At risk of being told to "man up or move on...."

Eight weeks ago I slipped a disc and am now finding that THE most painful thing I have done since then is to take off the handbrake on my Defender 90 - nearly winced out loud! (But as a woman who has done childbirth, I kept my agony to myself!)

I'm not after a bridal limousine ride (whoever saw a limo pull a horse box anyway?) but am wondering whether anyone has made any alterations to the seat, seat positioning etc that makes the ageing process a bit easier for us Defender lovers?

There are a couple of old threads on the forum on this subject, but nothing recent at all. That may be because everyone is more rufty-tufty than me, but WTF!

As a technical novice on such things, and assuming you can't actually change the handbrake position (thus avoiding actually entering the foot well with the whole top half of my body whilst keeping your feet on the other pedals at the same time) your experiences and advice would be welcomed.

I really do not want to have to sell the vehicle I have waited all my life to own....

Take a passenger with you and get them to operate the handbrake. Also, only use it when on inclines. It is probably possible to install an electronic handbrake but that would cost a lot. If you put your foot hard down on the foot brake before releasing the handbrake, you'll find it easier to release. Hope you recover soon.

Col

Don't use the handbrake. Simples.

....on a 25% gradient with a trailer with two horses in the back, it's a bit challenging, but I take your point under more normal circumstances...

If you fit and X engineering discs handbrake you will find you need very little pressure to apply and release the handbrake compared to the drum set up.

You can get hydraulic handbrake lever that plumbs into your existing brake lines so actually applies all 4 brakes, not legal for uk mot but so long as you still have the std set up cant see it being an issue?

lynall said:

If you fit and X engineering discs handbrake you will find you need very little pressure to apply and release the handbrake compared to the drum set up.

Click to expand...

What he said. I recently fitted a second hand X-Eng, not for the lightness but 'cos my standard handbrake had bit the dust! But it pulls on fully within 4 clicks, almost without any real pressure and the same when releasing. I could hardly believe it was working after I'd first done it and tried to drive away a few times, to see what it 'held' on .. three clicks just moving, 4 rock solid! Very re-assuring.

You can move the hand brake to the top of the seat box and fit a disco one I've done it with mine as I'm tall didn't like reaching down all the while. I'm at work at moment but think I've still got the thread on my computer at home can post it up for you later if you'd like?
cheers Ian

I loosened the cable off completely, disconnected it and slipped a (roughly) 1 1/2" length of 1/2" tube over it and put it together and adjusted it again. That raised the lever up in a cheat version of Ian's suggestion above.

doug le francais said:

Eight weeks ago I slipped a disc and am now finding that THE most painful thing I have done since then is to take off the handbrake on my Defender 90 - nearly winced out loud! (But as a woman who has done childbirth, I kept my agony to myself!)

I'm not after a bridal limousine ride (whoever saw a limo pull a horse box anyway?) but am wondering whether anyone has made any alterations to the seat, seat positioning etc that makes the ageing process a bit easier for us Defender lovers?

There are a couple of old threads on the forum on this subject, but nothing recent at all. That may be because everyone is more rufty-tufty than me, but WTF!

As a technical novice on such things, and assuming you can't actually change the handbrake position (thus avoiding actually entering the foot well with the whole top half of my body whilst keeping your feet on the other pedals at the same time) your experiences and advice would be welcomed.

I really do not want to have to sell the vehicle I have waited all my life to own....

Click to expand...

Since the handbrake is just a ratcheted lever, on a bracket which pulls a cable, within reason you can move it up a bit, I saw an old chap who had made a simple bracket which raised his handbrake about 6 inches so he could pull it on without having to bend or move forward slightly. I cannot recall how he re-routed the cable. Looked a little odd but then who cares, you could revert back when your fixed up.

+1 for the disco handbreak onto of seatbox makes it really easy. I never really use the handbreak so it doesn't bother me but you can leave where is and raise it with a drill and some rivnuts might be able to gait 4 or 5 inch. Or the disco on seatbox. Electronic be too much effort. Unless you're towing alot I'd just try change your driving style abit because even in my fully laden van you hardly need it. Just leave in gear when parked too.