Jammed Handbrake ???

Question

My brother has just given me a 1997 Vauxhall Astra 1.4, it's in a bit of a state and this will probably be the first of many questions. Basically I brought it back thurs night parked it up and by sat am the handbrake is completely seized on. Although very wet here the temperatures haven't dropped below freezing and I can't seem to get the brakes to pop off. Firstly how do I get the car moving again and secondly how do I stop this from happening again as it's a little irritating ??????

Answer 1

it might sounda bit rough?lol, but get a hammer, and usually with one good dong on each rear wheel will let it off again, these cars are notorious for this fault, usually taking the rear brake drums off and cleaning the brake shoes and drums does the trick fora wee while, derek

Answer 2

First try by starting ur engine to allow servo to work, then press footbrake as hard as u can and at same time pull up the handbrake and press button and hopefully that should do the trick, otherwise slacken off the adjustment on the brake cable enough to release the handbrake, who pulled on the handbrake when it was last pulled up? is he or she built like a sumo wrestler.
I am taking it that the brakes have jammed rather than seized.

Try reversing the car slightly as u try to release brake or backwards and forwards movement ,it may release it

Good luck

Good luck please let me know if i have been of any help to you.

Jimmy Essex England

Ps u wont have a hope in hell of getting the drums off if the brakes are locked on, I think its just that the brakes have jammed rather than seized reason I nsay is because it only lay for 2 days.

What u can do if no luck is take a wheel off at a time but put an axle stand under car, with a hammer and handbrake off and with cars front wheels secured so car wont move, tap all around the drum and try and turn at same time, put some ws40 on handbrake linkage and give it a tap. does the handbrake cable feel tight or slack, if slack and wheel doesnt turn then the shoes have tuck inside the drums, keep tapping and try turning the drum, if no good put on wheel and rock the car back and forward it should release as it hasnt been stuck for long.

Answer 3

Handbrake Stuck

Answer 4

sometimes it's difficult to move off because of 'stiction'. try slowly pulling away with the hanbrake released, slowly apply more throttle in an attempt to release them.
if this fails, you will have to get the rear wheels off and adjust the brake shoes back off the drum, remove the drum and have a good look, sometime a build up of dust / rust can cause this. there should be a spring to help release the shoes - check this when you are inside the drum. other than that GSI (get someone in)

Answer 5

remove road wheels release handbrake and then hit rear brake drums with hammer this should release brakes then remove drums and inspect brake shoes to see if the levers and cables are free

Answer 6

Seriously,release handbrake lever, strike rear wheels with hammer, shock releases brakes.

Answer 7

the advice on resolving this issue has been given in the answers already. when doing this use axle stands to suport the vehicle or put two tyres underneath so it cannot drop on you. make sure that the rear wheel cylinders are not siezed or leaking if it's been standing for some time

Answer 8

check the cables,that comes into the brake brums.they could be peeling away and sticking.if they are,then you need to put new cables on them.but if look good,spray some pb blaster on the cables and let them soak.