I have a '96 Renault Megane, 1.4 RT. When I release the handbrake lever, the brakes are not released and the car remains stuck. Before this happened occasionally but putting the car in gear and moving forward or backwards the smallest amount released the brakes and all worked fine. At the moment, applying a good deal of pressure in 1st or reverse does nothing and the handbrake (and car) remains stuck.
Does anyone have experience of this problem? How might this be fixed?

Eoin Kelly, September 2006

handbrake button broken, cant release brakes

chris, November 2012

just had handbrake jammed and called out AA he said it is the cable worn and catching on outer case. You will find it is sticking on one side so feel the wheels and the one thats jammed is hot so remove the wheel and disconnect that side of the brake cable and the handbrake will work on the one side .I did it and it worked for two weeks but now its broke so need a new cable. Hope this helps . Its not the calliper

malcolm busby, September 2012

I had the same problem on my 99 Scenic. Handbrake seized on one side. Handbrake lever wouldnt move from the floor. Luckily I was in a scrap yard at the time it happened. Removed the wheel and hit the brake drum to try and free it up, no Joy. I even cut the handbrake cable at the drum; still seized. Fortunately there was a similar megane in the yard and I swapped over the entire hub/brake drum assembly. Wasn't as difficult as it sounds as only four bolts holding it in place. Got me going again although I now need to fit a new cable to the offside.

Lee Hamilton, May 2011

when my renult heats up when drivin the breaks apply them self makeing it hard to drive only when the car heats up half way up the temp gage. any idears

baker, November 2010

im silly

aly, January 2010

handbrake lever button has been pressed in and has stayed in the handle thus not enabling the hand brake to release......got a quote of £250 to repair lever....any suggestions please????

Brian Stirland, October 2008

Our cars are parked outside, and this has just happened to our R Megane. It used to happen to our VAuxhall Cavalier as well. The VX garage saw the car on many ocaisions and swore that there was nothing wrong with it. WE changed most componenents and still no cure so we swapped the car. THe REnault has jammed after being parked for 2 days in very wet conditions, and I think that the problem has to do with brake linings swelling in the wet. By the time the car gets to the garage they have warmed up and dried out. The problem comes when you head straight out onto the motorway after having been parked for a couple of days. The linings heat up too quickly and boil the brake fluid, which can be quite alarming in heavy traffic. If you stop for half an hour and let the brakes cool down they work perfectly normally for weeks, until you leave the car parked in the damp again. (You have to spend a weekend with the relatives sometime)
The first time I noticed this phenomenon was after having the first asbestos free linings put on the Vauxhall. SO I blame the linings. When they are really stuck a good belt with a hammer (around the drum) usually helps things so you can get the car to a proper mechanic who will tell you there is nothing wrong for about £50. AND then you go round the same curcle again!

Huw Jones, January 2008

Stuck handbrake cable rusted/stuck in place
Try some penetrating spray on entire cable

Brake caliper piston holding brake locked tight
R&R caliper ass'y

Jim, September 2006