Promo banner

Change Car Handbrake Cable

Very easy 0h30 ~50£
Estimated time 0h30
Estimated labour cost ~50£
Difficulty Very easy
Check the parking brake* 0h30
Adjust the parking brake 0h30–0h45
Check the brake pedal travel 0h30
Check the parking brake shoes* 0h30
Remove/refit the parking brake cable 0h45–2h00
Renew the parking brake cable 0h45–2h00
Check the parking brake cable 0h30
Repair the handbrake cable* 0h30
Lubricate the parking brake cable* 0h30
Remove/refit the parking brake lever 0h45–1h30
Renew the parking brake lever 0h45–1h30
Repair the parking brake lever 0h30
Clean the parking brake shoes* 0h30
Mechanical parking brake* 0h30
Difficult parking brake cable removal* 0h30
Remove/refit both parking brake cables 1h00–2h00
Renew both parking brake cables 1h00–2h00
Remove/refit the parking brake shoes 1h30–2h00
Renew the parking brake shoes 1h30–2h00
Repair the handbrake cable 0h30
Mechanical parking brake 0h30
Carry out the parking brake basic adjustment procedure 0h30
Remove/refit the front parking brake cable 0h30–2h00
Renew the front parking brake cable 0h30–2h00
Make parking brake compensator functional 0h30
Renew the parking brake release lever 0h45
Remove/refit the parking brake release lever 0h45
Renew the parking brake cable tensioner roller 0h45
Repair the handbrake cable tensioner roller* 0h30
Clean the parking brake shoes 0h30
Check the brake pedal travel * 0h30
Check the parking brake cable* 0h30
Repair the parking brake lever* 0h30
Remove/refit the rear left parking brake cable 0h45–1h30
Renew the rear left parking brake cable 0h45–1h30
Remove/refit the rear right parking brake cable 0h45–1h30
Renew the rear right parking brake cable 0h45–1h30
Remove/refit the centre parking brake cable Front drum brakes 2h00
Remove/refit the centre parking brake cable Front disc brakes 2h00
Renew the centre parking brake cable Front drum brakes 2h00
Renew the centre parking brake cable Front disc brakes 2h00
Remove/refit the parking brake lever gaiter 0h30–0h30
Renew the parking brake lever gaiter 0h30
Adjust the parking brake Rear drum brakes 0h45
Remove/refit the centre parking brake cable Rear disc brakes 1h00
Remove/refit the centre parking brake cable Rear drum brakes 1h30
Renew the centre parking brake cable Rear disc brakes 1h00
Renew the centre parking brake cable Rear drum brakes 1h30
Remove/refit the centre parking brake cable 1h30
Renew the centre parking brake cable 1h30
Remove/refit the parking brake cables 1h00
Renew the parking brake cables 1h00
Adjust the parking brake* 0h30
Remove/refit the left parking brake cable 1h00
Renew the left parking brake cable 1h00
Remove/refit the right parking brake cable 1h00
Renew the right parking brake cable 1h00

What is the function of Opel Astra 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 Opel Astra 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 Opel Astra 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 Opel Astra 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.

6 models covered

Model Year Range Engines covered Fuel
Astra F (Classic) 1992-2001 1992-2001 1.4 MPFi Petrol (14SE), 1.4i 16V Petrol (X14XE), 1.4i Petrol (C14NZ), 1.4i Petrol (X14NZ), 1.4S Petrol (14NV), 1.4Si Petrol (C14SE), 1.6i 16V Petrol (X16XEL), 1.6i Petrol (16LZ2), 1.6i Petrol (C16NZ), 1.6i Petrol (X16SZ), 1.6i Petrol (X16SZR), 1.6S Petrol (16SV), 1.6Si Petrol (C… Diesel, Petrol
Astra G (Classic II) 1998-2007 1998-2007 1.2 16V Petrol (Z12XE), 1.4 16V Petrol (X14XE), 1.4 16V Petrol (Z14XE), 1.4 16V Petrol (Z14XEP), 1.6 16V CNG CNG,Petrol (Z16YNG), 1.6 16V Petrol (X16XEL), 1.6 16V Petrol (Z16XEP), 1.6 16V, -LPG LPG,Petrol (Z16XE), 1.6, -LPG LPG,Petrol (Z16SE), 1.6, -LPG Petrol (X16SZR), 1.7 CDTi… CNG, Diesel, LPG, Petrol
Astra H (Classic III) 2004-2012 2004-2012 1.3 CDTi 16V (DPF) Diesel (Z13DTH), 1.4 16V Petrol (Z14XEL), 1.4 16V, -LPG LPG,Petrol (Z14XEP), 1.6 16V Petrol (A16XER (LDE)), 1.6 16V Petrol (Z16LET), 1.6 16V Petrol (Z16XE1), 1.6 16V Petrol (Z16XEP), 1.6 16V, -LPG LPG,Petrol (Z16XER), 1.7 CDTi Diesel (A17DTJ (LPV)), 1.7 CDTi D… Diesel, LPG, Petrol
Astra J 2010-2017 2010-2017 1.3 CDTi Diesel (A13DTE (LSF)), 1.4 16V Turbo Petrol (A14NEL (LUJ)), 1.4 16V Turbo Petrol (B14XER (LDD)), 1.4 16V Turbo, -LPG LPG,Petrol (A14NET (LUJ)), 1.4 16V Turbo, -LPG LPG,Petrol (B14NEL (LUJ)), 1.4 16V Turbo, -LPG LPG,Petrol (B14NET (LUJ)), 1.4 16V, -LPG LPG,Petrol (A14XEL… Diesel, LPG, Petrol
Astra K 2016-2022 2016-2022 1.0 12V Petrol (B10XFT (LE1)), 1.0 12V Petrol (D10XFL (LE1)), 1.0 12V Petrol (D10XFL (LE1+PL5)), 1.2 Turbo Petrol (F12SHL (LIH)), 1.2 Turbo Petrol (F12SHR (LIH)), 1.2 Turbo Petrol (F12SHT (LIH)), 1.3 Turbo Petrol (F14SHT (L3T)), 1.4 16V Petrol (B14XE (LV7)), 1.4 CNG CNG (B14XNT … CNG, Diesel, Petrol
Astra L 2022-2025 2022-2025 1.2T 110 Petrol (EB2ADT (HNP)), 1.2T 130 Petrol (EB2ADTS (HNS)), 1.2T mHEV 48V (MHEV),Petrol (EB2LTDH2 (HPY)), 1.5 CDTi Diesel (DV5RC (YHZ)), GSe (1.6 Turbo Plug-in Hybrid 225) Electricity,Petrol (EP6FADTXHPD (DGY)), Plug-in Hybrid 180 (1.6 Turbo) Electricity,Petrol (EP6FADTXHPE… 48V (MHEV), Diesel, Electricity, Petrol