After adjusting the handbrake shoes in the drum there was still lots of play at the handbrake lever. I suspect the cable was not re-tensioned after the new clutch was fitted. MoT time meant that it needed doing. This is how I did it.
Park the car somewhere flat and level.
Chock the front wheels
Release the hand brake and select neutral
Jack up the car on the nearside rear jacking point I use wood between the jack and the body to prevent any marks on the body
Don't use too wide a piece of wood ie one that overhangs the sill as you are likely to break the plastic sill when the load is taken by the jack
Add a secondary support eg axle stand to prevent any undue pressure on your body should the jack suddenly decide to give up !!
Look under the car and follow the cable to just in front of the rear axle. There are gearchange cables on my manual and the handbrake has an adjuster and lock nut
Now loosen the front lock nut (about 32 mm across the flats) a few turns and wind the adjuster (24mm AF) clockwise so that it pushes the rubber doughnut on the outer section of the handbrake cable towards the front of the car
Check the "clicks" on the hand brake and reduce it to 2 or 3 by winding the adjuster clockwise to suit, when you are content remove the secondary support, apply handbrake, remove jack and chocks. Take a short ride to check that the handbrake isn't adjusted too tight and that the drums aren't hot. Job done.
Park the car somewhere flat and level.
Chock the front wheels
Release the hand brake and select neutral
Jack up the car on the nearside rear jacking point I use wood between the jack and the body to prevent any marks on the body
Don't use too wide a piece of wood ie one that overhangs the sill as you are likely to break the plastic sill when the load is taken by the jackAdd a secondary support eg axle stand to prevent any undue pressure on your body should the jack suddenly decide to give up !!
Look under the car and follow the cable to just in front of the rear axle. There are gearchange cables on my manual and the handbrake has an adjuster and lock nut
Now loosen the front lock nut (about 32 mm across the flats) a few turns and wind the adjuster (24mm AF) clockwise so that it pushes the rubber doughnut on the outer section of the handbrake cable towards the front of the car
Check the "clicks" on the hand brake and reduce it to 2 or 3 by winding the adjuster clockwise to suit, when you are content remove the secondary support, apply handbrake, remove jack and chocks. Take a short ride to check that the handbrake isn't adjusted too tight and that the drums aren't hot. Job done.
