Handbrake to Hell

 So, I've noticed my handbrake has been a bit weird recently; sometimes comes on with just a couple of clicks, other times the lever needs to be almost vertical. Some research suggests this is a common issue, as the pads delaminate or just crumble. Replacing them didn't look too horrendous, so what could go wrong? Bloody everything, is the answer...

1st issue: bolt holding the brake cable bracket snapped off almost immediately on the N/S and I noticed that had happened previously on the O/S as well and a previous bodger had just drilled a new hole.

2nd issue: on the N/S, the 2 small bolts holding the brake disc on came out quite easily but both on the O/S rounded off and wouldn't move. I had to drill them out using a reverse threaded drill - fortunately didn't take too long.

Taking the old pads out was quite simple; on the N/S, only one pad had some material on it, which fell off straight away. The other pad had a few crumbling bits on it. The O/S was a joke, just piles of dust came out with a few flaky bits - amazing my handbrake worked at all:

I cleaned up the hubs with a wire brush, ready for the new pads and that's when everything went to shit...

There are 2 big springs, 2 smaller ones and the adjuster, which all have to be fitted almost as one. I watched a helpful YT video which suggested the easiest order but initially, I just couldn't get it to work. They're only small springs but they have the tensile strength of an elephant and trying to get them in was a NIGHTMARE. After about an hour, I seemed to have them on but it didn't look right; one springs was stretched too far and the brake disc wouldn't go back on, suggesting the pads were too far apart.

I sweated and swore for another hour trying to get it to work but nothing helped. I left it for the night (lucky I started on Saturday) to have a think.

I tried watching a few more videos and suddenly, it clicked - I had the pads on upside down!!! In my defence, every picture of them shows them that way, so I assumed that's how they went on. Jees, what a doofus!!

So, in the morning, I switched them around and it was obviously better BUT now the problem was getting the bottom spring on. Once again, another hour trying to find a way to get it on and keep the handbrake levers fitted into the pads - bloody nightmare!

Eventually, I worked out how to do it - difficult to explain but requires holding the pad at 90 degrees to the spring, get it in the hole and then force the pad into position, using the leverage of the pad to stretch the spring.

BLOODY HELL!! One side done after a mere 8 hours of effort!

With my hard-earned knowledge from one side, it took a mere 20 minutes to do the other side.

The fun wasn't over; I still had to adjust the handbrake which caused a bit of an issue when one of the adjusters wouldn't turn but I was such a pro by now, I could take it out and free it up. Once replaced, the adjustment was quite quick.

The final job was drilling out the snapped bolt for the brake line bracket and finding a spare nut and bolt to replace it with.

Calipers and wheels back on - job finally done, a total of around 10 hours over 2 days!

Part of the reason for giving up my kit car was not wanting to struggle fixing it and here we are...I may have to bite the bullet from now on and just pay someone else to do anything. I'm not sure if it's worth the pain to do it myself...