Poor handbrake

[Terranical]

Well, I got the T2 back from the Spanish garage who were attempting to improve the handbrake. They told my daughter (who speaks Spanish) they had checked the shoes and they were fine, so they had adjusted it. First thing I noticed was it only came up four or five clicks instead of the ten or so previously, second impression, the handbrake is still c**p.
Right, I thought, time for some diy - off I went to an auto accessory shop in Marbella, about 18kms away to buy a trolley jack and a pair of axle stands.

The road into Marbella goes down a long (2 miles or so) winding hill, and about halfway down I smelt a smell like a burning clutch. I assumed it was coming from the car in front, and when he turned off at the next roundabout the smell disappeared.
So, I parked outside Norauto and the smell was back! I got out of the car and smoke was coming from my offside rear wheel - the prats had only adjusted up the handbrake cable, without even bothering to see if either of them was binding! I couldn't touch the wheel, it was so hot, although the other side was ok.
It then occurred to me that they also couldn't have checked the shoes as they claimed, because I had forgotten to leave them the adaptor for the locking wheel nuts, and the locking wheel nut on that wheel showed no sign of butchering, as though they had tried to get it off!
I will never criticise UK garages again!:naughty

 

[TONUP]

Dealing with rogues like that can be infuriating, frustrating and cost you of your hard earned cash as well as your faith in mankind. It is also comforting to know that dodgy mechanics are an international complaint, although I wonder if you would get this in the Scandinavian countries, where they supposedly have a very high moral standard?

It's because of these toe-rag spanner w@nkers that I spent my weekend lying under the car replacing an exhaust. I broke a stud doing this and took the time to repair. I have no doubt that some garages would have bunged it back together using just the two good studs.

I take some solace for the oil and hard work from this, as I imagine others do on here.

Of course my comments are not exhaustive, or inclusive and I infer no criticism of the hard working people from this trade who contribute to this forum, who I know have their own self imposed code of ethics.

I hope you get the problem resolved satisfactorily.

Alan

 

[BIGSEAN]

"It then occurred to me that they also couldn't have checked the shoes as they claimed, because I had forgotten to leave them the adaptor for the locking wheel nuts, and the locking wheel nut on that wheel showed no sign of butchering, as though they had tried to get it off"
A lot of garages carry a range of wheel nut adaptors just for this kind of situation, maybe your garage does? (No excuse for shoddy workmanship though)
And i wholeheartedly agree regarding the TD over the TDI give me simplicity any day.