URGENT HANDBRAKE HELP NEEDED !!

[Mellers]

Hi everyone. The primary handbrake cable has snapped on my 99 406 Estate. I am trying to remove the old cable but I'm stuck.
I have removed the centre console (what a palarva) and disconnected at the back by the adjuster and removed the clips that secure the cable along under the car.

But now I'm stuck. The cable goes BEHIND the heat shield which is BEHIND the exhaust. How the hell do I get the last bit out? Do I seriously have to remove the exhaust so that I can remove the heat shield so that I can finally remove the cable?

Urgent advice would be most welcome.

PLEASE.

[teamster1975]

You don't need to remove the exhaust. If you drop the heat shield down on top of the exhaust pipe there is just enough room to fiddle the cable in. Watch out for cuts from the edge of the heat shield!

[Mellers]

Thanks Teamster1975, I will give that a try, it just doesn't seem possible when you are stretched out under the car.

Cheers

[teamster1975]

It's a squeeze but it is possible. Just make sure you've got the rear end jacked up a fair amount with good support; I did mine last year and it's not a job for the claustrophobic if you're working on your back!!

[steve_earwig]

I didn't even need to drop the heat shield, just manoeuvre the inner from the handbrake mechanism (if yours doesn't just fall out), use a screwdriver to cut the tabs of the clip, then give it a pull from underneath. You might want to tape a wire on the inner to make it easier to feed the new one in but it's probably just as good to poke some stiff wire through the hole, then tape that to the inner so you can pull it up through the hole.

Might help - viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10317&p=91587&hilit ... ble#p92036

[FarmerPug]

On the topic of the handbrake, i have had to buy my car new cables, it seems they can rub against the bits holding them in, so a bit of duck tape over these weaker areas should stop that on the new cables