Scraping sound under centre console on hard acceleration.

[Kevmond]

Morning all,

So my car started making a scraping sound under the centre console when accelerating hard,

Ive found on another forum a video with the exact sound I’m experiencing.  Turns out it’s due to the handbrake cable clips above the fuel tank breaking and the hand brake cables rub on the prop shaft.

Has anyone got any experience with renewing these? Apparently the tank needs to be dropped.

People have said that cable ties work well as a cheap alternative.

I’d normally climb underneath,  play and report my findings, but I’m recovering from an operation at the moment so cannot get underneath for a few weeks. 😕

[Greydog]

Hi Kevin

Well looking at www.realoem.com it looks as though above the Propshaft you have a bracket to support the Handbrake cables item 6 at the front directly over the Prop and Item 12 to support the split of cables left and right 

I would start there it may just need replacing or short term a couple of cable ties applied

Hope your up and around soon 

Dave

 

[Kevmond]

Greydog,

Officially the fuel tank needs dropping to replace this bracket as there are locating lugs between the cable bracket (correctly identified as No12 in diagram) and a few fixtures around it.

Ive ordered an aluminium replacement for a similar price of £10 to the originals replacement.  There is a lovely billet item available for £120, which can be fitted without the need to drop the fuel tank. Although I cannot warrant that cost to myself.

Cable ties can be used as a temporary repair, however the exhaust needs lowering in order to remove a heat shield to gain access.  I wish I’d “borrowed” some stainless cable ties from work. 

IMO, if I’m going to that length to make a repair, I may as well go for a permanent fix.

Against my wife’s wishes, I’ll no doubt be climbing underneath sometime next week to fix it.  I had surgery on my collarbone on Monday due to a mal union following an accident a couple of yrs back.

I’ll report back once I’m done, maybe with some pics and a brief guide to assist others.

Apparently it’s quite common on F series BM’s.

[Kevmond]

So,

Bracket arrived from eBay, nothing but the best Chineseum stainless steel.

Jacked car up as high as possible and placed an axle stand under the rear jacking point.

6x T45 bolts removed from x brace pictured, and a T60 on the O/S to allow the brace room to drop when lowering exhaust.

Rear exhaust supported with trolley jack, mounts undone with a 13mm nut either side of rear silencer and lowered.

4x metal heat shield nuts removed, 4x plastic heat shield nuts removed from felt section of under shielding.  Jiggle metal heat shield about a bit and slide towards the rear to remove.

Broken lugs from handbrake bracket fell out when heat shield was undone.  Fairly conclusive diagnosis!

Handbrake cable can be pulled down enough to allow ring end of spanner to undo retaining nut.

New bracket straddles old bracket and secures cables very well.

Refit everything that was removed, not forgetting that metal heat shield goes underneath felt section.

 

Apologies for pics not being in order, some didn’t want to upload at all.

EBay item was in fact £6.79!!
 

[X5smw]

Great write up and well done! 
chinesium is indeed the worlds finest! 

[Greydog]

Great Result Kev

Wonder what your Dealer would have charged 😂

Dave

[Kevmond]

On 5/22/2025 at 8:28 AM, Greydog said:

Great Result Kev

Wonder what your Dealer would have charged 😂

Dave

Thanks.

Dread to think what the cost would have been!

I’d estimate at least 1.5hrs labour if tank was required to be lowered, no idea what Stealerships hourly rate is.

It only took me as long as it did as I was doing on my drive a week after surgery.

Worst part was undoing the T60 bolt on rear brace (caused pain in site of surgery)

Used to be £65 P/H at a main agent Ford stealership where I worked some 22yrs ago, no idea what current labour rates are as I do (selective) work myself on occasions.

No longer do private work, only immediate family cars (Wife/Son/Daughter’s mk8 Fiesta/Toyota GT86/2015 Mini)

[Greydog]

Morning Kevin

In the South East Main Dealer rates are in excess of £200+ p/h even my local Specialist is over £100, I think that is a great incentive to DIY

Cars have always been my recreational release and like you I only help Friends and Family 

Dave