Technical Handbrake travel vastly different after replacing tyres

[malleable]

Still working but higher




If the middle cable snaps the handbrake does nothing



I must be missing something obvious

I think it snapped in the middle of the housing for one side, which was why it was still kind of holding.

 

[koalar]

I think it snapped in the middle of the housing for one side, which was why it was still kind of holding.

That makes more sense

Each cable is directly connected to the balance bar

The cables are reasonably easy to change on the panda 169 I guess the later cars are similar, as long as the drums come off easy, no big lip

I bought a cable from Euro Car Parts, it wasn't quite the right length so the balance bar was twisted quite a bit, but still working, if I was to do another I would use a different supplier

 

[rmjbn1]

I did change mine, as long as you can safely get under the car I don't think it's a tricky job.

Drum off, but I didn't touch the shoes, hooked the new cable on before connecting the lever end.

Plenty of slack in the old cable to get it off

I marked the position of the handbrake adjusters first, but irrelevant as a new cable meant adjustment changed.

My outer cable split where it does a sharp bend in front of the fuel tank, causing the inner cable to rust through.

So I would guess the cables stretch first as outer strands rust through. If the balance bar is at an angle, this is a likely cause.