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[Tick Tock]

Just getting the Omega Estate ready for its MOT test, and have adjusted the brake shoes and all seems well, apart from the fact the handbrake cable is only actuating the nearside. The offside is fine if the lever is pulled by hand on the back of the hub, so decided to have a look behind the heat shields to find out what's going on. I've owned the car 3 years now and haven't needed to do any work on the brakes apart from replacing pads.


First thing I see is the equalising bar is only pulling the nearside cable, and is not at a right angle as it should be, so am beginning to think the outer cable has pulled through its anchor point, hence the slack.


With the rear heat shields moved out of the way, it can be seen that the cable is in good condition, as are the anchor points.




All looks well at the back of the cables too, so I'm puzzled as to why the offside cable isn't operating (it's free enough in the outer sheath) and very slack.

Looking at the maintenance guide http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=102410.0  it states the cables are different lengths, and am beginning to wonder if this conundrum is as a result of a replacement handbrake cable being fitted wrong handed in previous ownership?

Would swapping the cables over cure this problem, or should I be looking elsewhere?

[minifreek]

Easiest thing is to swap over the cables and go from there...

Is the H/B actually working...?

[Tick Tock]

Yes, holds the car well on a hill, but only the nearside is being held.

What are the MOT test requirements? It's not been highlighted in the past 2 tests, so makes me wonder.

[JamesV6CDX]

Yes, holds the car well on a hill, but only the nearside is being held.

What are the MOT test requirements? It's not been highlighted in the past 2 tests, so makes me wonder.

Mine was doing this, it had slipped through an anchor point, fine now

[terry paget]

It is very common for the cable outers to pull through the curled holders near the wheel. The cure is to put a big washer on the cable so that it cannot pull through.

[Tick Tock]

Thanks for your replies. It doesn't 'look' like the outer has pulled through, and both sides look as they should do.



Having got the cable out of the anchor point.......


..... if I fit a large washer indicated by the white arrow, this will reduce the slack in the brake cable, and ultimately solve the problem. Is this what others have done?

[terry paget]

Yup

[Webby the Bear]

How does it feel when you spin the disc? I.e. have you under adjusted the nearside? If you believe you have I'd be tempted to adjust it all the way to ''on''. Then back it off slightly so you're absolutely sure

[omega3000]

Where's your return springs 

[Tick Tock]

I've probably spent more time on this job today than I needed to, but feel quite confident about any future brake adjustments that may be required. I spent time removing the heat shields, which at the end of the day I really needn't have done, but feel happy now knowing what's up behind there and the condition it's in. Thank you all for your input and help. The offside cable is now washered......


...... and this did improve the situation with the handbrake. The car is now ready for its test, so fingers crossed.


A 5mph handbrake application (numbered 2) has resulted in this image of the driveway, the number 1 being a previous attempt. I'm happy with the brakes and handbrake adjustments / cable. BTW - the return springs are intact, in good condition, and not featured on the images, and are sitting well between the backplate and the actuating lever.

[terry paget]

Well done! Good luck with the MOT test.
You always need to remove some heat shields adjusting the handbrake cable. Hope you did not break off too many retaining screws. Any you did break you can always replace with selt tapping screws nearby.