hand brake

Hi guys, I've had a look but cannot find the answer I'm looking for so I do apologise if this subject has been covered.
The handbrake on my 1990 defender is rubbish despite replacing every part, when it works it ends up getting stuck on etc, i was wondering if I could replace the whole unit with a disco 300tdi one as these don't seem to be as troublesome. Cheers for advise

It's a very simple mechanism so it's going to be something very simple causing it to bind. In the top there is a plunger type cam that pulls out when you apply the brake and pushes the pads out into the drum. Make sure this part is clean and well greased and that should be it on the drum side. Your cable might be snagging so you could replace or re-grease that too.

When it locks on is the cable lose?

But in answer to your question, yes you can replace it with a Discovery one but the cable and mechanism is different so there may be some fettling to get it to fit. Never actually fitted one myself but it's probably not that difficult.

300 tdi defender brake assembly is the same as 300 tdi disco assembly apart from the cable which can be swapped you would need lever and bracket assembly too ,easy job just bolts on using existing holes and bolts

Cheers guys. As i said everything has been replaced,adjuster,springs,drum,shoes,cable,linkage etc which is why I thought of just replacing the whole lot for the disco300tdi one. Sorry not sure if it makes a difference but mine is a 200 tdi defender?

The adjusters have cams I believe ( from memory) and they have to be fitted the correct way up, they fall out if not.... Was a few years ago that I did mine, so I cld be talking bull cocks!! (200tdi)