How do you change the offside handbrake cable on a 2001 Nissan Primera 1.8 petrol?

Answer 1

I asked this question, but I had a go and it's now fitted and working. Ideally you need a pit, but I managed on my driveway.

This is really tricky, and will take some time and discomfort, so you might consider paying a garage to do this; if so, choose an independent garage where everybody has grubby hands.

You will need: a jack, axle stands, wheelbrace, 10mm combination spanner, 10mm socket and assorted socket extensions, posi-2 screwdriver, large flat blade screwdriver, grips (eg "mole" - I used adjustable Plumbing grips), hammer.

You will also need immense patience, sense of humour, no fear of confined spaces (if no pit), a good command of Anglo-Saxon expletives and resilience to cold (if you do this on your driveway in January).

Have a good look at the new cable o familiarise where the fixing brackets are.

Inside the car remove (or tilt up) the cover surrounding the handbrake lever - 6 screws well hidden (the rearmost require moving both front seats forward). Slacken off the cable on the handbrake lever with 10mm spanner (this will take some time). Jack up the rear of the car and remove the road wheel. Support the corner of the car with an axle stand. Jack up the same side front of the car and support with another axel stand. Tap out the clip holding the sheath of the cable to the rear calliper (tap up with hammer on flat blade screwdriver). Unbolt the rearmost bracket on the cable using 10mm socket or spanner. Lever the cable sheath free of the calliper and uncouple the end of the cable. Follow the cable toward the centre of the car and unbolt the next bracket, one 10mm nut through the heatshield above the exhaust and a 10mm bolt into the car body. Follow the cable forward and unbolt the section of heatshield, 4 x 10mm bolts, 2 of these are above the exhaust but may be unbolted, using extreme patience, without lowering the exhaust, using a 10mm spanner. Slide the section of heatshield back a little to free the forward overhang, then slide the heatshield as far forward as possible. Unbolt the last of the cable brackets then lever the U shaped bracket apart to free the hammer shaped front end of the cable. Do this carefully as it has to be squeezed back with grips onto the new cable. Fitting the new cable is the reverse of the above, but reattach the cable to the calliper before re-bolting the rearmost cable bracket. Before lowering the rear road wheel to the ground re-tighten the nut on cable to the handbrake lever until the rear wheel still turns with the handbrake lever in the off position, and the handbrake lever should pull 3 to 4 clicks to lock the rear wheel.

Good luck!