Replacing the rear parking brake cables (Opel Astra J)

Replace the rear parking brake cables if they are excessively stretched (impossibility of adjusting the parking brake), mechanical damage to the cable cores or their sheaths.

You will need pliers.



1. Remove the floor tunnel lining (see Removal and installation the floor tunnel lining).



2. Loosen the tension of the rear drive cables by pressing the rod of the automatic parking brake adjustment mechanism in the direction shown by the arrow in the photo…



3. …press the rod lock, move the rod all the way back and remove the cable ends from the equalizer slots.



4. Place the vehicle on a lift or inspection pit. If you are working on an inspection pit, lift the rear of the vehicle and place it on reliable supports.



5. Disconnect the release spring from the parking brake actuator lever…



6. …and from the bracket, then remove the spring.



7. Disconnect the rear parking brake cable end from the drive mechanism lever by removing the end from the slot in the lever.





8. Use pliers to squeeze the two locking clips of the parking brake cable housing stop…



9. …and remove the cable from the hole in the parking brake drive mechanism bracket.



10. Pulling the rope down..



11. …remove its casing from the holder on the rear suspension trailing arm.





12. Remove the cable sheath seal from the hole in the base of the body and remove the cable, pulling it out of the passenger compartment and down under the vehicle.

13. The second cable is removed in the same way.

14. Install the rear parking brake cables in the reverse order of removal.

Note: Once the cables have been installed, no adjustment of the parking brake is required as the mechanism on the drive lever will automatically provide the required cable tension.