Handbrake ratchet failure

[ihaines]

Hi, the ratchet mechanism on my VYII S has just failed. Handbrake still works fine, but will not stay up. It does not click when you lift the handle either (normally I would push the button when operating). Any suggestions on how to fix it? Thanks.

[daniel555]

Yep. Mine has recentaly just broken, Still to get fixed.

Slide the hand brake cover off, And the button lever thing would have come away from the part it connects too.
Hard to explain, but you'll know what i mean when u slide it off.
I havent gotten mine fixed yet, Hopefully next week, But thats what im guessing your prob is.

Here is a pick to explain what i meant.


That yellow thing comes away from the hook thing. (Sorry for all the "things")
Dunno if yours is as bad as mine, but my yellow thing and grabbing thing needs replacing, One of the grabbers hooks has broken off and the yellow thing has been scrached-rubbed away.

Hope it helps.

[ihaines]

Thanks Daniel555, looks like it may be the same thing. Time for the first dumb question. How do you get the button and plastic piece off first so you can remove the rubber boot?

[daniel555]

Just use a small screwdriver, And basically flick it up from the back, Then the whole rubber handbrake cover should slide off.

[ihaines]

Thanks again, you were right, it is exactly the same fault as yours. Any idea where to get a replacement and possible cost? Would you trust one from a wreckers if they had them?

[daniel555]

Yeah, I'd just get one from the wreckers. But we have a family friend mechanic, So its due for a service this week anyway.

[ihaines]

I'll do that. Thanks for your help, have a great night.

[crew chief]

entire arm assembly from motor traders was about $48, did mine about 3 weeks ago

[daniel555]

Oh really, How hard is it to put it? Do you have to remove the seat? I thought that'd be the only way to get to it?

[crew chief]

very easy, seat all the way back and up undo two bolts and the little nut that holds the cable then reverse the procedure to install. a few minutes tops.

[Donka]

Had to fix mine a couple of years back, just used a couple of cable ties to secure it into place, has worked fine ever since.

[VKCOMMO]

too many handbrake turns

[jameswh]

Had the exact same problem a few weeks ago, actually. Fixed it up with a replacement. : )

[HoldensRule]

Same problem here. The lug at the end of the plastic rod has worn against the rough edges of the hole in the steel pawl and no longer stays in place. It is under constant tension from the button spring so almost certain to fail eventually. The worst piece of Holden design I have ever seen - almost as if it is designed to fail.

Good to know the outer rubber cover can be removed & replaced without damage.

[TMM]

I hold in the button when pulling up the handbrake, makes the ratchet last a lot longer and you get a better feel for the tension of the handbrake cable so that lasts a lot longer too.

The worst piece of Holden design I have ever seen - almost as if it is designed to fail.

Just like the plastic inlet manifold gaskets that get eaten by coolant, bubbling chromed plastic parts, plastic radiators, plastic heater taps, jamming/splitting ignition barrels, key fobs with non-serviceable batteries, vinyl shift boots that crack, scrivets everywhere that don't even function because you can just rip out the screw part clean off the threads, radio buttons with a thin piece of plastic as the hinge, fragile plastic interior parts with exposed clips, etc?

It's a Holden, that's what happens

[HoldensRule]

Just replaced my handbrake lever on a VY. Here are some tips to help anyone else doing the same.
Park the car on level ground. Put it in gear or Park, and chock the wheels so it won't go anywhere. Release the handbrake.
Move the driver's seat as far back as it will go.
Remove the plastic insert on top of the hand grip. Gently lift the back end to release the clip, then slide it forward off the button.
Pull the edge of the rubber cover out from under the console then slide the whole cover forward and off the steel handle. Twisting the grip part helps it come off.
Remove the 10mm nylock nut from the cable end at the front of the handbrake lever base.
Remove the two bolts holding the handbrake lever to the transmission tunnel.
Lift the handbrake assembly up and forward and disconnect the brown warning light wire.
If your replacement does not have a switch attached, remove the switch from the faulty handle and attach it to the replacement. The screw hole in my genuine Holden replacement was not threaded, so I had to tap it.
Lower the replacement handle into position while guiding the threaded cable end into the hole at the lower front of the lever. Put the nut on - just a few turns so the cable won't fall out again.
Tilt the lever assembly towards the driver's seat and connect the warning light wire to the switch.
Lower the lever assembly into position and install the two bolts to the transmission tunnel.
Test that the lever, ratchet, button and dashboard warning light work properly.
Continue screwing the adjusting nut onto the threaded cable end, testing occasionally, until the brake applies about 5-6 clicks from the released position. Just over 2cm of cable end thread was exposed on mine after adjustment.
Slide the rubber cover over the lever, making sure that the threaded cable end is inside the cover. Continue until the button is exposed at the end and the round hole (about 4mm dia.) in the cover aligns with the hole in the steel lever.
Slip the plastic insert over the button and press the clip through the hole in the rubber cover and into the hole in the steel lever.
Slip the edge of the rubber cover under the edge of the console - this is easier in the released position - and your all done.