Took rear brakes apart, made sure auto adjusters  were clean and working freely, backplate pads still had original  white grease. Cleaned out dust everything like new. Manually adjusted brakes  until too tight then back off holding ratchet clear. No adjustment to cable as brake bites on 2 clicks footbrake good pedal.

The handbrake is ok under normal shallow hills but on quite steep hills here in Wales you have to yank it up quite  heavily 4  or 5 notches by now it is really tight and only just holding with 2 people in car. The cables look like new.

Is there anything else I could do.

thanks.

Did you rough up the friction material?

2 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Did you rough up the friction material?

I have visions now of the OP standing by his brakes, brandishing a broken beer bottle at it, threatening them that they better work - or else 🤣

No but this may be the answer. I have some rough sandpaper I will try after dinner.  light nights loads of time.

will let you know how I get on.

Ta for replies.

6 hours ago, StephenFord said:

I have visions now of the OP standing by his brakes, brandishing a broken beer bottle at it, threatening them that they better work - or else 🤣

fawlty towers    I tried a branch 😊

Not trying to teach you how to drive but on many newer model Ford's to get the handbrake to hold at maximum, you have to apply firm pressure on foot brake while you apply the handbrake. Then release the foot brake and if all is good the handbrake will hold even on quite a steep hill. 

8 hours ago, unofix said:

Not trying to teach you how to drive but on many newer model Ford's to get the handbrake to hold at maximum, you have to apply firm pressure on foot brake while you apply the handbrake. Then release the foot brake and if all is good the handbrake will hold even on quite a steep hill. 

While I don't recall any handbrake issues with the two Mk 7s we had, that's certainly the case with the Mk 8 with disc rears, where the hill start assist can fool you into thinking the handbrake is fully on when it isn't.

8 hours ago, unofix said:

Not trying to teach you how to drive but on many newer model Ford's to get the handbrake to hold at maximum, you have to apply firm pressure on foot brake while you apply the handbrake. Then release the foot brake and if all is good the handbrake will hold even on quite a steep hill. 

I did not know this for sure, but had noticed massive improvement when doing this inadvertently but not put 2 and 2 together, thick is the word. Very helpful thanks Diolch.

Thanks to all who replied. Up early easy job,roughen up surfaces with good quality sandpaper Yellow roll from builders merchant.

Off to Shrewsbury later, not too good for steep hills  but great for Axle stands Halfords and later Steak and chips Red Lion pub.

I'm sure from now on handbrake will be fine once again thanks.

It has "hill start assist" foot on brake, brake holds for 2.5 seconds while you change to accelerator. I didn't know that either.