Handbrake doesn't disengage (even after new drum brake internals)

[BearMcPear]

Yet another handbrake thread here, but I couldn't find this particular issue discussed in other threads.
My car failed its inspection as the driver's side (LHD) rear drum was sticking on after the handbrake was applied and disengaged. The passenger side was fine.
None of the drum components themselves seemed to be broken, but they were old and the pads looked a bit naff so decided to get a rebuild kit.
Weirdly though the handbrake doesn't disengage on either side anymore. I assume the spring at the end of the cable is meant to do that?
The spring looks quite rusty and is not the smoothest so I went over it with a wire brush and cleaned it as best as I could with some brake cleaner.
Did I do something wrong during the rebuild, or do I simply need new cables? It seems odd to me that the problem has gotten worse after fitting new parts.

 

[robskiA2tdi]

Yet another handbrake thread here, but I couldn't find this particular issue discussed in other threads.
My car failed its inspection as the driver's side (LHD) rear drum was sticking on after the handbrake was applied and disengaged. The passenger side was fine.
None of the drum components themselves seemed to be broken, but they were old and the pads looked a bit naff so decided to get a rebuild kit.
Weirdly though the handbrake doesn't disengage on either side anymore. I assume the spring at the end of the cable is meant to do that?
The spring looks quite rusty and is not the smoothest so I went over it with a wire brush and cleaned it as best as I could with some brake cleaner.
Did I do something wrong during the rebuild, or do I simply need new cables? It seems odd to me that the problem has gotten worse after fitting new parts.

View attachment 116523

Are cables moving ok when off from brake mechanism?

 

[audifan]

So you fitted new shoes? Sometimes the lever that is fitted to the shoe the cable pulls on is a bit tight and sticks. Disconnect the cable and work the lever fore and aft to free it up a bit. If the spring on the cable has rusted that will have weakened it perhaps to the point that it is not capable of resetting the hand brake. Also if the shoes are sticking on the backplate due to worn PTFE pads that will not help.

 

[BearMcPear]

Are cables moving ok when off from brake mechanism?

Even when disconnected the cable doesn't really seem to move, but it is difficult to verify on my own.

 

[BearMcPear]

So you fitted new shoes? Sometimes the lever that is fitted to the shoe the cable pulls on is a bit tight and sticks. Disconnect the cable and work the lever fore and aft to free it up a bit. If the spring on the cable has rusted that will have weakened it perhaps to the point that it is not capable of resetting the hand brake. Also if the shoes are sticking on the backplate due to worn PTFE pads that will not help.

Yes the shoes are new. I can move the handbrake lever (inside the drum, not in the car) relatively easily by hand so I don't think it is sticking.
I assume that you can't replace the spring on its own? That would save quite some time if possible.
Your comment about it being too weak makes some sense. Could be that my cleaning stripped away some rust but also weakened it further.

 

[kp 115]

Yes the shoes are new. I can move the handbrake lever (inside the drum, not in the car) relatively easily by hand so I don't think it is sticking.
I assume that you can't replace the spring on its own? That would save quite some time if possible.
Your comment about it being too weak makes some sense. Could be that my cleaning stripped away some rust but also weakened it further.

Is the wedge in the wrong way around??? As this can cause it to fail to release

 

[AndyBa]

There appears to be a general issue with VAG rear drums/shoes.
We have a Skoda Citigo that the rear shoes have been rubbing and they now need replacing. The drum was full of brake dust. It seems to be a combination of many things. The metal content in the shoes causing them to fuse on if they have got wet. The handbrake arm being stiff (probs lube with copperslip/likewise the wedge). The shoes not moving freely. The handbrake cables not moving freely.
Bit of a PITA.
In our case the drums now need replacing/skimming.

 

[BigBang]

Citigo has probably the same drum brake setup as A2. BTW it is same as Golf Mk3 and more likely same as Mk2 as it is same platform. Therefore I wouln't be surprised for Citigo to be the same in the back as it is same in the front...

 

[AndyBa]

Not sure when VAG changed the rear drum set-up but now you can take the drums off without interferring with the bearings which is a minor step forward. Assume post MK2 Golf but not sure.

 

[BigBang]

The brake setup doesn't interferre with bearing construction. Golf 2/3 had bearing in the drum, A2/Fabia etc. have separate hub, but shoes are the same. Last shoe change I did on ym A2 (with cylinder change) I used old shoes from golf 3 I foung in my garage

 

[dj_efk]

I would replac3 the cables. It cured my sticky rear brakes.

