I put handbrake cables on a VW Polo recently, it was fairly easy and didn't take very long. I removed both brake drums, but only stripped one at a time, so that I could easily see how it all went back together again. The hardest bit was putting the brake shoe springs back on.

If I can't fiddle the cable on, the plan is to just remove the lower spring and ease the rearmost shoe off from the bottom pivot to give a bit more room. Hopefully I wont have to disturb the upper springs which look a real pain!

A dodge I picked up when fitting a Triumph m/cycle centre stand spring is to pack the spaces between the coils with washers before re fitting to pre stretch the spring then carefully remove once in situ - without loosing an eye in the process

I would recommend this link to Morganatica It has a good explanation on the Rear brakes (download the PDF file) and advice about refitting shoes. I have tried to get the special AP clips mentioned but had no response from them. I need to find out how to get these replacement springs before I substitute my new EBC Green Shoes.

Any ideas, any one??

Hi Jays
Did mine January, Not to bad to do.
Drum off remove spring that holds shoes to back plate, you can then get to the end of the handbrake cable fit new cable in reverse. Before drum can go back on back of auto adjuster, feed cable through original cable route (note some have been fixed in the middle of the wood floor what fun) on replacement ignore middle fixing as it is held both ends. Failing to back off break adjustment will result in not being able to attach to the handbrake leaver.. Drive car to allow brakes to auto adjust. then adjust handbrake. you will need to do this a few times as the cable stretches.

Cain

Mine went in the same place, it is because of the acute turn into the drum, as 4/4 sports have a narrow axel, this is not a problem on wide axel models

Thanks for that Cain...useful information. Did you manage to fit the cable from underneath or from inside the car?

Under the car Jay, I also disconnected the prop at the diff end and zip tied it out of the way for ease of working as my cable was fixed in the prop tunnel. Note I did not re-fix in in middle of prop tunnel as I see no need as it is fixed at both ends of the tunnel.
Cain

I'm still working on it! The cable was fastened down in 3 places and also some wiring was zip tied to it in two places so in the end I had no choice but to take the transmission tunnel off......which means seats out etc. I was intending to take the gearbox cover off but with all the screws fixing it to floor and bulkhead, it still won't shift and I don't want to force it. Looking down through it though there is clearly enough room to get in from below to attach the new cable.

Hi Jays, have you heard of these people based in Coventry. They hire out ramps to DIY'ers. Just a thought. They are called rampandwrench.co.uk

I have not used them myself but have found this place just in case.
There used to be one in Bromsgrove however they seem to have stopped trading.

Jay I managed from bellow zip tied wiring cables to the handbrake cable.

It was very fiddlie as I have big hands and arms!!!