Have you ever tried to push your MINI and it felt like pushing a train, uphill? My passenger side parking brake cable had seized completely not allowing the brake to disengage. When the brake handle is released there should be no gap at the spring stop on the caliper; not like the space below.


Replacing the Bowden cable is not too difficult. Slack the cables inside the cabin.


Remove the heat shield under the gas tank.


Collapse the barbs on the Bowden cable retainer; this nifty tool makes it easy.


Remove the old cable.


Route the new cable through the axle carrier and into the cabin.


Adjust the tension so the first click pulls the cable slightly taught and the second click creates some drag on the rotor.

Backing out of the drive way is much easier now. Last week when I went the drag strip I was really dragging.

 

Nice how-to. Kinda hope I don't need it, though. There should be a place where things like this can be easily found when the need arises.

 

Great DIY write up! Although I agree with Dirk in that I hope I never need to use it (although, given the various problems that tend to come up with my MINI, I probably will).

 

Just to add to this, I did mine last week.
You don't need to remove the heat shield, just undo the rearmost retaining nut and move the shield slightly to gain access.

 

Would it be possible for both cables to fail at the same time? Seems like mine have just wondering if this has ever happened to anyone?

 

happened to me just this week. Unfortunately the weather here and the fact that I don't have a driveway means I had to get this done at a dealer to the tune of (get this) $600 Anyways, thanks for posting this guide, just sorry I saw it too late!