Hand brake cable needed

[bo ristic usa]

Guys,

Let me tell you whole story before I ask few questions. I converted rear drum brakes to disc brakes on my 1975 US spec 131. I installed 124 half shafts on differential in order to use calipers and rotors.

Questions:
1. how long is hand brake cable for any 131 with disc brakes?
2. will 124 coupe or sedan hand brake cable fit 131 rear disc brakes? These are available in the US.
3. where can I buy 131 hand brake cable? I have found one on ebay. Seems little pricy since it is for Abarth Rally.

Thank you!!!!

[mirafiori76]

Hi,

You definately need the cable from 131 Stradale. The standard cable is of no use. I guess the one from 124 will not fit since the car has a different "bottom line".

I hope i answered all your questions.

[Thotos]

My car has rear disk brakes (131 front discs with VW Golf callipers) and uses a standard 131 handbrake cable. I'm sure Yagmur can supply 131 handbrake cables.

[daverwd]

I had a disc break rear axel on my sport some years back from an 1800 twin-cam 132..
used a standard 132 hand break cable .. worked 100%

[mirafiori76]

132 1800 had discs at the rear. Yes, these will do fine with the callipers. Don't know about the fitting at the lever. Dave?

[daverwd]

to be honest cant remember if I had any issue's at the lever end inside the car ... don't recall ..
Willie who is on this site from time to time now owns the car I converted, he might be able to tell us if the connection is the same as 131 ..

[131rally]

I had same setup 20 years ago. 132 axle in Sport. The 132cable was too long. Made many mods to make it work and it never worked properly.  I believe only Stradale has correct cable.

[mirafiori76]

Exactly. I had trouble finding the right cable for my replica, many years ago. That's why is settled for a second pair of calippers at the rear. Made a special bracket for two callipers each side. Modified the handbrake and had me a hydraulic handbrake. Worked perfect. I have the very same system in my Gr.4 now.

[stathe174]

Mike do you have any pictures?

[131rally]

Hydraulic handbrake isnt allowed in street cars, atleast not in Finland, and I think its the same in most of the EU countries. Hydraulic handbrake is a race car handbrake. Its illegal in street cause if there even a small leak in the system, the pressure leaks out forexample in an hour, the handbrake looses and the car starts rolling... 

If you wish to make an hydraulic handbrake I would recommend the more common way to make it, Abarth used it too in the second version of 131 g.4 handbrakes. There is a master cylinder at handbrake lever, to IN you put the rear brake line from pedals, and from OUT you take it to the brakes. All you need to do is to cut the line and put a cylinder in between. Uses the same calipers as main brakes. I was going to use this in my replica, its cheaper, lighter and has less moving parts = more reliable. But, I found ex-works Brembo handbrake calipers, so I propably will use them after all, as Mike does.

[mirafiori76]

I don't know if it's legal to have hydraulic handbrakes in a street car here in Holland. But my replica wasn't for street use. I drove it many times down the race track of Zandvoort. Didn't need it there, but it was fun to tell spectators about it.
Never made any pictures of it. Even not when i dismantled the car for restauration...which i never could finish 

However, i do have a picture of the two callipers fitted to my Abarth: