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Help please! I went to adjust the handbrake. (2003 1.8 Rapier estate.) Driver's side rear drum: turned the adjuster until the shoes locked against the drum, back one click, sorted! Passenger side: turned the adjuster until the shoes locked against the drum, and it wouldn't go back any clicks at all. It's locked on! So - can you please confirm which way I should be turning/levering the adjuster - just in case I've done something really stupid
And if I *am* trying to turn the adjuster the right way and it still doesn't work, how else can I free off the drum? I need the car over the weekend!

Hi Nick - I can't remember off hand which way to turn the adjuster, it may be the spring is in the way so keep trying. Worst case you can use the hole to flick the whole adjuster out of its locating slot towards the centre nut, which will let the springs pull the shoes away from the drum.

If you manage to the effortlessly* remove the rear disc, the adjuster can be removed, split apart ( its in 2 halves ) greased and put back before reassembling but be warned the springs are a sod to put back on - I tend to start from the cable side, fix top shoe, attach spring nearest cable side, attach bottom shoe then the adjuster and finally the last spring. You will need plasters and a swear box......

The adjusters work opposite on each side....one side clockwise to tighten...other side clockwise to slacken....can't remember which side is which even though I replaced some shoes on monday.

I find it easier to fit the top shoe and lock it to the backplate then fit the springs on both shoes and slot the shoes into the fixtures on the lever leaving the adjuster out then lever the bottom shoe into position slotting the spring on the lever side past the hub by using a big flat screwdriver....fit the adjuster last then fasten the bottom shoe to the backplate.

You could try slackening the handbrake cable to possibly release the shoes from the drum, but if you think about it the adjuster will only move one way....look inside the hole with a small torch to get a better look at the adjusting wheel.

Sorted - a combination of brute force and physics. Saturday morning I went out and bought the biggest, meanest screwdriver that would still fit through the hole in the drum. With the extra leverage I could finally free off the adjuster. Finished the job - the handbrake is now solid on 7 clicks on a sloping driveway. Thanks for all your help!