Xantia H/Brake Cable

[RichardW]

I overhauled the front brakes on the Xantia over the weekend - new discs pads and cables (see my blog). Got the correct, longer (it's a MK2 HDi 110), cable for the NS which fits nicely, and the correct (according to their catalogue) part number QH cable for the OS - however, this appears to be too short - with the adjusters backed right off there is no free play in the cable to the handbrake operating lever on the caliper. I thought this was a fault of the QH cable, but superloopy1 posted a reply on my blog indicating the exact same problem with a Citroen OE cable Anyone come across this before? Is there a stepped ferrule on the cable that is not engaged in the equaliser properly or something? Or should Mk2s have longer OS cables?

Leaving the cables lying out in the hot sun for an hour made them nice and flexible and easy to slide in 8)

[SLYTZD]

As you probably know Citroen list the off-side hand brake cable as 1335mm, HQ 1333mm. This company makes a 1370mm O/S cable for £13.47 ex Vat. Might solve your problem.

http://www.citroen.car-brakes.co.uk/

[reblack68]

Are you sure you've routed it correctly?

I replaced the cables on my Mk2 and had no problems with the O/S. I'm sure the cable was just the normal length. If it's routed correctly I think you need to jiggle the "invisible" end to make sure it's fully located.

[RichardW]

I measured the cables that came off - the lengths bear no resemblence to the quoted lengths Pretty sure it is routed correctly - I think reblack is right, it is not located correctly in the equaliser under the car. I'll have another go at it some time and see if I can get it a bit better. Brakes are much better for new discs and pads! The low engine speed grumbling that I was getting has gone - I know this is associated with the HDi110 brakes, but I think the cause on mine was the rust on the outer edge of the disc making contact with the caliper - there are wear ridges in the caliper!

[Krede]

Hi RichardW.

I don't think you have made any mistakes.

Im in the EXACT same situation as you!. New Discs/pads and all..
One cable lacks some 5-10mm to "reach" all the way.

I messed around with it a lot trying to make it work this Saturday, as I had a 1200km journey to Germany yesterday...... I ended up going with just the left hand cable attached.

I tried swapping the cables, the one that fits, will fit either side just fine.. you really don't need two different types.

I suspect that the fault is with the adjustment screw at the end... on the 2.1 diesel cable it has been designed to fit the larger brake calibre, where's the other is made for a different calibre altogether!!.
I believe, that if you examine the cable ends, one has a "longer" thread allowing the wire to reach the handbrake arm on the calibre.

I plan to simply get another 2.1 cable and be done with it...

Regards
Christian

[Krede]

Replaced all six spheres today, along with the LHM fluid, front shock absorber mounts,the engine coolant and thermostat... And while I was at it, I did the handbrake cables too.

I went and bought a second LEFT SIDE 2.1 td/Turbo CT cable and fitted it on the right side, ignoring the claims that its too short!... I just don't believe that 1 cm should make that much difference on a cable more than 1 meter long!

The left hand cable fits fine, and there is plenty of thread left for adjusting the handbrake leaver.
To be sure the handbrake wasn't dragging, I turned the steering wheel at full lock(left) and adjusted the right cable to the point where it was just about to engage the arm on the calibre. then did the same on the other side...

works fine.

[SLYTZD]

I replaced the discs & pads front & back, along with the slightly longer O/S hand brake cables from the company I mentioned before & am pleased to report the cables fit nicely. As for the discs & pads I went for Black Diamond all round (£293.39 all inc Euro Perfomance)... more about them later.

[Krede]

Did you notice whether then "adjustment threads" were of the same length?.. that was the problem with the ones i got.

[SLYTZD]

I will try to have a look & also measure the old cables on the weekend, the old cables were alot longer to!

[ACTIVE8]

I replaced the discs & pads front & back, along with the slightly longer O/S hand brake cables from the company I mentioned before & am pleased to report the cables fit nicely. As for the discs & pads I went for Black Diamond all round (£293.39 all inc Euro Perfomance)... more about them later.

So, how did the Black Diamond brakes work out?

How much of an improvement/difference are they?

[ACTIVE8]

Hi SLYTZD

Regarding my previous question I would appreciate some info, as I need to attend to the front brakes on an Xantia.

[SLYTZD]

Hi sorry for not replying, I haven't been online for ALONG time. As for the Black Diamond brakes found that when I first fitted them I was left with almost no brakes at all until the coating wore off the discs. By that I mean travelling at 30 & standing on the brakes gradually slowed me down. It took around 300 to 500 miles to bed in properly & completely remove the coating.

Once bedded in I found that I had to be a lot firmer on the brakes than using normal pads & with day to day driving the drakes were worse! Another problem is the discs rusting, I didn't use the car for 2 weeks & the discs rusted badly which you might expect but the problem is on the rear as they don't do much work normally it takes a very long time for the pads to re-bed in made worse by the hard pad compound. I now have the problem that only half of the disc is shiny - working. Would defiantly not recommend putting Black Diamond or any other harder compound pad on the rear.

When it comes to more sporty driving, I found no real difference, braking was not better, didn't even think there was any noticeable difference when it came to brake fad.