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bear100



Member Since: 22 Mar 2010
Location: South Wales
Posts: 1867

Wales 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
X Eng hand brake....worth it?
I’m having trouble with my hand brake, it won’t go to it’s final position and lifts slightly causing the brake light to come on plus i can feel the brake holding slightly and the lever comes up too far.
So I was thinking of investigating or upgrading
The X Brake by X Eng seem to be a favourable choice, has anyone got one and what do you think?
Is it worth the money or not much difference to the standard brake
Is it a diy on the drive fit also?

Lots of questions Shocked 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8
2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI
2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone)
2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone)
1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone)
1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone)
1994 discovery 300tdi (gone)
90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone)
Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone)
Post #795719 29th Sep 2019 7:46am
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donmacn



Member Since: 06 Nov 2017
Location: Nth Scotland
Posts: 1829

Well worth it, in my opinion.

I fitted one of these, must be 10 or 15 years ago. That's a real 'guess-timate' as I don't know when they came on the market, but a long time.

I think there was a slight rattling noise when first fitted - perhaps a common issue - but a blob of silicon somewhere (can't remember) fixed that and it hasn't given me a moment's trouble ever since.

I plan to fit a new propshaft soon-ish, and I've thought that I might take the brake off and give it a service, but genuinely it's been on for ages and been great.

I went for it because my drum brake was 'catching' in neutral while coasting up to traffic lights, therefore probably catching all the time, just wouldn't notice. There is a thread here where someone said that it was better just to properly adjust the original, and maybe get the drum re-machined. Not arguing with that really, but for me this was a good mod.

I can't really see a downside apart from cost maybe.

DIY fit? Yep - but on a dry day so your not lying in the wet! 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 #795738 29th Sep 2019 9:00am
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Grenadier



Member Since: 23 Jul 2014
Location: The foot of Mont Blanc...
Posts: 5765

France 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Corris Grey
Looks like a good bit of kit.

Ball, another upgrade to the list... Big Cry Monsieur Le Grenadier

I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list.....

2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey
Post #795753 29th Sep 2019 9:57am
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bear100



Member Since: 22 Mar 2010
Location: South Wales
Posts: 1867

Wales 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
Grenadier i think they are fitted to all the challenge trucks, Steve who engineers the x eng stuff claims it will hold with any load or weight as long as you have traction Shocked

donmacn i presume you fitted yours to a tdi? i can't seem to find anything on them fitting the puma though 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8
2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI
2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone)
2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone)
1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone)
1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone)
1994 discovery 300tdi (gone)
90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone)
Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone)
Post #795794 29th Sep 2019 12:50pm
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Mdm



Member Since: 11 Sep 2013
Location: Sunny Lancashire
Posts: 1509

United Kingdom 
a well maintained and adjusted std handbrake is fine for almost all lr owners i reckon.

we had the x brake on the challenge motor for ease of use and zero maintenance. no issues with mud build up and very effective.

i would get yours fixed as it will be cheaper in the long run
Post #795798 29th Sep 2019 1:14pm
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donmacn



Member Since: 06 Nov 2017
Location: Nth Scotland
Posts: 1829

Bear - yes, you're right, mine is on a 300TDi, but I've just checked the Foundry 4x4 site (understand they have the X-Eng brand now?) and found this page:

https://foundry4x4.co.uk/index.php?route=p...duct_id=56

This says that as long as your vehicle has the LT230 transfer box the brake will fit, though you may need a different cable.

As I say, not really wanting to argue against the standard set up, perhaps I didn't take the time to get to know its foibles well enough. However I certainly feel as if my X-eng one has stood the test of time. I can't remember in the slightest what it might have cost, but that's almost neglibile when divided by the years, and an easier solution. Again, in my opinion. 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 #795801 29th Sep 2019 1:46pm
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oneten110



Member Since: 02 Jul 2011
Location: Wish I was still in France
Posts: 741

United Kingdom 
Been using the standard set up for 25 years with no problems whatsoever. It has held a fully loaded truck and GKN Rapier trailer on gradients. It is not a Defender, it is a One_Ten
Post #795840 29th Sep 2019 5:55pm
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gazman



Member Since: 17 Aug 2015
Location: Liverpool
Posts: 652

United Kingdom 2003 Defender 90 Td5 HT Alpine White
I've got one to fit as I've had issues with the std one time and time again. I've had it go out of round, then it fell off when I broke the prop and was driving home in fwd (my fault). Bought a replacement, to then get a oil leak and had to change the shoes again.
I've also had issues with it clogging. 2014 - current ..... 2003 defender td5 90 (my car)
2009 - current .... 2005 zx10r
Post #795851 29th Sep 2019 6:16pm
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dioliahary



Member Since: 18 Jan 2015
Location: Manchester
Posts: 668

Scotland 
Mine has been reliable, I only changed to one years ago cause I could but have been happy with it. 1990 200tdi conversion 90
Post #795868 29th Sep 2019 6:57pm
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bear100



Member Since: 22 Mar 2010
Location: South Wales
Posts: 1867

Wales 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
Thanks for the reply’s Thumbs Up

I think I will go for the X brake, I get a lot of heat from under the cubby box and around the hand brake which I’m sure it’s down to the drum

Thanks all Thumbs Up 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8
2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI
2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone)
2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone)
1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone)
1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone)
1994 discovery 300tdi (gone)
90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone)
Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone)
Post #795888 29th Sep 2019 7:54pm
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foxhound



Member Since: 02 Mar 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 357

United Kingdom 1995 Defender 110 300 Tdi SW Alpine White
i thoroughly recommend my X Eng handbrake. my bogstandard handbrake couldn't hold my 110 and sankey trailer on a steep metalled lane at home in Devon years ago, and I've not had any worries since fitting the X Eng. 110 Defender 300tdi & Penman trailer with ally exped top and roof tent
Post #798928 21st Oct 2019 1:00pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 7664

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
i ran some of the prototypes for Simon when the idea was first born and many moons prior to Foundry taking on the X-Eng brand. i love them and have them on my off roaders. but for mainly road going vehicles i stick with the std setup which when set up correctly works well in my experience. Cheers

James
110 XS Utility
130 Puma Station wagon/camper (in the making)
90 Puma Hardtop
Post #798930 21st Oct 2019 1:18pm
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Supacat



Member Since: 16 Oct 2012
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 11018

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS DCPU Keswick Green
foxhound wrote:
i thoroughly recommend my X Eng handbrake. my bogstandard handbrake couldn't hold my 110 and sankey trailer on a steep metalled lane at home in Devon years ago, and I've not had any worries since fitting the X Eng.


But I'm betting that was a standard handbrake is a state of disrepair rather than a perfectly clean and setup one?

Nothing wrong with swapping to the X eng disc for various reasons but it doesn't solve an issue that isn't there.
Post #798943 21st Oct 2019 3:24pm
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