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SJM2018



Member Since: 06 Jul 2018
Location: Bristol
Posts: 296

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Aintree Green
Handbrake disc conversion
I'm sick to death of my handbrake.

Constantly needing adjustment (loosen for long motorway drives and tighten to park), getting mud and grit trapped and generally just being useless.

As such, looking at the Terrafirma, conversion:

https://www.supertweaks.com/land-rover/lan...ersion-kit

Has anyone else fitted one of these?

The X-Eng version seems popular, but seen a few comments about rattling pads (the description for this specifically states "anti rattle pads"). 2011 CSW XS 90
Post #974648 14th Dec 2022 1:27pm
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jpboost



Member Since: 13 Apr 2021
Location: Gatwick
Posts: 377

United Kingdom 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Keswick Green
Not quite a defender, but pretty close...

I've had an x-eng one on my series 3 for years, and it's been absolutely fine.

I've not noticed any rattle from the pads, but my series 3 is rather a rough noisy thing, so it'd have to be a very loud rattle to make itself known!
Post #974650 14th Dec 2022 2:13pm
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nitram17



Member Since: 08 Jun 2014
Location: newcastle
Posts: 2261

Re: Handbrake disc conversion
SJM2018 wrote:
I'm sick to death of my handbrake.

Constantly needing adjustment (loosen for long motorway drives and tighten to park), getting mud and grit trapped and generally just being useless.

As such, looking at the Terrafirma, conversion:

https://www.supertweaks.com/land-rover/lan...ersion-kit

Has anyone else fitted one of these?

The X-Eng version seems popular, but seen a few comments about rattling pads (the description for this specifically states "anti rattle pads").


Is your handbrake cable made of licorice ? Rolling with laughter if you dont do lots of offroading i dont see the need for a disc.......... i personally would sort out the problems with your original set up first.
Post #974656 14th Dec 2022 2:54pm
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TexasRover



Member Since: 24 Nov 2022
Location: Paris
Posts: 1052

France 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Chawton White
I have a few series, range rover and defenders over the year. All with the LT230 type handbrake. Frankly never had any issues. Swapped a few out, set up handbrake is like a 1 min job, not even on the list. Always worked fine first time, never adjusted much after. Smoked a few on series without the tell tail light as well.. all good.

Are you sure you don't have something wrong like a bend drum? Parts are much cheaper than this disk solution, which frankly looks fragile to me.
Post #974664 14th Dec 2022 4:53pm
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donmacn



Member Since: 06 Nov 2017
Location: Nth Scotland
Posts: 1841

 
This is the norm when the question is asked - fans of the X eng and fans of the standard hand brake.

As I've said before I probably "could" have figured out why my original handbrake was catching - but I didn't need the hassle.

I've had the X eng in place for donkey's years and it just works. There was maybe a 'tinkling' noise from the static pad when it was new, but now you know it's a possible issue, just stick a wee blob of sealant in before fitting.

I'm not knocking the original brake - I'm 100% sure it can be set up to work perfectly - but if I faced the problem again I'd have zero hesitation going for the X eng one. Donald

1994 Defender 300Tdi 110 SW - owned since 2002 - 230k miles and going strong
(The 'rolling restoration' or tinkering thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic58538.html )
2000 Range Rover P38 4.0L V8

in the past..
RR classic - fitted with 200Tdi
1984 RR classic - V8 with ZF auto box
1993 Discovery 300Tdi

not to mention the minis and the Type 2 VW camper...
Post #974666 14th Dec 2022 5:16pm
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jpboost



Member Since: 13 Apr 2021
Location: Gatwick
Posts: 377

United Kingdom 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Keswick Green
agree.

I've never had an issue with the standard brake on my Defender. but when I came to building my series, I was missing a load of the standard parts, and just fancied trying the x-eng one.

necessary, not really. But a modification that works at least as well as the standard item in my experience. Easy to inspect & adjust, but totally agree that the standard setup is not hard to setup either.
Post #974667 14th Dec 2022 5:20pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17386

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
I've never had any problems with the standard handbrake on my Puma, but do find it has to be kept a little slacker than most handbrakes (such as my Disco 2) to avoid the shoes snatching.

Looking at the pictures of the Terrafirma kit it seems to me that there's very little of the huge disk actually passing between the pads in the caliper. It's probably adequate but seems a bit odd. I'm not sure if the XEng one is the same.
Post #974672 14th Dec 2022 5:50pm
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bodstruck



Member Since: 09 May 2020
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 913

United Kingdom 
If you have got to the point of being sick of your handbrake then I am sure you have already made up your mind to change it.

I have std on my puma and one of my 200's and an x-eng on the other one. I have had more problems with the x-eng one and the pads are really expensive for what they are. Does work though.
Post #974676 14th Dec 2022 6:25pm
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SJM2018



Member Since: 06 Jul 2018
Location: Bristol
Posts: 296

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Aintree Green
I think part of the issue is that it’s regularly parked on a very steep hill, so the brake needs to be adjusted pretty tight.

I also do a long drive from Bristol to Kent at least once a month, where it then gets really hot on the motorway, unless it’s looser.

At the last service, I asked the garage to have a look and they said it was fine (they adjusted it after putting the drum back on).

I’m not entirely sold on the terrafirma / x-eng solution either. 2011 CSW XS 90
Post #974683 14th Dec 2022 7:09pm
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nitram17



Member Since: 08 Jun 2014
Location: newcastle
Posts: 2261

Both the drum brakes and the disc brakes if adjusted properly should be able to deal with the scenario you describe!I would get a second opinion on your drums.
Post #974693 14th Dec 2022 9:11pm
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