handbrake madness

[deano1970]

C5 exclusive estate 2.2 52 plate.............

booked car in for handbrake,took it yesterday to have new cable fitted. got a call from them at 17:45 saying they had a problem with it......said they couldn't get the cable out of the steel tube and so now they have to order that as well,only they can't get it until monday,so i'm left with no handbrake at all........I think it's probably cos they don't really deal with such things,though they managed to do my arm bearings.....very annoying and I don't know how much this "tube" will cost...though it must be a dealer part cos they cannot get it until monday...........

[RichardW]

It's a well known problem on the C5 - they're only £20, but fitting is a bit of a git, as you have to drop the exhaust off - expect a couple of hours labour to do it.... If the garage is not a Cit specialist, they can be forgiven for not knowing it may be a problem, and advising in advance.

[deano1970]

to be fair richard, they did the rear arm bearings ok and have just struggled with this "tube"....and yes, I was told by forum user lighty,went to his place in ilkeston last saturday to have the rear height adjusted (riding too high) and he said that the parts are cheap but as you say, it's the time taking exhaust off etc...he also said though that they are usually quite reliable and it's probably the first time it's had a new cable?? I dunno, and as it just passed mot before it started sticking,I would have used it for a few months like it is but the mrs doesn't like driving it without having a handbrake

[Jeff]

Exhaust does not need to be dismantled... Need to loosen heat shield to fiddle getting guide tubes in and out.

Actually you could leave the good handbrake side connected up and you would have a workable handbrake for around town and waiting in traffic on small inclines...if needed tighten up the handbrake in the console to shorten the cable but should work anyway as a temp solution...

[411514]

As far as I know it is relatively common that the guide tubes need replacing when doing the cables, as the cables weld themselves to the inside and are near on impossible to remove.

I did the job a little while ago and spent ages trying to manipulate the guide tubes into place without much luck. I found the trick was to drop the exhaust off the rubber mount, just enough to allow it to lower an inch or two and after that they slotted straight in.

IIRC the guides are about £25 each from the dealer so shouldn't be massively expensive.

Sam

[Hell Razor5543]

I have just found a post that suggests (with care) a variable speed drill might be able to help;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... e%2C+drill" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[deano1970]

cheers everybody.......hopefully I will have a working handbrake by monday.......hopefully won't be too expensive, needs taxing end of month and spent a load on it since I had it..........

[deano1970]

well,
still no handbrake.......I took it in last wednesday, then they had trouble getting the cable out of the guide tubes and snapped it,so said I needed another tube.prices state on here between 20 and 25 pounds,but how hard is it to get one?? I rang them on thursday and they said they couldn't get the part until monday,so I left my car again,(only work next door) and got back from work last night, car not been touched,just rang them this morning and the guy said the part hadn't turned up yet and it must be a "specialized part" ?? I can't see that it should be this difficult to source one of these guide tubes?? doing my head in because,although I don't really mind driving it with no handbrake,the mrs does and she is pecking my head because it is taking so long,and I agree to a point, tomorrow it will be a week since it first went in,for a handbrake cable????? far too long in my opinion,but I know nothing about them,so,do I stick with them or go elsewhere? wish I had booked it in with lighty off here now??/

[Jeff]

Guide tube is main dealer and when I ordered mine was ordered into stock 24 or 48 hours, very quick I remember.

[deano1970]

cheers jeff,
feel like i'm being messed about with this somewhat....is this the item I need? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111261324232? ... 1423.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; even available on e bay,can't be too hard to get hold of??

[Jeff]

It looks similar Deano but I cant say 100% if they are all the same, the supplier should be a able to confirm, maybe someone on here. I also remember the cables I got from a motor factor....cheaper than main dealer.

Look at the shape of the tube - is it any wonder C5 front handbrakes give problems??? Add in the side caliper lever....with insufficient spring return strength.....once the guide tube rusts inside it squeezes the cable, add in winter freezing weather and thats usually the start of the seized on handbrake (other than just a faulty caliper...).

[myglaren]

I had the tubes and cables replaced on my estate, they ordered the parts in the morning and I collected the car at 16:30, all sorted.
Except it was the calliper that was goosed.

[deano1970]

that's amazing steve, and jeff,it is correct,I phoned the company up on e bay and he checked against my reg number so I ordered it and booked it in at a garage for friday...I rang the garage this morning that was supposed to be doing it and they just said they are still waiting for it to come into stock as it's a dealer part and citroen don't keep it in stock, so I left my mob number and asked them to chase it up today and let me know. they didn't,I had to phone them again late afternoon,and they just said same thing, so I told them to cancel it cos I can get one off e bay, so he said,fine,just bring it in when it comes, but as their customer service has been anything but good, I just won't go back to them,let this other garage do it.....just my luck,been without a handbrake for over a week and steve gets his done same day............

[deano1970]

and yes jeff, they are a very strange shape and strange idea for that.......pretty fed up that,after a week almost, I am left with no handbrake at all.....doesn't bother me but the mrs hates driving it with no handbrake........