[Mikey1st]

Hey guys,

having som strange issues with my brakes.

How it happend.
Got car back from mechanic after getting rear diff rebuilt.
handbrake felt a little strange, then one day that was a bit of a pop noise and then suddenly the handbrake would come up about 14 clicks, i read that a few hard hits of the brakes can sometimes fix this so went and tried that, no change.
Also now when i park and i keep my foot on the brake and pull the handbrake it will pull as high as it can, then when i release the foot peddal the handbrake can come up about another 3 clicks, i don't remember it ever being like this before. Also when i put the brake on and then take the handbrake off it feels like the peddal gets softer under my foot.

Then went and washed the car (including engine bay) and since then my handbrake light started coming on when i would turn right, and has gradually got to the point where it doesn't turn off.

Car went back to mechanic to have a look, and the brake fluid level is fine so that doesn't explain the light, he also adjusted the handbrake so it is a lot tighter and pulls up back to normal, but i can still feel the changes under the peddal when i lift and lower the handbrake.

Mechanic believes its a dodgy sensor in the master cylinder which is casuing the handbrake light, but not sure another the other stuff,.

[Gwagensteve]

It's normal to feel some change in the pedal when the handbrake is applied. Can't comment on brake warning light

[ozzycouch]

Mikey1st wrote:

my handbrake light started coming on when i would turn right, and has gradually got to the point where it doesn't turn off.

When mine did the same thing, the wire had fallen off the switch at the handbrake.

[Mikey1st]

Hmmm, decided to check out the wire and it seems all good although im thinking it has something to do with the gearbox.

While sitting at the lights i had the car in neutral and was just fiddling with the gear stick side to side, when i noticed every time i moved it left (like i was going to put it in 1st) the light came on.
Does the wire or handbrake run along the left of the gear box? I've only recently had the gearbox swapped out, could it be hitting something?

[fordem]

The handbrake wire runs along the tunnel under the carpet to the left of the shift lever - it's very easy to get it pinched under the #2 gearshift boot mounting plate when refitting it after the gearbox has been worked on - what's probably happening is the wire is pinched and the insulation partially cut so every time side pressure is applied it shorts to the body.

[Mikey1st]

Thank you Fordem! looks like you're right on the money.

Haven't actually fixed it yet but it's definitely what you said, when i push on the bottom left of the gear stick boot the light comes on, which explains why when i turn right it comes on as i brace my leg against the centre.