So, my car failed the MOT (Not unexpectedly) on the weak handbrake. (Cable operated). Shoes needed doing as did the discs, and pads, so I had the lot replaced. Was still unhappy with the handbrake as I had to use all my strength to yank it up in order to hold the car. So I took it back to the garage. Turns out that the cable tensioner (attached to the handbrake lever) is broken and cannot be any further adjusted so has to be replaced. You can't get the tensioner on its own apparently, just a handbrake kit. -Gonna cost me another £230 ish quid apparently. -Anyone else had this? -Is it a common failure? My search didn't turn up much unfortunately......

Oh, and while I'm at it, don't trust your range meter..... ran out of fuel the other day when I apparently still had 25 miles left to go........

4.2 S/C 06MY

Cheap fix we used years ago, take the cable off and tie a knot in it...!!!

Handbrakes are next to useless when they are working correctly anyway, never used mine, just stick it in park..! Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Pete!! Where have you been? apologies OP

Rosco, PM me.. Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Haylands wrote:

Cheap fix we used years ago, take the cable off and tie a knot in it...!!!

Handbrakes are next to useless when they are working correctly anyway, never used mine, just stick it in park..!

I can't agree that potentially having to rebuild a gearbox is preferable to maintaining and using a parking brake.

A couple of tons against a relatively tiny piece of metal inside a very expensive moving parts case, rather than a couple of tons against a cheapish cable and very cheap designed brake shoes.

No brainer IMHO.

I always use the hand brake on all my cars auto or man, even the totally useless for 'hill starts' ML foot operated thing. (I don't have an extra foot).

Best Rich

I agree with you Rich, I tend to use my handbrake as much as possible.

Anvil, I replaced all the same as you, luckily after a lot of time adjusting it I have a fairly decent handbrake. Although I still have the dreaded ratchet slip some times. I'll be interested to see how you get on.

Driven automatics for 35+ years including hundreds of thousands of miles in police cars, never used the handbrake in an automatic, the parking pawl is much stronger than you think, it is designed to hold the vehicle on a very steep hill with a massive trailer on the back and then some....

Never heard of anyone braking a parking pawl on an autobox...

At the end of the day, do what you're happy with, the handbrakes are still c***..!! Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Thanks for your views folks. I’ll keep you posted as to how it goes. Car goes in this evening.
Cheers!

Haylands wrote:

Driven automatics for 35+ years including hundreds of thousands of miles in police cars, never used the handbrake in an automatic, the parking pawl is much stronger than you think, it is designed to hold the vehicle on a very steep hill with a massive trailer on the back and then some....

Never heard of anyone braking a parking pawl on an autobox...

At the end of the day, do what you're happy with, the handbrakes are still c***..!!

You put it in D when you are stationary then slowly release the brakes to let it rest against the pawl, only violent behavior will damage anything....!! Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

nice to see you back pete

OK, So handbrake mechanism replaced. It seems that the first half of the movement in the broken one didn't actually do anything. It was only the second half that actuated the shoes due to the broken cable tensioner. Lever action feels the same, but the handbrake now works. Still to test it on a REALLY steep hill though!