Hi, can anyone give me a bit of advise on handbrake cables.

My handbrake is slipping - I checked the drums / shoes and connections - all look ok but the cables are uneven at the joint in the rear compartment of car (I think a cable is stretched)

I need to replace my handbrake cables (2010 TD4e GS) Is it possible to access them on the driveway/garage or do i need to be on a lift or over a pit?

Also can someone give me a quick run through on the removal / replacement. (start from the back and work forward or front working back, etc.)

Thanks

Just wondering have you adjusted the shoes at the drums

Yes I checked the cable connector to see it was free to move and reinstalled the drum - tightened the adjuster until no movement the on each side let off adjuster 8 notches.

You should not need new cables at that age. I think your problem is the letting off 8 notches. In my experience with this type of handbrake arrangement, you should only let off enough notches until it moves. FL2 HSE Auto Galway Green
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I also though about this - I guess I am also looking at the bracket under the tray in the back of the car. It is quite badly of square and as I have both sides set at 8 notches I assumed that one of the cables might be stretched. I know the last owner had the handbrake shoes sorted and commented the wear a bit. I though he may have had a seized cable bracket in the drum and the extra stress on the other side may have stretched the cable. I also do not know it the cables are original ore even if they are oem.

If is possible withe less notches set on the handbrake the connection in the rear seat area will square up??

You would normally only back off the adjusters 3 clicks each which should allow the drum to turn with minimum drag. It is not uncommon for the compensator plate under the console to sit off centre. It is designed to apply equal pressure to both cables and it does not have to sit square to do this. As previously mentioned a lot of the available movement in the cables is being lost because you have backed off the adjusters too much. Slacken the cables a bit then readjust at the wheel then tighten the cables slightly then apply the handbrake a few times on and off to settle everything then do a final tighten on the cable and you should find the handbrake much better. Good luck!

Ok. Replaced the cables. Thanks for the help.

Just want to check on the passenger side should the brake shoe expander be set so its hinged at the top or bottom?

Was hinged at bottom and I left it like that but I had thought the end of the shoes would be tight against the stop spacer (separating the 2 shoes)- it's a little loose and has 2-3mm gap between the bottom shoe at the end with the expander and spacer.

Thanks for any help.