Floppy Xantia handbrake!

[Jodyone]

The handbrake on my new-to-me Xantia (2000 HDI 90) has just declared itself useless. There was a clonk or two and now it's.. floppy. I'll be trying to sort it tomorrow- where should I begin? Is the cable likely to have slipped in a clamp at the calipers -or elsewhere; or is it likely more complicated? The car was Mot'd a week ago by the garage I bought it from (sold as seen), but as an mot item I wonder if I should approach them for goodwill assistance if it gets complicated? Thanks for any help!

[jgra1]

Jody, I am wondering if one cable snapped whether the other would become useless or at best - slack.. pop the front wheels off and i suspect all will be revealed..
changing the cables is not hard or that expensive to be honest

John

[Jodyone]

Jody, I am wondering if one cable snapped whether the other would become useless or at best - slack.. pop the front wheels off and i suspect all will be revealed..
changing the cables is not hard or that expensive to be honest

John

I was wondering that too, as I'm not clear how it all links up. Hopefully wheels off will make it clear, but as it's all new to me I wondered if there is a known fail point elsewhere. Thanks!

[CitroJim]

The only known fail point is the cables snapping at the caliper end.

Remember the handbrake works on the front calipers on Hydraulic Citroens. If you look at the cables you'll see they run through guide rings and over time these guide rings wear the outer sheath of the cable and allow water in which rusts and eventually weakens the cable. It then snaps.

Cable replacement is easy. The opposite ends clip into a compensator on the side of the transmission tunnel and access can be gained by releasing the exhaust heatshield clips and just pulling the heatshield down just enough to gain access. The old cable nipples flick out and new ones push in.

Be aware that the cables are 'handed' and that 'big engine' versions (the V6, Activa, 2.1TD and 110 HDi) use a different sized LH cable to all the others.

[Jodyone]

Thanks for the clarification Jim. At least I know what to expect to find tomorrow. I'll wait till then to order the new cables though, just in case it's something odd- until it's fixed I'm heel-and-toeing on the hill starts...

[Jodyone]

Well, it turned out to be the driver side cable, failed in exactly the place Jim guessed. Jgra- it looks like the load is balanced between the 2 cables, and failure of one means the other won't work either, because the splitter, unloaded on one side, tilts uselessly to the other, when you pall the handbrake. At least it does on mine.

I've ordered a new cable, it looks straightforward to fit as Jim described. Thanks all!

[jgra1]

good news Jody

yep as Jim says, water getting in is one problem, also being front wheel handbrakes, the cables get a fair bit of movement with the steering..
there are advantages to them mind.. J-turns in reverse in an icy carpark for example

john

[CitroJim]

Excellent Jody Good guess on my part then

The compensator/splitter hardly ever gives trouble due to it's protected location and yours is working perfectly!