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Bulkhead Workshop › Land Rover models › Land Rover Defender 300Tdi › Workshop guide › Adjust transmission handbrake

Land Rover Defender 300Tdi: adjust transmission handbrake

Brakes · Defender (1990–2016) · 1994–1998

How often: every 12,000 mi or year, whichever comes first. The handbrake is a drum on the back of the transfer box. It is the only parking brake, so it needs to work.

Work safely: support the vehicle on axle stands, never a jack alone; let it cool first. Check figures against your workshop manual. You do this work at your own risk.

Parts
  • Handbrake shoes (if oily or worn)
  • Transfer box output seal (if leaking)
Tools
  • Spanner
  • Chocks

Step by step

  1. Chock the wheels. Release the handbrake.
  2. Turn the adjuster on the back-plate (at the rear of the transfer box) until the drum locks, then back it off until it turns freely.
  3. Check the lever holds the vehicle on a slope at 3–4 clicks.
  4. If the shoes are oily, replace the transfer box output seal as well as the shoes.

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