hand brake issue please help

masters88 · 12-26-2009, 10:37 AM

i have a issue with my hand brake. when i pull it up it wont roll forward but it still rolls backward if im on a hill. if i pull it going forward the car will stop. but it has no use when i roll backwards so i cant park on a hill ill just keep rolling down so i leave it in first gear. i looked at the hand brake lever the cable is slightly loose. when i pull the hand brake all the way up it clicks 10 times.. is that to much? any thing i should check out besides the brake lever adjustment?

masters88 · 12-26-2009, 11:36 AM

nevermind. i adjusted the lever to 7 clicks and it works fine now!

exitwound · exitwound's Garage

I have mine set to 4 clicks and it holds both ways on hills. 1st click is enough to feel it start to grab.

cauzomb · 12-27-2009, 01:28 AM

Check the handle and make sure that it isn't bent! it should be completely flat around the pivots and bolts. It can get bent by putting weight on the handle, getting in and out of the car, or laying upside down on the seat, through the door, to look under the dash..

My parking brake would pull up high, but would still roll backwards, like yours..

Found out after trying to adjust my parking shoes, and not getting anywhere, figured my shoes were worn out, so I bought a good set of used shoes, and proceded to take my parts off and go to replace with the good used shoes, only to find that my shoes were still in good shape with decent amount of lining still there, they would adjust correctly, but the handle wouldn't pull them tight, then I found a section on clarks about adjusting the handle cable..

Started looking at my handle closer between the rocker/carpet area and found a C-clip missing from one of the pivot shafts on the handle, and the sheet metal on the handle around that pivot area was bent up really bad.. Took the handle apart and used the internal ratchet plate as a backing and clamped it a few times in the vice to straighten out the sheetmetal. found some c-clips at the local hardware store, replaced, then adjusted to 3-4 clicks, working great now.

Paulyy · 12-27-2009, 04:05 AM

all i know is in australia the road worthey law is if it clickes more then 7 times it's not safe

tighen it, make it click around 4-5 times and make sure it dosnt roll backwards down the hill.

better be safe them sorry i guess. I and i really dont want to hear "last night my 944 rolled down a hill and wrapped it self around a power pole".

Lapponia · 12-27-2009, 04:39 AM

masters88! Always start from the back when adjusting parking brakes. Adjusts brake shoes until they make it almost impossible to turn the wheel hub then back off a little with the adjusting screw just to release hub (needs very little to do this). Lastly adjust handbrake lever to 3 - 4 click to make full braking in all directions of the car.
Funny though, its the same procedure as in my old 1960 Beetle LOL

cvriv.charles · 12-27-2009, 11:27 PM

Dont trust your HB. Park it in gear.