Siezed handbrake (MK)

[Patchy]

as the title states my handbrake is siezed. Firstly went wheeling up at mundaring on the sunday. first time properly 4wding in the nissan and im stoked its bog stock atm and makes it up everything i threw at it, although i busted the LHF 1/4 pannel indicator and a small dent about the size of palm of your hand. also dented the RHR corner in a bit under the tail light about the size of your hand . but who cares about that its a 4wd and its cheap $$$.

My concern is we finished 4wd at the end of the powerlines track on moola rd, i went to turn the hubs off ripped up the hand brake. it felt a little stiff but didnt think anything of it, i got back it and it wouldnt go down...WTF! i had a look underneith hmmm cant do much with out tools . i thought i will have to drive it with it on, i have no choise...NOW I should give nissan credit where credits due, This hand brake is strong. me and a mate sitting around pondering what we can do...a couple of beers later and i give it sh*t pull, push, up and down then bingo she came off. now its always stiff i dont dare fully apply the handbake now.

so after all of my talking .I would like to know of some comon problems with these. im a mechanic but have had no experiance with nissan's let alone the tailshaft mounted handbrakes. there doesnt look like there is much to the unit (looking from the out side) i was thinking pehaps the cable is about to snap and is just hanging on. are these units prone to mud at all. seems wierd that it was holding me on steep hills when i got stuck at a point and had to get out a look at what i was doing, only to sh*t it self on flat ground.

[Woop]

The linkage inside the brake drum is pretty simple and easily serviced once the drum is removed. Could be a sticking cable

Nick

[badger]

if im thinking u did the same track we usually do up there, you drove that huge mud hole didnt u?

if do pull the rear tail shaft off, remove drum cover and hose it all out/ clean up everything in there, then lube it up again

[Patchy]

i wont be having a look untill the weekend. so i will keep you all posted if i see fit and/or can be assed i might take photos so that people can get an idea if this happens to them. badger have you been wheeling ova here, it says your a melbourne man in your profile.

[mattstar]

I have to re-build my MQ handbrake, do you have to remove the output nut on the g/box to remove the drum?

[Patchy]

i havent done it yey, but as far as im lead to belive you only need to remove that if you want to get to the seal on your transfer behind the brake drum . semingly you only have to remove the bolts to the tail shaft and then the drum just comes off like any other brake drum. im sure if im wrong someone will let us know

[David_S]

That's right Patchy - just undo the four 17mm nuts, hook the drive shaft out of the way and the drum will be free to come off.

The drive shaft usually needs a few light taps with a hammer and cold chisel to get it started, and if the drum is stuck remove the two rubber plugs and use a hub puller.

And you are right, the centre nut only needs to be removed if you want to replace the oil seal. I have just replaced mine. A couple of tips if you ever have to replace yours - use the Nissan Seal and if the flange on which the seal sits is even slghtly worn fix it with a speedi-seal first. I tried a non-Nissan seal first and oil leaked all over my new brake shoes!