Removing and installing rear brake cable, torsion beam rear axle — VW

🧭 Before you start

With the wheel off and the handbrake released, unhook the cable at the caliper lever and squeeze the lugs to free it from the bracket. Remove the centre console, slacken the adjustment nut and detach the cable from the compensator, then release it from the axle retainer, guide tube and guide bush. Fit the new cable from behind, clip the retainer back, attach at the marking and reconnect both ends, then pretension and adjust the parking brake.

Fits: platform codes AU1, BX5

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• Clip the axle retainer back on and pull on it to prove it is firmly seated.
• Attach the cable to the retainer at its marking and push it into the wire hook.
• Push the cable through the caliper bracket until both locking lugs engage.
• Check the guide tubes and seal are correctly seated before pretensioning with the adjustment nut.
• Finish by adjusting the parking brake; pretension alone is not the final setting.

Written for this job from the workshop steps below · TorqFix editorial.

📋 Procedure

1. Loosen wheel bolts.
2. Raise vehicle.
3. Remove wheel.
4. Release handbrake lever.
5. Push lever (2) on brake caliper in (direction of arrow) and unhook brake cable (1).

6. Press locking lugs (3) together and remove handbrake cable from bracket (4) on brake caliper.
7. Remove centre console General body repairs, interior68Centre console; Assembly overview - centre console.
8. Loosen adjustment nut (1) until relevant handbrake cable (2) can be detached from compensator (3).
9. Detach brake cable (1) from retainer (3), and pull it out of guide tube (2).
10. Release retainer from rear axle, and pill it off upwards.
11. Pull brake cable towards rear out of guide bush on rear axle.
12. Guide brake cable from behind into guide bush.
13. Clip retainer to rear axle.
14. Ensure firm seating by pulling.
15. Ensure that guide tube and seal are correctly seated.
16. Push brake cable (1) as far as stop into guide tube (2).
17. Attach brake cable (1) to retainer (3), and push it into wire hook.
18. Attach brake cable at marking (arrow).
19. Push handbrake cable (1) through bracket (4) on brake caliper until both locking lugs (3) engage.
20. Push lever (2) on brake caliper in (direction of arrow) and attach brake cable (1).
21. Attach handbrake cable (2) to compensator (3).
22. Ensure that guide tubes are correctly seated in mounting .
23. Pretension handbrake cable with adjustment nut (1).
24. Adjusting parking brake .

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