Outer Limits 4x4 Board

G'day guys... long time lurker, first post.

I did a search, but I'm struggling to find the info I'm after.

I've just bought myself a 1991 TD 'cruiser (replacing my '79 FJ45 ute)...

Bought it as-is to save some money, so it's up to me to get the Safety Cert for the purchase...as usual, the handbrake sucks.

Slacked off teh handbrake cable till the stops are on the backing plate, got the arse end jacked up, one wheel off, found the dinky little adjustment hole in the front of the drum (didn't think they'd make the slot any smaller than what it was in the 60 series, but there ya go).

Only trouble is, I can't see the adjusting wheel through the hole, where abouts on the clock face is it?? I guessed either 12 or 6 oclock, but can't see anything, even with a torch, and google searches etc for pics of the inside of the hubs didn't find anything.

Going mad here... any help appreciated

Cheers
Tim

wokket wrote:any help appreciated

Welcome aboard Pull the drum off and have a look

Yeah thanks man!!

Pulling the drum was actually my first thought, but that involves removing the calipers. Seeing as I don't have a manual yet (hence not having a pic of the inside) I decided not to go randomly unbolting braking bits

Ta for the info

Mines a 93 model and i've always pulled the calipers and rotors off to adjust the handbrake + its a good chance to clean all the mud and crap out.
Its only two bolts that hold the calipers on so if there done up tight you shouldnt have any problems.

wokket wrote:Yeah thanks man!!

Pulling the drum was actually my first thought, but that involves removing the calipers. Seeing as I don't have a manual yet (hence not having a pic of the inside) I decided not to go randomly unbolting braking bits

Ta for the info

The adjuster should be somewhere about the six o'clock position. If you get the adjuster hole lined up somewhere between five and six you should be able to see the star wheel with a torch. Move the star wheel up to expand the brake shoes and down to back it off.

You may also find this useful.

http://www.lcool.org/technical/80_series/handbrake.html

I have a printed copy of that page sitting on the front seat

Cheers for the info, I'll have another go now I know where it is, and if still no luck I'll rip a caliper off

Thanks guys

Adjuster is just off 6 oclock.
can't remember which way but either about 6.30 or 5.30.
When you do it up, turn the aduster up tight and back it off three or four notches. Beware. If it's left to tight it will cause a vibration through the car when you drive. It'll feel like the wheels are gunna fall off. Don't expect it to ever be anygood though. good luck

How did you go with it?

Heh

Had another go this arvo (had the brains to put the back of the car in the shade, a good idea when it's still 35 in the sun at the moment).

Found the adjuster wheel by feel with the screwdriver (bought a manual, so I had some pics to work with), still couldn't see it with a torch... adjusted both sides up a fair bit, one till it felt like it was just starting to grab, then backed it off a bit, the other I couldn't find the wheel again after a while, but I got a good couple of 'pushes' tighter.

Wheels back on, maxxed out handle in the car trying to get it tight in 7 clicks (first inkling something was wrong), put the cabin back together, tested on a slight slope handbrake is worse than before

It's booked in for a safety cert tommorrow anyway, so I'll let them know it sucks, and see if they'll adjust it for me while the back end is ripped apart for the inspection.

For reference, it seemed just on the bonnet side of 6 O'Clock on both sides.

Cheers

wokket wrote:Heh

Had another go this arvo (had the brains to put the back of the car in the shade, a good idea when it's still 35 in the sun at the moment).

Found the adjuster wheel by feel with the screwdriver (bought a manual, so I had some pics to work with), still couldn't see it with a torch... adjusted both sides up a fair bit, one till it felt like it was just starting to grab, then backed it off a bit, the other I couldn't find the wheel again after a while, but I got a good couple of 'pushes' tighter.

Wheels back on, maxxed out handle in the car trying to get it tight in 7 clicks (first inkling something was wrong), put the cabin back together, tested on a slight slope handbrake is worse than before

It's booked in for a safety cert tommorrow anyway, so I'll let them know it sucks, and see if they'll adjust it for me while the back end is ripped apart for the inspection.

For reference, it seemed just on the bonnet side of 6 O'Clock on both sides.

Cheers

If it's anything like mine was then maybe the brake shoes are on their last legs.

Replaced mine today (the old shoes had barely a veneer of brake pad left on them). Adjusted them up and the handbrake is good as new ...... for the next two weeks anyway. And best of all I don't have to climb into the back seat to pull the brake all the way on anymore.

The mechanic put new brake shoes and adjusted my handbreak a couple of months ago.
Could not believe it could possibly work that well.
Was able to hold the vehicle on a 45 degrees slop in neutral no worries.
Took the truck through some mud about 4 weeks later and ever since it's been as crap as it was to start with.

For anyone that does a search and finds this thread, the adjuster wheels on mine went DOWN to tighten, UP to loosen....

Trap for young players

Handbrake now seems to work, it's nothing rally-spec, but with a bit of effort holds on a fairly steep hill (30 degrees??) ok.

Have a look in the tech pages of www.lcool.org...step by step
Andrew

bruiser wrote:Took the truck through some mud about 4 weeks later and ever since it's been as crap as it was to start with.

Landcruiser handbrakes definitely don't like mud.