C5 handbrake

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Re: C5 handbrake

Post by citroenxm »

There's a plastic coating over the cable to help protect it.. its this coating that snarls up and restricts the cable pulling out.. Ifyou get the whole lot out as one which rarely you do then the new cable will push through no problem.. They do for a new tube anyway.

Looks a good top. Might try that with a drill next time. Why use a tube though? Why not just move the drill chuck upto the guide tube and cut the excess off after?
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Re: C5 handbrake

Post by Estately »

I used a tube because the new cable would loop itself up and because and I needed to be sure that I had enough tube to refit the new cable by rotating it.
The new one wouldn't slide in even when greased it had to be rotated.
Will be interesting to hear if this method works for others.

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Re: C5 handbrake

Post by waynedance »

My handbrake cables are fine it is the caliper tbar keeps sticking. Going to look at fitting extra springs.
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Re: C5 handbrake

Post by deano1970 »

well,
I don't have the know how to fix it and so it's on the for sale boards on here now,with 200 knocked off the price....feel sick writing that because I haven't seen a car with service history like this has,rear radius arm bearings both done on back,new battery,new mot, new suspension valve,heater resistor just replaced,new pirelli tyres, the list goes on....I have spent too much on it for my liking and the previous owner literally spent thousands on it. I am not prepared to keep throwing money at it,maybe all the history it has is because it kep needing money spent on it?? I just use it without using the handbrake now......poxy car :cry:
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Re: C5 handbrake

Post by Jeff »

Waynedance, Photo below just before I cleaned off excess plusgas I syringed into the caliper. Finding the right size springs is the problem. I had a couple of suitable springs from the shed so cant advise on where to buy, I did consider deck chair springs but they were too short, on my car the other caliper has the same length spring but slightly thinner gauge.

Under the lower bolt holding the caliper on I put a thin oversized washer with a lug again something from a tool box (or you could use a thin strip of metal with a hole drilled) and then connected the spring between the hole in the washer and over the caliper lever. Its own pressure keeps it in place. IMHO the original spring set up is not fit for purpose, e.g. the main outer spring is actually loose and not under any pressure at all before the lever is back fully down. Good luck.

Image
Last edited by Jeff on 31 Jan 2014, 18:37, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: C5 handbrake

Post by waynedance »

Just been looking on ebay at springs to use for the mod to the calipers.

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Re: C5 handbrake

Post by myglaren »

Photo inserted into Jeff's last post.
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Re: C5 handbrake

Post by dnsey »

My theory is that sticky caliper syndrome comes of not changing the brake fluid and bleeding the caliper regularly. The fluid picks up water, which rusts the internal handbrake mechanism. That's why external lubrication doesn't last - it's actually the excercising of the lever when lubing which helps temporarily, and usually for just as long whether or not oil is used. The n/s caliper on my C5 has a broken bleed nipple, so has probably had old fluid in it for years, and is prone to seizing. The o/s one has been bled regularly, and gives no trouble. Coincidence or not?
I've recently noticed that an eBay seller is offering rebuilt calipers with a two year guarantee for £37.49, with £15 back for the old caliper; I might well give them a try when I change pads and discs next time [no connection etc...]
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Re: C5 handbrake

Post by Jeff »

Hi dnsey, that sounds like a very good deal for refurb caliper... also you maybe correct about the underlying problem with the calipers, all I know through trial and error is that with a bit of attention and the extra external spring I can put off buying new or refurbed calipers...for the past couple of years. My car is a 51 plate so the way I see it I am just nursing it until something more serious kills it. The paint work on the car is a credit to Citroen and I have had compliments but its probably the electronics that will do it in...or similar...
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Re: C5 handbrake

Post by deano1970 »

ha,
I like that jeff, nursing it until something more serious kills it.....well, got some interest in mine,so may not have it much longer, thought there would be more interest in it at the price it's now on sale at,as pointed out, I have never quite seen money spent on a car like this has had,it's frightening......I would most definitely keep it if I did more miles in it cos the mpg goes up significantly on a run,just very poor round town compared to the 2.0 hdi?? oh well.....we'll see what happens.....
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Re: C5 handbrake

Post by Jeff »

Its costs v excellent ride experience, a bit like women....
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Re: C5 handbrake

Post by RichardW »

Looks to me like the CV joint gaiter is buggered too.... :(
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Re: C5 handbrake

Post by Gregg1100 »

waynedance wrote:Just been looking on ebay at springs to use for the mod to the calipers.

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I will have to do this mod to sons o/s/f calliper on his 05 C5 VTR. This calliper was replaced about 18 months ago, don't really want to replace it again. As an idea, some of the springs for side and mainstand on motorcycles are rather beefy. The spring on the sidestand on my EN 500 Kawasaki, could hold the QE3 against a dockside, :-D. Part number 92081-1676

How do you get to syringe plusgas into the handbrake part of the calliper---is there a hole with a bung there or something??
Also, what is behind the handbrake lever(on calliper)? Is it just a cam, or will hydraulic oil pour out??
I would like to take that part of calliper apart and try to clean it up and use a better grease
There are two sizes of calliper for his C5- one smaller and cheaper---the other larger and a lot more expensive. No prizes for guessing which one he had to buy, lol.

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Re: C5 handbrake

Post by citroenxm »

Its a Cam, the only area with fluid IS behind the Brake piston/pads. Hand brakes completely Mechanical
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Re: C5 handbrake

Post by waynedance »

My o/s caliper hand brake keeps sticking and only changed it 16 months ago. Just added an extra spring will see how it gets on.

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