Hello,

My handbrake is fully released yet when I attempt to pull off the car refuses to budge. It is as if the handbrake is fully applied when it is released. The light for the handbrake goes off as it should. 

I don't know if this is related but for a couple of months I have been concerned about a low-pitched grinding noise. I took it to the garage for inspection as I thought it could be something to do with the clutch/gearbox but they gave it the all clear and said that it was just how my car sounded. Now I'm wondering if the brakes have always been slightly stuck? I do have to give it more revs then when I first bought it in October to get it moving.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this problem? If so, what was the fault and how much did it cost to fix? 

Thanks in advance!

3 hours ago, EmmaChapman said:

My handbrake is fully released yet when I attempt to pull off the car refuses to budge

Hi,

I am going to presume the handbrake works on the rear wheels of this car. It does on all cars I have seen.

If the car sits for several days in damp conditions, the handbrake can stick a bit on the first release. This is not abnormal.

But if this happens often it looks like a brake problem. One quick check is after a drive where you have made little use of the brakes (at least for the last 10-15 minutes of it), then the brakes should be quite cool (or just warm) to the touch. A trundle round local roads at up to 30mph for 5 minutes should be sufficient. If the handbrake is sticking, the rear disks will be much hotter than the front. Use a little brush with some water on it as a 1st test, see if it sizzles or steams, only touch the disks if you are sure they are not too hot!

If it is sticking it could be: the handbrake adjustment (if your car has this), or the cable (if fitted). Both should not be too expensive. It is possible the caliper has over-adjusted and can just be wound back, again a relatively quick, easy job. But if it happens again, or if the calipers are sticking, then the calipers may need replacing. (Can sometimes be serviced with new seals, but most garages will not do this, the labour charge may end up higher than new units). And this will be several hundred pound, I expect.

Peter.

Need more info

Low pitched grinding noise could be the brake plates grinding bare hub metal or shoes - I stupidly did this on my old Opel Manta GTJ and needed new brake pads and front discs.Did they check the brakes shoes as your shoes may now be seized on the plate or jammed if the car wont move at all?

I would put your car up on axle stands and try to rotate the wheels by hand - in neutral and handbrake off of course.

Does the car feel like its trying to move - moves a wee bit or does it just sit there and do nothing?

Not sure what you mean as you say it doesnt budge but then you say if you rev it it will move?

Does it move or not now?

It sounds like you have a worn clutch if i am getting you right and what you are saying is that it doesnt move until you give it Welly?
Could also be seized handbrake mechanism but you would need to put it off the ground and turn the wheels by hand see if you can hear any grinding or any heavy resistance against turning.

do as said jack car up at the rear  chock the front wheels first  then release the hand brake and turn the rear wheels by hand. if they move freely then not the brakes at fault.

do the same on the front ones but you  can do them one at a time without jacking both wheels off the ground at the same time. 

 

did you not ask the garage to check your brakes when you went in there. most garages will do a free brake check for you if you ask them.

take to local garage not multi national and ask them to ramp it up for you for them to have a look if your not sure what to do as that will save you getting

messed up especially this dodgy weather were getting

Sounds to me like the rear brakes need stripped down and cleaned. 

Rear wheel cylinders are a weak point on that age of ka, leak/siezed up.

Thank you everyone.

the brakes stuck once again this morning. I had enough and took it to the garage and just got a call that the rear brake cylinders were leaking and they both need replacing along with the shoes. £180 later! 

thank you to everyone for your advice, it's really appreciated. 

Emma

 

Thanks for the feedback.

Price not as bad as I feared.

Peter.

right again. lol