Did you adjust out the brake shoes? I normally bring them out until the wheel won't turn then back a notch.
If the hand brake pulls up more than a few notches it would indicate they need adjusting.

I adjusted them to where I couldn't get the drum on at all, then 1 click back to fit them on, the hand brake goes up about 3 clicks so that tells me they need adjusting again, maybe the adjuster has gone bad on them?

xDParis64 said:

I adjusted them to where I couldn't get the drum on at all, then 1 click back to fit them on, the hand brake goes up about 3 clicks so that tells me they need adjusting again, maybe the adjuster has gone bad on them?

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Three clicks is probably OK. Is the pedal higher than it should be?

Alibro said:

Three clicks is probably OK. Is the pedal higher than it should be?

Click to expand...

Maybe? how could I tell? It's only attached to the brake booster via a pin and clip style connection, and the brake booster is bolted on.

The hand brake used to do one click hence I think 3 may be too much, maybe the space could be the unused rotors with the unused pads and creating a bad feel because in that dead-space the pedal is "working" it's just not responsive so maybe the adjustment on one side is off... the cables were different:

Old image I did clean this all up today and I believe this is now a little more obvious for the difference/has gotten worse, the out of adjustment cable would be the nearside rear... I shall adjust it again when I get time, maybe also just get new adjusters and springs, the shoes are practically new.

xDParis64 said:

Maybe? how could I tell? It's only attached to the brake booster via a pin and clip style connection, and the brake booster is bolted on.

The hand brake used to do one click hence I think 3 may be too much, maybe the space could be the unused rotors with the unused pads and creating a bad feel because in that dead-space the pedal is "working" it's just not responsive so maybe the adjustment on one side is off... the cables were different:

Old image I did clean this all up today and I believe this is now a little more obvious for the difference/has gotten worse, the out of adjustment cable would be the nearside rear... I shall adjust it again when I get time, maybe also just get new adjusters and springs, the shoes are practically new.
View attachment 347859

Click to expand...

New shoes need to bed in then they will need adjusting again.

Sounds tight to me. Ideally you adjust shoes as you have done but with cable slackened right off at the handbrake to avoid upsetting the adjustment.
Then set handbrake to 1 click and adjust the cable to make the drums just rub. Then release handbrake and check all free. Usually 5 or 6 clicks results.