Looking for advice on the best way to do this job, as my car just failed its MOT on poor handbrake efficiency. It is a 1989 3.6 XJS with Inboard rear brakes.

I have read numerous references to this job and it seems there are two schools of thought:-.
One says if you have skinny arms you can do it without removing the axle/diff assembly, The other says you must remove the complete axle.

I have seen references to descriptions of how to do it, but cant find the actual documents. Can someone point me to a good description of how to solve this. (ps I havenet got skinny arms)

 

Hi, if its just the handbrake that needs attention then Iook to do it with the rear cage insitu. however if anything else needs work, ie discs, leaking diff, radius arm bushes etc then dropping the unit as a whole is the way to go.
Re the handbrake efficiency, was it borderline or not working at all? If the former you might get away with a taking up a bit of slack through cable adjustment or find a MOT tester more sympathetic to the workings of Jaguar handbrakes!
I have attached a couple of copies from the workshop manual that should help, ideally car on a four post ramp, avoid 2 posters as subframe mounts have been known to let go or if doing the work at home make sure the cage is supported for the same reason.
Good luck!

 

This is my recommendation:

 

Thanks for the info gentlemen. I hope it can be done as per the manual but the " improvement" is very interesting

However has anyone got the idiots guide to dropping the axle as I suspect it may require this. My garage said it seemed that a pad had come loose or disappeared.

 

Hi maccasa

Some of us including myself, never use the Handbrake and would rather leave her in 'P' Park and the only time I ever use the Handbrake is when I want to put the Soft Top up, which I only ever do if I get caught out in a downpour

While its 'Possible' to remove the Brake Pads with the Cage Still on the Car, its even easier to remove the Whole Hand Brake Assembly from the IRS and take those out with the Hand Brake Pads still attached, as there are only 4 Bolts to undo! and then you can replace the Brake Pads on the Bench

Also No Need to Slacken the Hand Brake Cable and in fact I never do, as if the Hand Brake Cable jumps out of the Ratchet Pawl inside the Car, then you could have an even bigger Problem to Sort out

I made a very Simple Hand Brake Wrangler to do the Job. that releases the Handbrake Cable in just a Few Seconds and put it back the same way, as already mentioned, dropping the Cage is the easiest way to go, especially if you also want to replace the Rotors or Refurb the Calipers

As although its easy to drop the Cage, its one of those jobs that you 'either really want to do' or else leave it alone until you need to, as for me refurbing the Cage is my favorite job on the Car! especially since my MOT guy wasn't convinced I could do it, especially all on my own

Its the Rolling Road at MOT Time that Rips off the Hand Brake Pads, so may be quite a good idea to mention this to your Tester, in the hope that he will take extra Care when he Tests the Hand Brake in future

Good Luck with whatever way you decide to go Alex (OB)

Dropping The IRS Cage and Making The Handbrake Cable 'Wrangler' (takes about 15 Minutes to make or even less!)