Handbrake cable

[Darylbob]

Evening folks, just wondered if anybodys had a similar issue to me with the handbrake cables, for a while now my hand brakes been fairly loose an doesn't hold very well, so I finally got round to looking at it properly today, I tried adjusting via the adjustor at the back of the arm rest with no luck then I took the backwheels off and noticed the cables aren't moving freely an somehow ive freed them up more but it's made it worse the hand brake works now but one side won't release when you put down the handbrake, I've shot loads of gt85 down the tubing from both ends no luck at all. So looks like I'm going to need to replace them, has anyone done this yet? Doesn't look too bad of a Job to me but any pointers would be appreciated 👍 

[Magnet]

Hello Daryl,

I think you’ve already found the issue points - the aluminium tubes that the cables run through before going on to the underside. Yes, WD40 helps, but does not cure. 
Cure for me was new cables and new tubes. I’m pretty sure the tubes are/ or at least were, main dealer only, and they are not a matching pair, so I would advise double checking you choose the right one of the pair to go in the right side. Getting the old ones out can be a bit of fun as I recall, but it was a few years ago when I did mine. 
Incase it helps, I used Febi branded cables. 
Kind regards,

Gareth.m

[Darylbob]

I had came across a post on another forum where someone briefly mentioned those aluminium tubes in a video, I still don't really understand how the tubes can go bad, what is it that happens to them? Also in the video the guy just butchers the carpet to get at the tubing don't plan on doing that but it just depends how bad a job it is😅 looks simple enough on the underside of the car though. Appreciate the help🙏 .

[Magnet]

You are very welcome Daryl. 
I bought new tubes since the belief was that you get differential corrosion within them, and at the point where they fit into the bodywork. In my case, it turned out they weren’t needed, but…

To try to get this in focus, it the handbrake release is not free from sticking, then the issue can only be associated with the calliper ( which I think you have eliminated), or the handbrake cable. I knew  my cable was not as good as it should be, since it started sticking on in freezing conditions. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Darylbob]

May aswell get them changed while the cables are done then hopefully theyre not too expensive from the dealership, do you remember how you went about lifting the carpet? 

Yes im pretty sure I can eliminate the calipers as the problem as they're less than a year old and the spring mechanism feels as strong as it should be.

So tommorow I will pick some cables up from euro car parts, and fingers crossed one of the local dealerships has some of the guide tubes in stock, so I can set to it tommorow night👍. 

[Magnet]

Hello Daryl,

Lifting carpet? Really sorry, but it was a number of years go. Did I do it by removing the centre section?? 
Any particular reason why ECP ( particularly since they don’t seem to be offering their discounts on so called retail pricesat the moment)? Possibly convenient for you? 
Apologies if it sounds like I am promoting these, but have you tried Parts in Motion - repeat no connection except having used them a number of times. They are usually very competitive on Febi parts. 
Good luck with the job.

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[cliffcoggin]

Is there an equaliser for the two cables Gareth? I have not worked on A3 handbrake so I am not sure. Equalisers were a common source of jamming back in the day.

[Magnet]

Hello Cliff,

Both cables were individually adjusted as I recall. Only the n/s one started to stick on mine, but I decided to renew both at the same time. 
Kind regards,

Gareth.

[Darylbob]

17 hours ago, Magnet said:

Hello Daryl,

Lifting carpet? Really sorry, but it was a number of years go. Did I do it by removing the centre section?? 
Any particular reason why ECP ( particularly since they don’t seem to be offering their discounts on so called retail pricesat the moment)? Possibly convenient for you? 
Apologies if it sounds like I am promoting these, but have you tried Parts in Motion - repeat no connection except having used them a number of times. They are usually very competitive on Febi parts. 
Good luck with the job.

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

Morning

Ah no worries, I can't remember what I had for tea last night😂, but it is a carpet up job, and it does ring a bell taking the arm rest post out from the video I mentioned, hopefully it's not too bad a job to remove, can't really see it giving that much play in the carpet, I'm half tempted to Stanley round the edge of the post an then super glue it back down when finished🤔. 

No reason other than like you say just for convenience as its the closest parts store, an I was leaning more towards it for quickness but it doesn't really matter now as I've just been on the phone to audi an they can't get the guide tubes in till Wednesday morning, so I've had a look at the parts in Motion website but can't seem to find the febi cables, I do rate there stuff aswell all my discs an pads are febi.

[Darylbob]

Just £20 for the tubes was expecting atleast £1000 from audi😂.

[Magnet]

Hello Daryl,

Audi are selling themselves too cheap on this - don’t tell them! 
£1300 for an alternator, £345 for a foam seat base. Crazy prices. 
I’ve found P in M respond to e-mails quickly if you can’t find what you are looking for. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Darylbob]

Wow thank god for aftermarket parts!

I got in touch with parts in Motion and the soonest they could get the parts out to me was Thursday and euro car parts don't stock them at all so I hadto got to another place (tps) that stock oem vag stuff so £42 not too bad👌. 

[Stevey Y]

On 5/14/2023 at 9:11 AM, Darylbob said:

I had came across a post on another forum where someone briefly mentioned those aluminium tubes in a video, I still don't really understand how the tubes can go bad, what is it that happens to them? Also in the video the guy just butchers the carpet to get at the tubing don't plan on doing that but it just depends how bad a job it is😅 looks simple enough on the underside of the car though. Appreciate the help🙏 .

Hi the rotting of the tubes is caused by Bi Metal corrosion unfortunately steel and alloy don't get on.

Steve.

[Magnet]

Did Daryl fix his car after??? 

[Darylbob]

On 8/17/2023 at 1:33 PM, Magnet said:

Did Daryl fix his car after??? 

Sorry for the belated reply I didn't see this but yes I got it fixed wasn't a bad job at all👍 the worst part was removing the old cables they were really corroded into the tubing.

[Magnet]

Thanks Daryl,

Didn’t you put new tubes in then?

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Darylbob]

Yes popped the new tubes in an it's working perfect now, But we're onto new problems now😂.