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Change Car Handbrake Cable

Very easy 0h30 ~50£
Estimated time 0h30
Estimated labour cost ~50£
Difficulty Very easy
Vehicles
Escort Mk I 1967-1976 7
  • 1100 Petrol (G1)
  • 1100 Petrol (KL11L)
  • 1300 GT Petrol (KL13H)
  • 1300 Petrol (J2)
  • 1300 Petrol (J3D)
  • Mexico 1600 Petrol (TL16M)
  • RS 1600 Petrol (KL16R)
Escort Mk III, IV 1980-1990 19
  • 1.1 Petrol (GSE)
  • 1.1 Petrol (GSG)
  • 1.3 Petrol (JLA)
  • 1.3 Petrol (JLB)
  • 1.4 Petrol (FUA)
  • 1.4 Petrol (FUC)
  • 1.4i Petrol (F6B)
  • 1.4i Petrol (F6D)
  • 1.6 Petrol (LP1)
  • 1.6 Petrol (LP2)
  • 1.6 Petrol (LUC)
  • 1.6 Petrol (LUG)
  • 1.6 RS Turbo Petrol (LNA)
  • 1.6 RS Turbo Petrol (LNB)
  • 1.6 XR3i Petrol (LJB)
  • 1.6 XR3i Petrol (LR2)
  • 1.6 XR3i Petrol (LRB)
  • 1.6D Diesel (LTA)
  • 1.6D Diesel (LTC)
Escort Mk V, VI 1990-2002 24
  • 1.3i (Endura-E) Petrol (J4B)
  • 1.3i (HCS) Petrol (J6A)
  • 1.4i (CVH) Petrol (F6F)
  • 1.4i (CVH) Petrol (F6G)
  • 1.4i (PTE) Petrol (F4B)
  • 1.6 (CVH) Petrol (LUK)
  • 1.6i (CVH) Petrol (LJE)
  • 1.6i (CVH) Petrol (LJF)
  • 1.6i (CVH) Petrol (LUJ)
  • 1.6i (Zetec-E) Petrol (L1E)
  • 1.6i (Zetec-E) Petrol (L1H)
  • 1.6i (Zetec-E) Petrol (L1K)
  • 1.8 D Diesel (RTE)
  • 1.8 D Diesel (RTF)
  • 1.8 D Diesel (RTH)
  • 1.8 TD (Endura-DE) Diesel (RFD)
  • 1.8 TD (Endura-DE) Diesel (RFK)
  • 1.8 TD (Endura-DE) Diesel (RFS)
  • 1.8 TD (Endura-DE) Diesel (RVA)
  • 1.8i (ZETEC-E) Petrol (RDA)
  • 1.8i (ZETEC-E) Petrol (RKC)
  • 1.8i (ZETEC-E) Petrol (RQB)
  • RS 2000 Petrol (N7A)
  • RS Cosworth Petrol (N5F)
Check the parking brake* 0h30
Adjust the parking brake 0h30–0h30
Check the brake pedal travel * 0h30
Check the parking brake shoes* 0h30
Check the parking brake cable* 0h30
Repair the handbrake cable* 0h30
Lubricate the parking brake cable* 0h30
Repair the parking brake lever* 0h30
Clean the parking brake shoes* 0h30
Mechanical parking brake* 0h30
Difficult parking brake cable removal* 0h30
Check the brake pedal travel 0h30
Carry out the parking brake basic adjustment procedure 0h30
Remove/refit the front parking brake cable 0h45–1h00
Renew the front parking brake cable 0h45–1h00
Make parking brake compensator functional 0h30
Renew the parking brake release lever 0h30
Remove/refit the parking brake release lever 0h30
Remove/refit the parking brake cable 0h45–1h30
Renew the parking brake cable 0h45–1h30
Check the parking brake cable 0h30
Remove/refit the parking brake lever 0h45–1h00
Renew the parking brake lever 0h45–1h00
Repair the parking brake lever 0h30
Remove/refit the left parking brake cable 0h45
Renew the left parking brake cable 0h45
Remove/refit the right parking brake cable 0h45
Renew the right parking brake cable 0h45
Remove/refit both parking brake cables 1h00–1h30
Renew both parking brake cables 1h00–1h30
Repair the handbrake cable 0h30–0h30
Mechanical parking brake 0h30

What is the function of Ford Escort handbrake cables?

