Couple of questions?? Exhaust and handbrake.

My disco back box seems to have departed company at some point, nothing unusual about that I gather. It broke off just behind the mounting bracket.
I can't find anywhere local to me with the rear section in stock but a friend of mine has suggested using a piece of straight pipe, inserted into the pipe that is still on the car and clamping/welding on.

Would this be acceptable for the MOT? If so anyone know where could I get a length of pipe slightly smaller diameter than the current pipe? (and what diameter should I look for?)

Second problem is my handbrake, it doesn't seem to be as effective as it should be, I haven't tried adjusting it yet but I have noticed at very slow speeds I get an intermittent squeal, I am sure it's down to the handbrake because if I move the handbrake lever slightly when moving at 5-10 mph the squeal stops. The noise stops also when I reach about 15-20 mph.

I guess the shoes want replacing but I just wanted to know if anything else could be causing this before I start crawling about underneath the disco again?

Exhaust visit an exhaust fitters and ask for a piece from a scrapper of similar diameter ...

Handbrake sounds like you need to remove the rear prop, remove the drum and clean out and check/replace the shoes if necessary, then re-adjust the cable ...

Thanks.

Would this method of repairing the exhaust be OK for MOT if done properly with no leaks??

I'll have a look at the brakes when it dries up a bit outside.

Yup, so long as the exhaust exit complies, which I think means exits outside the cabin space, not directly under it. I'd just run it either straight back and exit where it normally would, or make a bend and side exit, but that'd involve body holes and messing ..

Straight out the back sounds good to me, don't want to mess about.

At the moment it's about 2ft short and I just love that exhaust fumes smell!!!!

Thanks for your replies, off to the nearest exhaust fitters on Monday.