Handbrake cables - renewal
Pre September 1985 models
1 Chock the front wheels, then fully release the handbrake.
2 Raise and support the vehicle at the rear with safety stands (see “Jacking and vehicle support”).
Primary cable
3 Extract the spring clip and clevis pin and disconnect the primary cable from the equaliser.
Handbrake system layout
A Cable guide
B Adjuster
C Carrier (back) plate plunger
D Primary cable
E Equaliser
F Secondary cables
4 Working inside the vehicle, disconnect the cable from the handbrake control lever, again by removal of clip and pin. Drift out the cable guide to the rear and withdraw the cable through the floorpan.
5 Refitting is a reversal of removal. Adjust the handbrake if necessary.
Secondary cable
6 Remove the rear roadwheel each side then remove the brake drums. Disengage the handbrake secondary cable from the rear brake assembly and pass through the brake backplate, having released the retaining clip.
Handbrake cable-to-brake backplate securing clip
7 Extract the circlip and remove the clevis pin from the cable equaliser unit.
8 Disengage and remove the secondary cable from the body bracket clips and unhook it from the body supports. The cable can then be removed from under the vehicle.
Secondary cable location bracket
9 Refitting is a reversal of removal. Grease the cable groove in the equaliser and also each side of the outer cable location clip.
Lubricate each side of the cable location clip (arrowed)
Adjust the handbrake on completion.
Models from September 1985
10 Proceed as above, noting that since September 1985 a locking pin has been fitted to the cable adjuster abutment bracket to lock the adjuster sleeve and locknut together.
11 Should it be necessary to renew the cable, the locking pin must be removed by pulling it out using pliers.
Handbrake cable adjuster locking pin removal
After adjustment a new nylon locking pin must be used and can be fitted by carefully tapping it into place.