The handbrake cables transmit the force exerted on the lever (or pedal) to the rear brakes. The handbrake (parking brake) immobilises the vehicle when parked, even on steep slopes. It also serves as an emergency brake in the event of main braking circuit failure.

Does my Ford Escort have handbrake cables?

Some vehicles have a handbrake with a lever and cables (entry-level models and those over 5 years old). Other vehicles have an electric parking brake operated via a button. Vehicles with electric parking brakes do not have conventional handbrake cables.

When should you change the Ford Escort handbrake cables?

Replace if: the handbrake lever travel is excessive despite adjustment, the cable is frayed or corroded, the cable outer sheath is split, or the cable has seized (common in vehicles not driven regularly). Also replace if the vehicle rolls on a slope with the handbrake fully applied.

Is it difficult to change Ford Escort handbrake cables?

Difficulty level 1/5: very easy. Key steps: release the handbrake, raise and support the vehicle, disconnect the cable from the brake mechanism at the wheel end, disconnect from the handbrake lever, feed the new cable through the same route, reconnect at both ends, adjust tension so the lever locks at 4–7 clicks, test on a slope.

4 models covered

Model Year Range Engines covered Fuel
Escort Mk I 1967-1976 1967-1976 1.1 1100 Petrol (KL11), 1.1 1100 Petrol (KL11L), 1.3 Petrol (J1F), 1.3 Petrol (KL13), 1.6 Petrol (K5), 1100 Petrol (G1), 1100 Petrol (KL11L), 1300 GT Petrol (KL13H), 1300 Petrol (J2), 1300 Petrol (J3D), Mexico 1600 Petrol (TL16M), RS 1600 Petrol (KL16R), RS 2000 Petrol (TL20G) Petrol
Escort Mk II 1974-1980 1974-1980 1.1 Petrol (G1), 1.1 Petrol (G2), 1.3 Petrol (J1), 1.3 Petrol (J2), 1.3 Petrol (J3), 1.3 Petrol (KL13G), 1.6 Petrol (KL16G), 1.6 RS 1600 Petrol (LC), 1.8 RS 1800 Petrol (BDE), 2.0 RS 2000 Petrol (NE), 2.0 RS 2000 Petrol (NE) Petrol
Escort Mk III, IV 1980-1990 1980-1990 1.1 Petrol (GLB), 1.1 Petrol (GMA), 1.1 Petrol (GPA), 1.1 Petrol (GSE), 1.1 Petrol (GSG), 1.1 Petrol (GUC), 1.3 Petrol (JBA), 1.3 Petrol (JLA), 1.3 Petrol (JLB), 1.3 Petrol (JPA), 1.4 Petrol (FUA), 1.4 Petrol (FUC), 1.4i Petrol (F6B), 1.4i Petrol (F6D), 1.6 Petrol (HL16L), 1.6 P… Diesel, Petrol
Escort Mk V, VI 1990-2002 1990-2002 1.3 Petrol (JBD), 1.3i (Endura-E) Petrol (J4B), 1.3i (HCS) Petrol (J6A), 1.4i (CVH) Petrol (F6F), 1.4i (CVH) Petrol (F6G), 1.4i (PTE) Petrol (F4B), 1.6 (CVH) Petrol (LUK), 1.6i (CVH) Petrol (LJE), 1.6i (CVH) Petrol (LJF), 1.6i (CVH) Petrol (LUJ), 1.6i (Zetec-E) Petrol (L1E), 1.6… Diesel, Petrol