My Defender 110 has two weights/dampers bolted either side of a mounting plate (sandwiching rubber pads) between the transmission brake drum and transfer box. These make it impossible to hold the shoe retaining pin whilst refitting the spring and cup (also impossible to cleanly fit a socket onto the brake adjuster at the back). The mounting plate is held in place by the four bolts mounting the transmission brake to the transfer box. To make it worse, the bolt retaining these weights to the plate cannot be removed with taking off the entire transmission brake; I got the nut off the transfer box side of the plate and removed that weight, allowing a bit of movement of the weight on the transmission brake drum side, but not removal or sufficient access for fingers to hold the shoe pin.

I can seem to find any information about these being present on a Defender; it is a 2001 "special vehicle" made for the environment agency so maybe its a one-off (stupid) idea.

Has anybody come across this before and got any advice on how on earth I can refit the shoe? Are these dampeners even required, what is their purpose?

Any help VERY much appreciated!

they help damp vibration, you could try removing them,see if you notice much difference

mine were removed when the transfer box was swapped. No real issues