[Trebor]

So I was 4x4 driving with the group and my hand brake failed biggest scare I have ever had as far as cars go (just missed another zook while rolling down the hill). Fortunately there was a ditch so the car stopped and no damage was done.
I was wondering how to tell if the cable is shot or of it is still usable and how hard it is to adjust ( I haven't had a look yet)

[Blkfxx]

Get under the car and have a look at where the cable exits the floor, The cable should be attached a bracket on the floor.

[pezz]

on a side note,
its good habit to leave you rig in first gear low range and turn it into a tree or bank when possible
along with having a well adjusted/serviced handbrake

glad no one was hurt

[Trebor]

Yeah I am defiantly doing that from now on

[bumstein]

Remind me not to park behind you on the next trip eh!! glad your car didn't get damaged!!

[BlueSuzy]

NEVER rely on a handbrake.

[Trebor]

yeah I have learnt that now

[narrowzooker]

Ur car sucks haha

[narrowzooker]

I was behind him he nearly hit me haha

[Trebor]

hey my car is awesome just the hand brake sucks, and there was a kink in the cable causing I it to feel like the hand brake was on when it wasn't. I have straightened it out now but it needs adjusting.

[narrowzooker]

Oh im sure haha and u know this is denby?

[coily96]

Hows the rear shoes and look around the rh rear panhard rod mount to the chassis. If you bottom out the diff can hit out on this and break the bracket for the rh handbrake cable.

[jonfromhamilton]

I have constant issues with my handbrake, it is usually from going through mud which fubars the shoes

[alien]

my handbrake works like a charm since i converted to rear discs... before that it was woeful and wouldn't hold me on even the slightest incline (I always parked in the opposite gear to the direction it would roll with the steering at full lock just in case!)

[Pooke]

I always make sure my handbrake is good, as I am often getting in and out while leaving the engine running to open/shut gates etc, so can't leave it in gear.
If there was a kink in the cable that caused the issue, I would be replacing the cable for peace of mind, as it now could be a weak point.
On my friends Carry van the eyelet on the end of the cable snapped where it goes in to the back of the handbrake lever, then ran away down the hill with her halfway out the door, made a bloody great mess of her and the van.

[Zookrider]

Not just shoes!

I figured out that it wasn't just my handbrake that didn't work properly, but that the rears were not braking properly period. The pistons were jamming inside the drum.
Brakes now work like a treat and the rear disc conversion in my old sierra seems like a waste of time.
Mud, debris and 20+ years are hard on brake components and careful inspection and maintenance can do wonders.