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15 Handbrake - adjustment
2
All models except 1.9 GTI
1 The handbrake is normally kept adjusted by
the action of the automatic adjusters on the
rear brake shoes. However, in due course, the
cables will stretch and will have to be adjusted
in order to fully apply the handbrake.
2 To adjust, first place the handbrake lever
onto the seventh notch.
3 Chock the front wheels then jack up the
rear of the car and support it on axle stands
(see “Jacking and vehicle support”).
4 Working inside the car, remove the screw
and lift the cover from the handbrake lever
(see illustration).
5 Slacken the locknut and turn the
adjustment nut on the rear of the cable
compensator so that both rear wheels are just
binding on the brake shoes (see illustration).
6 Fully apply the handbrake lever and check
that both rear wheels are locked.
7 Tighten the adjuster locknut, fit the cover
over the handbrake lever and lower the car to
the ground.
8 Over-adjustment will prevent the automatic
adjusters operating correctly so make sure
that the handbrake is fully applied after being
pulled up between 7 and 9 notches, no fewer.
1.9 GTI models
9 Chock the wheels and fully release the
handbrake.
10 Apply the brake pedal hard several times.
11 Working inside the car, remove the screw
and lift the cover from the handbrake lever.
12 Working beneath the rear of the car,
measure the distance between the operating
levers on the calipers and the end stops on
the inner cables (see illustration).
13 Inside the car, loosen the nut on the
handbrake lever until the distance measured
in the previous paragraph is 5.0 mm on both
sides.
14 Check that the operating levers on both
calipers move freely and return positively to
their stops.
15 Now tighten the nut on the handbrake
lever so that the handbrake is fully applied
between 7 and 9 notches. Do not over-adjust
so that the handbrake is fully applied over
fewer notches, otherwise the automatic
adjusters will not operate correctly.
16 Refit the cover over the handbrake lever.
16 Handbrake cables - renewal
2
All models except 1.9 GTI
1 Remove the rear brake shoes, as described
in Section 5.
2 Working inside the car, remove the screw
and lift the cover from the handbrake lever.
3 Unhook the cable(s) from the compensator.
4 Release the cable(s) from the retaining
clips, the floor, the fuel tank, and the rear
brake backplate(s) and withdraw from under
the car (see illustration).
5 Fit the new cable(s) using a reversal of the
removal procedure with reference also to
Section 5. Finally adjust the handbrake as
described in Section 15.
1.9 GTI models
6 Working inside the car, remove the screw
and lift the cover from the handbrake lever.
7 Unhook the cable from the compensator.
8 Chock the front wheels then jack up the
rear of the car and support it on axle stands
(see “Jacking and vehicle support”).
9 Release the cable(s) from the retaining
clips, the floor, the fuel tank, the bracket(s),
and the caliper lever(s), and withdraw from
under the car.
10 Fit the new cable(s) using a reversal of the
removal procedure. Finally adjust the
handbrake as described in Section 15.
17 Brake pedal - removal and
refitting
3
Removal
1 Remove the lower facia panel from the
steering column in order to gain access to the
pedal bracket.
9•14 Braking system
15.4 Remove the screw and lift the cover
from the handbrake lever
15.5 Handbrake adjustment nut and
locknut (arrowed)
15.12 Handbrake adjustment on 1.9 GTI models
1 Handbrake operating lever on caliper
a = 5.0 mm
16.4 Handbrake cable clip and bracket located on rear
suspension arm