WH Handbrake adjustment cog...should i need a hammer to move it even slightly?

[DinkyDonka]

Hi all!!

I went through 14 pages of searching for "handbrake" and wasn't able to find an answer to this specific question so thought i'd start a new thread.

The handbrake on my WH is loose as a goose. If i reef is all the way up the car will still slowly roll in either direction and even after adjusting it at the handbrake to the point it only makes it to 5 clicks it still does nothing (to be expected). So i took the wheels off and tried adjusting the brake shoes through the hole with the grommet but could not make the cog budge without smacking the screwdriver with a hammer.

Even when taking the hub off completely i had to apply a bit of force with the hammer to get it to move a few clicks, so my question is, are the cogs meant to be easily adjusted using nothing but a flathead screwdriver or are they usually this tight? Because i couldn't adjust the handbrake with the hub off otherwise i couldn't get the hub back on. If i try to do it through the grommet hole i have to continually search (and hope) i have made contact with the cog and smack away with the hammer

Thanks for your help

EDIT: Should note that the shoes are perfectly fine/meaty as well.

 

[the_boozer]

Take the disk off free up the mech clean everything replace as required (disk handbrake pads and brake pads) then adjust the handbrake . The adjuster mech shouldn't be that tight

 

[DinkyDonka]

Phew, i was hoping it shouldn't be that tight!

As much of a pain in the arse it is to fish for the cog through that tiny hole, it'd be MUCH easier if i could just lever it up/down to adjust it. Rather than having to find it, grab the hammer, hope the flathead doesn't move and bang it each time. I tried it that way and after 45mins i spat the dummy and just said "stuff it"

Just to be clear though, should i be able to adjust it with nothing more than the flathead? Just smack it with the palm of my hand or something like that? Just to get an idea of how "free" it should be moving.

Thanks again

 

[Tonner Matt]

That adjuster (cog as you put it) isn't turning because the threads are full of crap and need cleaning and lubricating

Remove the complete adjuster mechanism from the vehicle. (The tube/cylinder looking part that connects to the hand brake shoe with the cog on it )
Dismantle it and clean the threads up
Lube the thread of the adjuster with never seize and reassemble the adjuster. It should turn easily by hand now.
Refit to vehicle and adjust handbrake through hole in brake backing plate. (hole the grommet came out of)

# After this it will adjust freely with just the use of a screwdriver.....No hitting with your hand or hammer required
# Do one side at a time so you don't get the left and right side adjusters mixed up

 

[the_boozer]

don't hit it with a hammer you will f*ck something? What about the next bloke to work on it? Have a read of the manual see how it goes together

 

[DinkyDonka]

That adjuster (cog as you put it) isn't turning because the threads are full of crap and need cleaning and lubricating

Remove the complete adjuster mechanism from the vehicle. (The tube/cylinder looking part that connects to the hand brake shoe with the cog on it )
Dismantle it and clean the threads up
Lube the thread of the adjuster with never seize and reassemble the adjuster. It should turn easily by hand now.
Refit to vehicle and adjust handbrake through hole in brake backing plate. (hole the grommet came out of)

# After this it will adjust freely with just the use of a screwdriver.....No hitting with your hand or hammer required
# Do one side at a time so you don't get the left and right side adjusters mixed up

Thanks mate that's exactly what i needed to hear

I can rebuild a 13b and replace my own headgaskets but managed to get stumped with a simple adjuster, haha

Thanks again!