how do u fit a front handbrake cable on a mrk3?

tainmrk3polo · Post by **tainmrk3polo** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 10:36 am

well as it says, ive tried using haynes (what a load of old tosh!) i mean it says: fit the rear cable to the rear compensator..... A) what the hell is the compensator, B) how the hell? if i try fitting it to what it looks like in the book then it doesnt bstarred well fit!

help!

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:29 pm

mum's gone to kwik fit

errr well something like that.

(sorry it just poinged into my head - the local kwik is next door to an iceland)

take it to them, or any other garage, shouldnt be more'n a fiver, tenner tops, nice bloke might do it free on the off chance you'll remember him for a big job --- and watch what they do.

i.e. havunt a clue mate

hayesey · Post by **hayesey** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 2:31 pm

it's a bit akward to do to be honest. the rear compensator is just a rectangle shaped metal thingy which all the cables connect into right next to the rear axle. You just have to jack the car up & stretch the cable into it with the handbrake off. It's a bit of a pain but I'm not aware of any easier way of doing it.

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 3:41 pm

You also have to get it the right way up.. the front cable goes through a slot in the compensator bar, make sure the slot is facing down instead of up or the bar will just fall off the cable.. happened to me when I did mine

Very embarrassing.. "Hey guys, got my handbrake fixed, good to go!" *bang*
At least your haynes gives you a rough guide to doing it though.. the mk2 haynes has a section for it in the ammendments section, which goes something like this:

"The handbrake cable design was altered on post-1985 models. No further details are available at time of printing"

Had to work it all out myself..