Citroën CX

The hand brakes

• The handbrakes work on the front wheels.

• Adjustment is done on the callipers.

Much bad has been said about the handbrakes (yes, there are actually two;) on the CX, and everything wrong. So long as you give them proper maintenance, there are no more efficient hand brakes on any car. And remember that the hand brakes also function as emergency brakes.

The handbrakes must be adjusted and greased often. Minimum every spring and autumn, otherwise you end up with two immovable rust lumps. It is also important to use them from time to time.

1 Handbrake lever

2 Control lever

3 Spacer

4 Adjustmnt screw

5 Contact switch

6 Capscrew

7 Capscrew

8 Plain washer

9 Hexagonal nut

The drawing is borrowed from the Citroën CX' parts list

1 Handbrake cable

2 Handbrake lever

3 Set 4 brake pad

4 Hdbrk equalizer

5 Cable ring

6 Hndbrk spindle

7 Hndbrk spindle

8 Pin

9 Return spring

10 Cup

The drawing is borrowed from the Citroën CX' parts list

11 Eccentric

12 Handbrak spacer

13 Lever stop

14 Cable guide

15 Cable guide

16 Adjust collar

17 Capscrew

18 Washer

19 Plain washer

20 Plain washer

21 Plain washer

Adjusting

If the brake disks are getting thin, it will be difficult to get the hand brakes tight enough. If so, replace the brake disks. (The brake disks shall be minimum 18 mm thick.)

Hjulboltar NB! If the two bolts that hold the brake disk in place are gone (broken), the brake disk must be immobilized with the wheel bolts (not the bolts to the aluminum wheels; they are too long).

To adjust 4x 11 you can use a large flat screwdriver or a square awl where the outer tip is removed. Or make yourself a special tool of 4.5 mm thick metal:

Spesialverkty

The drawing is borrowed from the Citroën CX' service manual

Jack up the front of the car, put it on stands, take off the road wheels and put the gear stick in neutral.
The hand brakes must be disengaged.
Unscrew the lock nut and the adjustment nut on the wire both sides (2 11mm wrenches + small spanner to hold the end of the wire).
Loosen 4x17 (17mm).
Adjust 4x11 (clockwise seen from behind), first at the outside, then on the inside and tighten 4x 17. (4x 11 must be tightened/turned just so much that you can easily rotate the brake disc with your hands with a little resistance. Be sure not to touch the brake disc, hold onto the edge.)
Pull out the wire first on one side, and then on the other side. Measure the difference and screw back on the adjustment nut and lock nut on both sides. (If the end sticking out on the left side was 5 mm longer than the one on the right, it shall still be sticking out 5 mm more wire on the left side.)
Test that you can turn the brake disks around with your hands, and that they (the brake disks;) are completely clean.

On alloy wheels the end of the wire might hit the rim. If so you can try to shorten the small set screw slightly (2 8mm wrenches) and realign. If that does not work either, you can pull out the wire and put on a few washers or a nut or similar.

If you cannot get of the lock nut and adjusting nut, you must replace the cables.

Tighten 4x17 7.5 mdaN (75 Nm). Tighten the lock nut 1.5 mdaN (15 Nm).

Put grease on the wire and pull a plastic hose onto it so that the hose will remain under the trigger guard.

Replacing the hand brake cable

You must replace the hand brake cable if it stretches, brakes or you do not get off the lock nut and adjustment nut.

Inside the car you take off the cover to the right of the gas pedal. Dismount the cables and attach a wire at the end of each cable, and uses the wire to pull the new cable into place.

The shortest cable shall be on the left hand side.

Problem

The warning light for engaged hand brake is on when it should not.

Brytar

This usually is because the switch (5) will not be pushed far enough down. Cut and put on a piece of filt (meant to be put under chair feet's).

Winter and frost

In winter, you should avoid having the hand brakes on for an extended period of time, in case they freeze. Park flat (transversely in a hill), and have the car in reverse or in 1st gear. Let go of the brake pedal and wait until the car has settled (may roll a little bit forward or backward) before you switch of the engine and let go of the clutch.

If you cannot park transversely in a hill, turn the front wheels: Turn the steering wheel all the way over, and hold it there while you switch of the engine and take out the key. Then gently let go of the steering wheel to engage the steering wheel lock. When you put the key in the ignition again, it is important to twist / pry a little on the steering wheel so you don't break off the key.

• Downhill: 1th gear.
• Uphill: Reverse.

Citroën CX
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