hand brake adjustment

[Mark2Disco]

hi
can some one tell me the easy way to adjust the hand brake
as i keep elbowing the rear passengers when i apply the hand brake
it works fine but to much travel
thanks for your help

[Wanderer]

Wind the square shaped bolt (on the rear of the handbrake back plate) in by a quarter of a turn each time until it brings the lever down. Don't go too far and make sure it's not sitting on the top of a "ridge" when you are finished. The bit that does the work is cone shaped with 4 flat ridges on it. As it goes between ridges it will go a bit tight each time then dropping back on to the flat area.

HTH

Ed

[TUFFTEE]

Just like adjusting the brakes on the old mini's i guess? And i have Still got a mini brake adjusting spanner in my toolbox!! 8)  :lol:

[Arightpest]

they adjust :shock: i thought they had to touch the rear seat thats what first and revers is for :oops:

[muddyweb]

If yours has the later handbrake assembly (which I think it might) then there will be a 17mm bolt at the 6-o-clock position on the bottom of the handbrake drum.

There are 2 adjustments for the handbrake on the later vehicles depending on where the slack is.    With the handbrake off, you need to adjust the drum adjuster so that the drum runs freely.  You should be able to lock the drum up using the adjuster, and then back it off so the drum moves.

This might do it...  if you still have too much travel at the lever, then you can adjust it via a big nut under the lever.   This involves many skinned kuckles and much swearing  :?

[chris9119]

Also, theres a cable adjuster on the handbrake end as well (takes up the slack on a stretched cable)

Chris

[Range Rover Blues]

Adjust the cable first if you can.

[muddyweb]

Why adjust the cable first ?

Is it not better to ensure that the shoes / drum are properly set up ?

[Mark2Disco]

i will try to adust the drum first and see if the slack is there
thanks for your help

[Range Rover Blues]

Why adjust the cable first ?

Is it not better to ensure that the shoes / drum are properly set up ?

No because the hand brake cable must not be used to take up slack in the handbrake, the drum should be adjusted with the cable already correct.

[muddyweb]

But how can you do that until you have eliminated any excess travel in the shoes ?

[Wanderer]

On a Disco, trust me. It's easier to adjust it at the handbrake anyway as you've got to remove the handbrake gaiter and switch panel to get at the other adjuster and there's still not a lot of room to get near it. Then the handbrake gaiter gets broken and they are like hen's teeth to find anywhere.

Ed

[Range Rover Blues]

But how can you do that until you have eliminated any excess travel in the shoes ?

Because you adjust the running clearance of the shoes with the handbrake at rest, when the shoes should be most retracted.  It says quite clearly in the manual.

[muddyweb]

Isn't that what I said  :?

There are 2 adjustments for the handbrake on the later vehicles depending on where the slack is.    With the handbrake off, you need to adjust the drum adjuster so that the drum runs freely.  You should be able to lock the drum up using the adjuster, and then back it off so the drum moves.

This might do it...  if you still have too much travel at the lever, then you can adjust it via a big nut under the lever.   This involves many skinned kuckles and much swearing  :?

[Range Rover Blues]

Thought I'd better check the manaul before putting my foot in my mouth, you're right Tim :oops: the cable is adjusted last.
Must have got confused with something else :roll:

[Mark2Disco]

turned the 17mm nut one turn and sorted
thanks lads

[Reaper]

Why not do this instead of fannying about with a drum brake?

[hobbit]

or carry one of these for emergencies  :lol: