Why won't my bloody handbrake work!?

I replaced the shoes in my hand brake last year and adjusted the cable along with the 1/2 adjuster on the back of the drum. All worked perfect with about 3 clicks holding my truck steady even on steep inclines! Amazing until I left it on whilst off roading months ago and it never worked since...

Getting abit bored with having to turn the truck off to leave it in gear whenever I want to get out so I decided to adjust the handbrake. I'd already tried the adjuster on the back which just got to its maximum and kept spinning freely so I thought it was time for a new cable, new cable was a mare to fit because the old one was rusted in the pin on the end but after fitting I got the handbrake to about 3 clicks and adjusted the nut on the back, it doesn't work at all. I can leave the handbrake off, adjust the nut until I can't spin the drum and then back it off so it's ever so slightly rubbing and pull the handbrake on and nothing.

Shoes have about 4-5mm of pad on them so I assume they are fine.

is expander assembled correctly

After reading a few Google searches I'm thinking maybe it's seized up? Think I'm going to have to remove it from the truck. I changed the rear transfer bearing and seal a few weeks back so wish I'd have looked further into it then however whilst I'm there I can sort out the worm drive which hasn't made contact in the right place when I put it back because the speedo has stopped working. So plenty to do today with an axle swap

jamesmartin said:

is expander assembled correctly

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It's not clear if you've had the drum off again since the troubles started?

If you can get the handbrake on using the adjuster, it suggests that end of things is working, so I'd be looking at the cable. There's usually some adjustment at the end that meets the lever. I've noticed new cables stretch a bit as they bed in so that might need taking up.
I've also noticed that the sizes of the brake shoes can vary a bit. I've had ones that scarcely touch the drum even when the adjuster is tightened as far as it will go, versus ones that need the adjuster backed off all the way merely to get the drum on. This doesn't seem to be related to how much of the friction material is left either. I think that over time the adjuster wears a little too, so the amount of expansion you get is less. A new one isn't that expensive. With a bit of tinkering and judicious renewal it should be possible to get some braking effect and resistance on the lever.

New cable I've adjusted so that I only have a couple or three clicks for the lever. The drum has been on and off constantly. I think the adjuster has cooked up. Weathers been **** today I managed to swap the axle but the new pads I brought don't fit to say it's a 300tdi disco axle Hmmm

IamRobbie said:

New cable I've adjusted so that I only have a couple or three clicks for the lever. The drum has been on and off constantly. I think the adjuster has cooked up. Weathers been **** today I managed to swap the axle but the new pads I brought don't fit to say it's a 300tdi disco axle Hmmm

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what do your pads look like

jamesmartin said:

what do your pads look like
View attachment 100206

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Mintex pads like you have posted a pic of James but the edges around the bottom are slightly wider, I cut some out with the bench grinder but decided I'm gonna buy a new set I think the box said mlb43 on it. Paddocks don't normally get it wrong tho..