Is my cable stretched?

[Ilikemice]

My Explorer failed the MOT today on the handbrake. Last week it had new shoes put on and they were adjusted so they held on my slightly inclined drive. You still had to yank the brake though to keep it still.

I read that the cables can stretch so I had a look at my handbrake. The cable attaches to a plastic "arm" that's on a spring. It looks like a tensioner but it's at its topmost position and there's a bit of slack before the handbrake starts to pull the cable. The "arm" is circled here:

Is this a sign of it being stretched? I've ordered a new cable from Ford so I'm hoping that'll solve my problem.

Cheers!

 

[swampyrbs]

hello,have you tried the adjusters on the rear of the rear hubs? theres a rubber grommet which you prise off and then use a screw driver to move little cog ratchet thing one way or the other to tighten up ,i cant remember offhand which way is which!.hope it works worth a try

 

[Ilikemice]

I adjusted them until the wheel wouldn't move then backed them off a little

 

[Howard]

I had same problem with MOT. So I adjusted them up very tight. Went for MOT passed and then backed them off when I got home.

 

[DuncanOfEngland]

Ilikemice,

The rear handbrake shoes may not be the only problem causing the excessive handbrake travel. Make sure that the pivots on both the brake plates is free to move and that the brackets on which they float are not bent, because that will cause a lot of free play. It's unlikely that the cable has stretched, but, if is has, it will need to be replaced, because there is no adjustment, althogh it is possible to reposition the handbrake cable mount just above the rear propshaft.

Also, bear in mind that if you have fitted new shoes and kept the old disks, the drum area inside the disk may be corroded or worn.

Regards
Duncan

 

[Ilikemice]

Thanks. It's had new discs within the last 100 miles. I'll fit the new cable but it still could be adjustment issues. I'll get it back on stands and re-adjust it. The MOT is Wednesday so we'll see what happens. I REALLY hate MOT day. My Blazer kept failing on rear brakes last year.

 

[BIGHVM]

Seems such a waste of time...no matter how new or well adjusted- they can still drive away with the handbrake on and half the time you cant feel the drag!
I have given up using mine- I adjusted it to get through the last MOT as it failed on that alone!
Terrible system really-shoes never worked well from the start.