no handbrake!!

[Flimbo]

this is a question i've been meaning to ask for a long time now.

once again, our handbrake has stopped working! you can pull it up as far as you like, but you'll still roll.

last time it happened the garage took a look at it while they did the alternator, but i wondered if its easy enough for us to do ourselves?
they said something about how it gets full of mud and water?

any ideas? any explanation as to how we could do it ourselves?

thanks, matt

[Rich_P]

Is it a Series 1,2,2A,3?

On the 2A, you have a handbrake linkage.  First make sure that the linkage is operating correctly, and also adjust the handbrake drum mechanism and see if that makes any effect. (it's similar to adjusting the drums on the axles, but if you don't know how to do it, ask)

[Flimbo]

sorry i should have said. its a series 3

i'm sure the garage said before it was something to do with mud and stuff clogging erm....something up?!  :?

[rustprooflandyracer]

It is easy enough to do yourself. May just need adjustment, if you remove the driver seat and the plate below that, retained by screws. You should get access to the handbrake lever, there are two nuts on the shaft going vertically upwards. They act as adjustment, reducing the number of clicks on the ratchet mechanism.

It is hard to explain in enough detail, I pretty much do it with my eyes closed now, best bet is a haynes manual. It is a simple enough job, just make sure the shoes are not binding too much when replaced with the drum. They probably be tight even when slackened right off using the adjustment mechanism on the left side of the drum looking at it form the back of the vehicle. They will bed in, but the drum will get very hot due to friction.

I'm sure there will be better advice which is clearer and more useful.

Thanks

[Flimbo]

thanks buddy.

can anybody tell me anymore about it? i'll be having a look this weekend probably.

[MattW]

If it's more drastic than adjusting the two nuts on the shaft, it's quite easy to get the hub off it's self and have a look. Just take out the floor panel under the middle seat (the one that only has a small catch to undo.) Remove the nuts from the hub & tap it off with a rubber mallet/ small hammer to have a look inside. There is no need to remove the propshaft or anything. I don't know how well looked after yours it but when I did this recently I did have to replace the nuts as I rounded a few of them off.

Frothy

[James.Harwood]

Good luck.

Got mine working after 4 years of no handbrake just to have it stick on.

Good job that they can not be tested in the MOT.

Best place to start would be to take the drum off and clean everything, replace the rubber cover where the linkage ataches and adjust acordingly.  Sit back and wait for it to stop working.

Always park on the flat and in gear.

[Robbo]

Actually they do test them on the MOT ! Was surprised to find that out myself - they roll the car out at about 3-4 mph and put it on!!!!!!!!!     did try to point out not a good idea but they siad it was always the way to test a transmission hand brake??????

it still works so I don't know one way or the other :?

[S188]

My hand brake was tested on the rollers on the MOT, they have to test them as the computer says they must.  The tester knows landys so had to ajust the results because one wheel was vertully useless and the other worked resonably well.  He must know what a rubish one looks like on the machine as he failed my dads landy (he forgot to tighten it up first).  Nearly 2 months on and the hand brake has reverted to its normal state of being useless (the pre MOT tighten up of the expander doesn't seem to leave it working well for long.  A shame really as they can be made to work really well for a week!)

[James.Harwood]

My hand brake was tested on the rollers on the MOT

they roll the car out at about 3-4 mph and put it on

Neither of these should ever be done with a transmition brake, both risk damage to vehicle or equipment (even at 3-4mph).  

If they do bother to test the handbrake it should be done with the Vehicle on a flat surface and give it a push.  This is the only safe way to test them, hence the reason a lot dont bother.

[Robbo]

nice article in LROI about transmission brakes.....nice timing....

[Spacemud]

As already stated above, just to add my (so far) limited experience; it's just like a drumbrake but as part of the transmission.

Personnaly, I first wound the handbrake adjusting nut up a bit before realising that you can adjust them exactly the same as a drum brake. Once I realised, I wound the adjuster up until it was obviously gripping, then backed it off a little. Worked for me, and is spot on. Having said that, I doubt if mine gritty or rusted, might be worth removing your drum for a look?

[RCRockCrawler]

I. Hate. Hand. Brakes.

Like James Harwood said, park on the flat and leave it in gear.  :)