Handbrake sounds like a tractor

whodat

Senior Member
T6 Guru
22 plate 6.1. Grey.
Actually, it sounds more like my old T4 so worse than a tractor.
When I pull up the handbrake it sounds very creaky just at the handbrake pully uppy bit. Stop me if you don't understand all these technical terms.
If I spray some lithium grease in there somewhere, will that be ok or will it trigger a cpu error somewhere? (only partially joking about that last bit)

I haven't looked to see if there is somewhere to point the nozzle yet and I don't really want to be dismantling anything so will see how it goes. It just doesn't sound as luxurious as it should do but can live with it - but then again, if I can hear it then it needs greasing.
Maybe we need a war or famine (had a plague already) to take my mind of this.
 
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Well, I don't know if it is related.
The (manual) handbrake on my T6.1 feels like the one of my beloved Fiat F900T van in the 80s. Every time I let it set for more than one day in the warm climates it releases only with a crashing sound and the rear brakes then go on crying for a couple of Km. Under zero C last time it got completely stuck and I could move the van only at the third try with the clutch at about 3000 rpm.
VW says all well and good and normal, except i am sure they will change all my discs and pads (at my charge) every service visit.
So I took the good abit to park it only in the flat and with first gear in/wheels turned.

It is probably like the cabin doors freezing issue.
Cheap/primitive design, another page taken from the Fiat design book.
 
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Ok, if I get a bit of time over the week will give it a proper look.
I'm not too worried about taking anything apart. It is getting back on again in one piece that is the rarity.
Cheers.
 
I had this on my 6.1 sounded like it was coming from the handbrake when sat in the drivers seat, turned out it was coming from underneath the van if you spray the handbrake cables towards the back of the van with wd40 it hopefully will sort it, worked for me and you can just about reach them without jacking the van up. Lay underneath the drivers side to reach them.
 
Ok.
Done.

Method -
1) - let handbrake off.
2) - put it back on and put in gear and steer into kerb
3) - let handbrake off.
4) - get a flat headed screwdriver and prise the clip out (not push in like an idiot - who would do something like that?) then pull on casing and it slips off after a few seconds (half hour).
5) - I didn't take off the base bit as have a dog that sheds hair to the point I could open up a tin of beans in the sahara and find some dog hairs in it and am thinking that the handbrake mechanism looks quite clean and works better without added hair.
So - with your spray lithium grease, if you can't find the little straw that comes with it, point in that general direction into the handbrake mechanism. Stop after a couple of seconds.
6) Open the door so you can breath.
7) Clear up the spray that missed the mechanism and got onto spare wellies
8) Re position nozzle and spray randomly into mechanism for 5 seconds.
9) Check handbrake movement and noise. Sounds good, doesn't it?
10) slip the case back on.
11a) Go back in doors and make coffee (with requisite dog hair in it) and find the equivalent of some crumbs of biscuit in an empty pack.
11b) Relax. Something at the back of mind. Can't quite put finger on it.
12) Run out to van and put the handbrake back on.
Nothing like doing a job yourself. The satisfaction that comes with it, along with the patch of grease on the side of my trousers (no idea how that got there) is always a unique feeling.
 
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You must be a professional in remote servicing machines (help someone to do it).
It looks like one of the chats I have with my customers every day. Just less scurrile. Must be for the Forum rules. 8-)
 
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