Handbrake issues

[PM3]

Pushing foot firmly on brake pedal def helps getting more clicks on the hand brake. I can't get any where near 9 though, only 4 or 5, but seems to hold it well. Just for info, I always leave my car in gear with hand brake off after my hand brake froze on overnight in the car park at work back in the 20th century lol!

2015 FR150 TDi

 

[Branta]

... I always leave my car in gear with hand brake off after my hand brake froze on overnight in the car park at work back in the 20th century lol!

I hope you don't do this on a steep hill ! The engine isn't a brake, i.e. can be pushed through compression and car gradually starts moving.

And then there was the notorious VW "twin turbo" engine that if it was rolled (on a slope) in the reverse direction, then the cam chain would jump a sprocket tooth and the valves would hit the pistons when it was subsequently started.

Even further back in the last century I had a Ford Anglia where the handbrake action was to lever one of the rear brake shoes away from the hydraulic cylinder. The cylinder was supposed to travel in a slot in the backplate, but the backplate was rusty and it tended to stick. Result was one brake shoe (on one side) stuck on. I would drive a few yards dragging that wheel until it started hopping, that would shake it free !

 

[Branta]

Could it be that the sticking is due to the autoadjust mechanism in the brake drum itself and not the inner and outer cable that we had thought previously?

That is very interesting indeed. I was was told that all they had done with my car was to swap the handbrake cables. But of course in this day and age one doesn't get to speak to the actual guy who did the job. And anyway he would have had to reset the autoadjust when fitting new cables.

I'll give this a try. Or maybe I'll wait until it gets a bit stickier before attempting this level of violence !

 

[PM3]

I hope you don't do this on a steep hill ! The engine isn't a brake, i.e. can be pushed through compression and car gradually starts moving.

And then there was the notorious VW "twin turbo" engine that if it was rolled (on a slope) in the reverse direction, then the cam chain would jump a sprocket tooth and the valves would hit the pistons when it was subsequently started.

Even further back in the last century I had a Ford Anglia where the handbrake action was to lever one of the rear brake shoes away from the hydraulic cylinder. The cylinder was supposed to travel in a slot in the backplate, but the backplate was rusty and it tended to stick. Result was one brake shoe (on one side) stuck on. I would drive a few yards dragging that wheel until it started hopping, that would shake it free !

Thanks for the 'heads-up' BRANTA. No, thankfully, not a steep hill, but I will do both from now on I think.

 

[FRoSTy]

I'm also very grateful for members posting in this thread.

Not long after getting my ST I noticed it had taken a short driverless journey down the drive. I was certain that I had put the handbrake on. After this, it seemed to struggle a couple of times to catch properly. I now try extra hard to pull the brake on, and use the foot pedal trick, then pull again. I'm quite paranoid about it.

I asked for this to be looked at at the 2 year service today, and was charged £50 for the privilege as apparently "adjustment" isn't covered under warranty as it is subject to wear and tear. I argued this was really unreasonable, but the dealer wouldn't budge.

Have other dealers been more supportive?

 

[Branta]

was charged £50 for the privilege as apparently "adjustment" isn't covered under warrant

I'd argue that if "adjustment" is required at the 2-year service, then adjustment should be on the 2-year service checklist (and hence part of the standard 2-year service charge).

With £50 at stake I'd definitely mention this to SEAT.

 

[Branta]

As above, my cable was replaced and then the new one started to geaunch. Note this just maybe coincidence but I got cross and yanked it on a few times with the car in motion.

A day or so later, I noticed the cable was no longer graunching.

Could it be that the sticking is due to the autoadjust mechanism in the brake drum itself and not the inner and outer cable that we had thought previously?

I only just noticed that "Winder123" (3 Oct 2015) seems to be describing something else that has eased "creaking". Missed this before because it's part of the "stamp on the footbrake" idea that seemed to be the solution to a different problem to mine (but who knows ?).

In fact I had come back to this forum today because yesterday I used the handbrake whilst moving (not viciously, just losing the last few m.p.h. as I came to a junction). And now my handbrake action is smoother again !.

Perhaps with their image of a "sporty" brand SEAT are actually expecting us to do "handbrake turns" ?

Seriously, I feel I have to mention this to my contact at SEAT customer services, as it should be useful information to them (if they are actually looking at the problem).

 

[FRoSTy]

With £50 at stake I'd definitely mention this to SEAT.

Great minds... Did exactly that, and got the charge refunded yesterday!

Have been very impressed whenever I've needed to call Seat UK.

 

[Shiela]

Similar problem with my vehicle today, parked car on a slight incline with handbrake applied and after approximately 10 minutes it suddenly rolled quickly backwards and struck another parked vehicle. Car has only done 1600 miles. CCTV camera picked up the incident and showed that car had not moved for several minutes. Is this a common problem for this new model??? (Leon ST FR 184)

This has happened to me twice now. The first time it was inches from striking another vehicle in a hotel car park. The 2nd time was this afternoon when I was actually sat in the car with the hand brake fully applied; it just rolled back off my daughter's drive. I was so lucky as a van was oncoming!

What is the guidance from Seat on this insecure handbrake issue?

 

[Rydale13]

It's across the board with VAG cars since around 2010 with manual hand brakes.

Foot hard on the brake when you're pulling up the handbrake and it multiplies the power of the handbrake tenfold.

