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On our 'van the handbrake is on the right hand side of the drivers seat. Last night I engaged the hand brake and as normal "hopped" off the seat to get out the door. BUT last night as the weather was lovely I had shorts on. The bottom of my shorts caught in the handbrake and with the force of me (no a slight chap!) leaving the vehilce I have actually managed to bend the handbrake.

The handbrake works fine and when it is not engaged is in the normal vertical postion, but when enaged instead of it being straight up is at angle (leaning to the door). The handbrake seems to be one unit with a metal strut holding it on place, this is the piece that has bent.

What would you advice be:

source a 2nd handbrake unit, take it to a garage to try and straigthen it (don't want to try it myself), leave it as it is. I'm a bit worried as there would be no way that I could hold the 'van on a hill without the handbrake (3.5tonne McClouis 430, coachbuilt).

Thanks

Sounds like you've only bent the arm & not the ratchet, so i'd leave it, as long as it has a smooth action up & down & locks in all positions it should be fine. 

mick