 

[datsundrew]

I would replac3 the cables. It cured my sticky rear brakes.

Me too.

 

[Alan_uk]

Don't forget that later A2's with the bigger fuel tank had handbrake cables of different lengths - just 18mm differences. Whilst one person on this forum said they got away with fitting equal length cables the must be a reason for Audi having a new part - 18mm must be of significance, and fitting equal lengths may cause binding. I also found supplier websites often mixed them up.

Also check any new handbrake is fitted in the correct position on the axle with the clips. I bought a new handbrake cable and when comparing to the old I saw the circlip was in the wrong position (photo below). So I bought another 2 (each a different length for left and right) and their circlips lined up OK. Yet to fit them.

Edit: corrected 8mm to 18mm

 

[dj_efk]

That’s interesting - didn’t know that. I just used the Audi part numbers to order good aftermarket brand parts so that’s why I didn’t fall foul of this I guess.

 

[BearMcPear]

That’s interesting - didn’t know that. I just used the Audi part numbers to order good aftermarket brand parts so that’s why I didn’t fall foul of this I guess.

Yeah that is a good idea as when I look up handbrake cables for my car I find them in all sorts of lengths. Does anyone have the parts numbers?

 

[Alan_uk]

Yeah that is a good idea as when I look up handbrake cables for my car I find them in all sorts of lengths. Does anyone have the parts numbers?

Handbrake cable offside / right Length: 1075mm​	​	[6] 13​	8Z0609722G​	Apec​	CAB1571​	1​	£21.31​
Handbrake cable nearside / left Length: 1057mm​	​	[6] 13​	8Z0609721G​	First Line​	434220RMP​	1​	£15.30​

EOE - check I got them the right way round as I did get confused! The one with the possibly wrong circlip was a Spark. I liked the Apec but could not find the other cable from them and went for the cheaper First Line. The First Line thick section is made of a softer material compared to the Apec. I just noticed the difference in length is 18mm not 8mm

 

[BearMcPear]

Handbrake cable offside / right Length: 1075mm​	​	[6] 13​	8Z0609722G​	Apec​	CAB1571​	1​	£21.31​
Handbrake cable nearside / left Length: 1057mm​	​	[6] 13​	8Z0609721G​	First Line​	434220RMP​	1​	£15.30​

EOE - check I got them the right way round as I did get confused! The one with the possibly wrong circlip was a Spark. I liked the Apec but could not find the other cable from them and went for the cheaper First Line. The First Line thick section is made of a softer material compared to the Apec. I just noticed the difference in length is 18mm not 8mm

Thanks a lot! I try to get the part numbers from lllparts.co.uk but they didn't seem to list the handbrake on there.

 

[Alan_uk]

I have a feeling I could not find original Audi ones. They maybe discontinued.

I got mine off ebay. Links below. Note it looks like I got the left and right mixed up. Corrected (I think!) below.

Handbrake cable nearside / left Length: 1057mm​	8Z0609721G ​	Apec​	CAB1571​	£21.31​	Handbrake Cable Rear Left CAB1571 Apec Hand Brake Parking 8Z0609721C 8Z0609721G | eBay Handbrake Cable Rear Left CAB1571 Apec. VW 8Z0609721C, 8Z0609721G. Part Number CAB1571. APEC CAB1571. Type Cable Pull, parking brake. Model year from: 08/2000; Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) from: 8Z3010001; Fitting Position: Left Rear; Brake Type: Drum Brake. www.ebay.co.uk
Handbrake cable offside / right Length: 1075mm​	8Z0609722G	First Line​	434220RMP​	£15.30​	Handbrake Cable fits AUDI A2 8Z0 1.4D Rear 00 to 05 Hand Brake Parking Firstline | eBay AUDI A2 (8Z0) 1.2 TDI Hatchback Diesel 03/2001 08/2005 FWD 6 61 45. AUDI A2 (8Z0) 1.4 Hatchback Petrol 02/2000 08/2005 FWD 16 75 55. AUDI A2 (8Z0) 1.4 TDI Hatchback Diesel 02/2000 08/2005 FWD 6 75 55. www.ebay.co.uk

 

[BearMcPear]

Still waiting on the cables. Might take a while due to the holidays.
Do want to reiterate to be careful when buying them, as my local car parts store said they had the cables for my car but that was only because their system said I needed two 1075 mm ones.