Do this and you'll notice the handbrake will pull up a few more clicks also.

Apply this technique and the handbrake will no longer be an issue for you.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[Glarh]

It's across the board with VAG cars since around 2010 with manual hand brakes.

Foot hard on the brake when you're pulling up the handbrake and it multiplies the power of the handbrake tenfold.

Do this and you'll notice the handbrake will pull up a few more clicks also.

Apply this technique and the handbrake will no longer be an issue for you.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

This!


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[Matthew2761]

Very interesting to read this thread, admittedly I didn't go through every page and post so apologies if someone has posted this.

Has anyone had issues of the button on the handbrake lever springing out? I have a 2015 Leon ST and having this issue myself, so I am left without a working handbrake at times depending on how co-operative the button is at going back in. It's booked to go in to be rectified tomorrow (28th March) so just curious if anyone else has suffered this issue or I am alone in it.

 

[shaun-the-sheep]

I had the handbrake on my 2016 Cupra fail a few weeks ago. I had done the usual foot on the foot brake as applying handbrake and the car had been parked for an hour before it went off on its own, out the car park, down a steep bank, across a track and into some woodland before it came to a halt. Fair bit of damage done, but the garage couldn't find any fault with the handbrake when I got it back.

 

[2Stevo2]

I will never understand people who park on an incline, apply the handbrake but don't leave it in gear. You deserve what happens.

Madness

 

[JsyCuPrA]

I have this happen a couple of times in my FR, first it rolled very slowly from its parking space at work and nudged another car, no damage, called SEAT out, nothing found.

2nd time, I had just pulled into the drive at home, applied handbrake, pressing on the brake as per manual. just getting out of the car, and an almighty bang as the handbrake lets go and the car starts rolling backwards. Again checked with SEAT and no fault found.

I think is a design fault with the handbrake, hopefully will go when my new car arrives with the electronic handbrake.

 

[Rydale13]

You have to press the brake pedal hard. There feels like a step up in pressure in the pedal and you need to push through this to get the bite.

You almost want to press the brake pedal to the floor.

If you're not pressing hard enough, then you won't get the additional bite.

I had my Cupra 280 for 2 years. Parked on a steep drive every night and covered 30k in that time.

With the above, I never had a problem.



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[EVS-2017]

I only just noticed that "Winder123" (3 Oct 2015) seems to be describing something else that has eased "creaking". Missed this before because it's part of the "stamp on the footbrake" idea that seemed to be the solution to a different problem to mine (but who knows ?).

In fact I had come back to this forum today because yesterday I used the handbrake whilst moving (not viciously, just losing the last few m.p.h. as I came to a junction). And now my handbrake action is smoother again !.

Perhaps with their image of a "sporty" brand SEAT are actually expecting us to do "handbrake turns" ?

Seriously, I feel I have to mention this to my contact at SEAT customer services, as it should be useful information to them (if they are actually looking at the problem).

Hi there Branta, I'm hoping you see this reply. I had a similar thing happen to me yesterday, basically the handbrake disengaged itself and rolled down a hill in to a parked car.

I saw you had posted on the RAC forum regarding two types of failure, well my hand brake was in the 'off' position when I returned to the car. I was wondering what information you had on this and if you'd be so kind as to let me know where you believe I stand on this with Seat.

It's a 65 plate so as far as I'm concerned it's still under warranty.

Any replies gratefully received.

Thanks

 

[KXL]

Out of curiosity, how do you guys apply the handbrake? Do you just yank it up? I normally depress the button and pull up and release button.

Never really had any problems so far handbrake wise.

Also I used to live in San Francisco, when you parallel park on the many hills there, by law you have to 'curb your wheel' into the pavement, so if your handbrake fails...the curb will stop your car rolling 'to a certain extent.'

Back in those days, no hill hold assist, even in autos must use handbrake to prevent roll backwards, or left foot brake, right foot accelerate then release brake.

Speaking of hill hold assist, I only realised on the weekend, this also works in R on a DSG, stops car rolling forward.

 

[BenH]

Out of curiosity, how do you guys apply the handbrake? Do you just yank it up? I normally depress the button and pull up and release button.



Never really had any problems so far handbrake wise.



Also I used to live in San Francisco, when you parallel park on the many hills there, by law you have to 'curb your wheel' into the pavement, so if your handbrake fails...the curb will stop your car rolling 'to a certain extent.'



Back in those days, no hill hold assist, even in autos must use handbrake to prevent roll backwards, or left foot brake, right foot accelerate then release brake.



Speaking of hill hold assist, I only realised on the weekend, this also works in R on a DSG, stops car rolling forward.

Struggled not to type "with my hand" for your first point haha

I park on quite a steep drive every night, manage to get my front wheels on a flat but the rest of the car is on the slope, I drive up put my foot hard on the brake and apply the handbrake with the button pressed, I heard clicking it overtime reduces its strength and I hate the sound

After that release foot off brake, wait for hill assist to let the car sit back on the handbrake, leave in gear and engine off

 

[EVS-2017]

99 times out of 100 I put it in gear. Yesterday was the other one; I was just nipping in to a shop so just pulled the handbrake up (button pushed in as I did it) with my foot on the brake, engine off and got out.

2-3 minutes later the car's rolling down the road.