Nreg lt35 horsebox handbrake failiure

Hi everyone and let me introduce myself.My name is del and i am now a personal assistant to my horse loving ladies wonderful n reg vw lt35 2.4 non turbo 95/96 horselorry..I"m very fond of it and a very solid and proud machine..anyway my good lady has gone off to pony camp this weekend and on arrival pulled the handbrake and the connecting rod under lorry bed has snapped and end has gone awol..all this imformation came to me via a text?..The rac man said its has to be recovered home and could not help plus the horse as well could turn into a very long experience.as far as i can gather this part is getting like hens teeth and wondered is it something that could be fabricated to get her home safe.I could not find any pictures of the rod/mechanism and other than going blind to try i"m at a loss.I used to be a plant fitter and own a 20+ old classic car so not unfamiliar to the unforseen.Any help and advice would be gratefully received.Thanks HJ.

Thanks Simon..great description..and very welcome.I may just go to wickes in the morning procure some supplies and head off to the lorry..hj.

Well i went to wickes bought supplies drove to camp and did it..its hard to check binding on the drums with lorry in a field but had to feel my on the free play disengaged and tensioned engaged movements..Test drove around the field (on sloping ground)..The other problem unknown to me was the handbrake lever.When the rod snapped the handbrake went beyond normal movement and the button spring and rod popped out..cant be fixed properly with vertical rod attached..so removed vertical rod pin to get handbrake upwards..after much head scratching figured it out and all was well.I dont mind admitting i"m knackered after the driving the buying the worry and the work.and a big thanks to you simon for your help on this.i"ve learned something today.hj

http://etka.cc/vw/part_single/catalog/vw/markt/RDW/modell/LT/year/1993/drive_standart/109/hg_ug/711/subcategory/71000/part_id/3725898/lang/e

I am signed up for VAGCat but it is not always running, for whatever reason.

Good morning all..My good lady and her horse made it home safe and sound..as i said before my main concern was binding or not biting enough when needed but thank god all ended well and my reward was relief and real ale and pizza in the garden on a fine summers evening..I met her at the yard and checked the drums for heat generation and they were cool so perhaps a little more adjustment could be available.I did take some pictures on my toy phone so will try to show my efforts.attention is now turning to vertical shaft which i should imagine is as worn as the the main rod..I will probably buy the proper steel bar and a tap and die and remake the rods..cost of parts for this emergency repair with spare rod remaining..£13.00..I will post exactly what was used and quantities later..Thanks folks..hj.

Hi Simon..the vertical rod looks ok but where both rods join the intermediate lever in the wheelarch are exposed to all the water and mud sprayed up by the wheel as well as the constant wear to the rods themselves resulting in the main rod failing in the lever i cant help feeling the vertical one cant be far behind..the question is do i use normal use steel rod or something stronger..any thoughts? hj.

Edited by honestjoe - 11 May 16 at 18:34