I took my car into the garage today because my handbrake has been being an epic fail, keeps slipping, tonnes of creaking from the rear drums etc.

They called me when it was done and told me they tested it and didn't change anything because it's working fine and I just need to engage the handbrake harder... Which was fine.

But when I picked it up, the brakes feel *super* sharp, way more than just an adjustment it's a whole new level just like when they were new! Also, they didn't charge me anything for doing it which would indicate warranty work.

So it's all a bit mysterious... They clearly did something but didn't tell me they did! All a bit odd :P

Sounds like something they would be embaraced to tell you had occured and needed to be fixed or that they had forgot to do in the past.

Or might just be the automatic adjuster, that is now seated correctly after them pulling handbrake harder than you.

Or might just be the automatic adjuster, that is now seated correctly after them pulling handbrake harder than you.

Could be, but I mean general braking performance (not just handbrake) seems better... And handbrake and general braking are separate systems right? So I think maybe something was up with the rear drums? I don't really know anything so I'm guessing a bit here!

As Tu said the automatic adjuster has operated, most likely by the garage pulling up the handbrake as far as it would go with a reasonable amount of force, which is probably further than you have pulled it up. The brakes feel better because the rear brake shoes have been moved closer to the drum.