Defender transmission brake

[Jimbo]

Hi,
Fitted new shoes at the weekend (should of bit the bullet and got an X-Brake  :roll:) to the Defender as the left shoe (as you look at the drum from underneath) was almost completely worn away - but the right shoe was almost like new. Replaced the pair and adjusted as per the book - tighten adjuster to lock the drum, the undo the adjuster 1.5 turns. The brake is now mush better - but I've still got a lot of travel on the handbrake lever - do I need to adjust the cable length ?

Ta,
Jim

[trickydicky]

mine is exactly the same but the MOT bloke said they are twice as afective as any normal car but if you pull the hand brake on too hard they can wedge on so i would think leave well alone if i were you

[bertie_bas205]

Slaken off the cable first then adjust the shoes. When you've done that take up the cable again....





Bertie.

[Mark_Solesbury]

Mines got 4 clicks if you pull it on hard, but 3 will hold it on a hill.

[andyb]

but I've still got a lot of travel on the handbrake lever - do I need to adjust the cable length ?

You need some reserve travel. If the lever is going over half way then I'd replace the cable. Not to hard to do. You'll be surprised at the difference that can makes as well......people tend to pull on the handbrake pretty hard (they are crap when full of crap :) ) and this stretches the cable.

HTH

[Jimbo]

I have actually swapped the original lever for one off a P38, and sited it between the drivers seat and the cubby box - much more space for my left leg now, I've not got the lever digging into my left calf all the time !!

I think, in my rush to put everything back together (it was raining when I was finishing the lever mod) I may not have adjusted up the back back nut on the lever end of the cable  :roll:

[markyb]

i didnt realise my 110 came with a handbrake i will have to have another look

[spy]

i didnt realise my 110 came with a handbrake i will have to have another look

Yep, im with you on that!  Mine came with a lever that looks like it should be a hanbrake, im sure its a fake though... 

:D  Must strip and clean it, again... :(

[DogVanMan]

I like the sound of the p38 lever mod.. Having just driven back from Bosnia with my left leg against the lever, I'd be up for some of that.. Does it work well? How did you do it? Any pics mate?

G

[davidlandy]

P38 mod

im interested in that too.  pics pics!

[Jimbo]

Part way through doing the mod, I thought about taking some pics - but the digi camera was flat, and my phone takes cack pics  :oops:

Anyhow, I took lots of guidance from this site http://www.reedx.net/landrover/mods/handbrake/index.htm, and what I've ended up with is basically the same - although I've moved the lever back slightly, so it doesn't stick out much further than the front edge of the cubby. Still need to sort out a few bits, like I can't adjust the cable length as the P38 lever I got was missing the cable guide - but it still works fine !

I think when finds allow, and I get the X-Brake, then I'll have a fully-functional, easy-to-use handbrake !