Handbrake lever split!

Post Tue Aug 14, 2018 9:14 am

I noticed that my handbrake lever looked off center, so pulled off the covers and found it has a split half way through - never seen this before - I'm not in the habit of performing handbrake turns either.

Paul

Post Tue Aug 14, 2018 9:18 am

Could have been nasty in a hill-climb or emergency situation.

Good old metal fatigue, I guess...

Post Tue Aug 14, 2018 9:30 am

You pleasure yourself with your left hand and have built up some muscle it seems.........

Post Tue Aug 14, 2018 9:33 am

I had the same on mine a couple of years ago. It's only thin metal and 30 years of being yanked will take it's toll eventually.

Post Tue Aug 14, 2018 10:12 am

So buying a second hand one will probably result in the same failure - new is pretty pricey, but then also a major safety item.

Paul

Post Tue Aug 14, 2018 12:38 pm

Ive only heard of it two or three times so it could be well worth chancing a second hand one Paul.

Mart.

Post Tue Aug 14, 2018 4:04 pm

Got a "chancer" off the "bay" - lets see what shape it's in, meanwhile I'm off the road!

Paul

Post Wed Aug 15, 2018 7:52 am

My first E30 did that, being I was penniless at the time, I fitted a piece of tube over it, job jobbed

Post Thu Aug 16, 2018 1:34 pm

Rather than get the brakes to work properly, people just pull the lever harder

Post Thu Aug 16, 2018 2:26 pm

DanThe wrote:Rather than get the brakes to work properly, people just pull the lever harder

Never clean the cables up or use the adjusters under the lever cover.

Post Thu Aug 16, 2018 2:29 pm

DanThe wrote:Rather than get the brakes to work properly, people just pull the lever harder

Mart.

Post Thu Aug 16, 2018 2:56 pm

Bloomin' nightmare scenario now, getting the old cables out - found all sorts of horrendous issues with the outers, inners; no wonder the handle gave out!

Paul

Post Thu Aug 16, 2018 3:54 pm

paultv wrote:Bloomin' nightmare scenario now, getting the old cables out - found all sorts of horrendous issues with the outers, inners; no wonder the handle gave out!

Paul

Could be best to change the lot Paul then you know it`s all OK. ?

Mart.

Post Sat Aug 18, 2018 9:29 am

This happened me during the MOT test. Failed for faulty handbrake as the button stuck up inside the sleeve. When I returned home to investigate I realised that the handbrake had broken exactly like yours Paultv. I went to a breakers and go a new one for £20. I've no idea what a new OEM one would cost. I'm sure it would get us a laugh.

Post Sat Aug 18, 2018 1:17 pm

They are 160 quid or so, I got one off the bay, it came this morning, looks in good shape for 15 euro's.

I did buy a new handle (plastic bit ) which looks the dogs, and a new gaiter which also looks great - very cheap from the BMW dealer here.

So I just have to replace the cables ( f'ing impossible ) then I'm back on the road!

Paul

Post Thu Aug 30, 2018 5:26 pm

this also happened mine bought one off a zoner for a tenner !

Post Mon Sep 03, 2018 7:14 pm

quick update - got the handbrake lever and new plastic handle,gaiter fitted. After many days of cursing I managed to extract the sorry remains of the old cables, mostly using brute force and a small but powerful Bosch drill.

Setting up the parking brake shoes is a bit of a pig with an LSD, hard to tell when the shoes are biting as there's so much drag - no chance to simply spin the hub.

Any road up - managed a ropy handbrake turn type event on a wet hill - so it works!

Paul