Handbrake Cable Rattle

The Mk3 Mondeo is prone to a number of rattles from the rear suspension. These can be from worn subframe bushes, worn drop links, failed anti-roll bar bushes, broken springs and several other root causes.

One of the most common causes, however, is the handbrake cable being loose in its clip onto the rear suspension arm. This is easy to check and virtually free to fix, so ensure this is done on both sides before spending any money.

This picture shows the location of the offending clip. The cable should be absolutely rock solid in here: any slight movement can result in a disproportionate amount of noise in the cabin over low-speed bumps.

You do not need to remove the wheel or even raise the car, I've just done so for clarity. If you choose to do so, the usual warnings apply. If you don't know what you're doing, don't do it.

If your cable is loose, remove the metal clip from the arm by pushing the tab at the bottom inwards, as this gives you more freedom to work. Build up the thickness of the cable at the appropriate point with a suitable tape - I used classic Duck Tape here - so that the cable is now tight in the plastic clip. Try to taper the thickness and conceal the tape edges in the direction that you'll be pushing the cable back into the clip.

Refit the metal clip to the arm. For a belt-and-braces approach, apply a cable tie as shown to further reduce movement.

Close-up of the fixed area: