gratfully resived...thanks glyn

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Thu 31 Oct 2013 13:29
Vauxhall Vectra C 1.9 cdti 2004 - Drivers side hand brake not working - dieselnut

It's most likely the cable sticking but you'll have to disconnect it from the caliper arm to check. If it's the cable you can run some oil down it from the handbrake end & keep working it until free.

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Thu 31 Oct 2013 14:09
Vauxhall Vectra C 1.9 cdti 2004 - Drivers side hand brake not working - messa

Ok thank you il try that i thouht it was the caliper but not sure il try that at the wkend thanks again ...

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Thu 31 Oct 2013 15:05
Vauxhall Vectra C 1.9 cdti 2004 - Drivers side hand brake not working - messa

If the cable is free and working as it should what would you check next,the caliper ?? Thanks glyn...

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Thu 31 Oct 2013 18:12
Vauxhall Vectra C 1.9 cdti 2004 - Drivers side hand brake not working - The-Mechanic

If the lever arm on the caliper is in the ON position and the wheel can be rotated then I'd say the caliper has had it I'm afraid. The cable may well be sticking / seizing from lack of use, but, from experience, it's the caliper that's at fault.

Like has been suggested, remove the cable from the caliper and get an assistant to operate the handbrake and see if it moves freely. If it does, you won't need a cable. Then, with the cable still disconnected use a pry bar or similar and operate the arm on the caliper. The chances are the wheel will still rotate and you'll need a new one.

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Thu 31 Oct 2013 22:55
Vauxhall Vectra C 1.9 cdti 2004 - Drivers side hand brake not working - messa

Thankx guys il start tomorrow buy taking the cable of checking that then il have a look at the caliper.I had the same trouble last mot and i just pulled the lever back on the caliper back an then it worked for a couple of pulls enough for a pass and i told myself to get it sorted and anyway ive since passed my motor bike test so all my spare time has been thrown in to lessons and tests then buying a bike then summers here, time to play then before i new it its mot time again so its been put to the back of the closet for a year,now its time to get sorted,thanks again guys very much ;-).

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