Handbrake way out of adjustment - why?

[DRJ]

I noticed at the weekend that the handbrake suddenly appeared to have a lot of free play before it started biting.

I jacked the car up today and had a look underneath fearing something might have seized - but all appeared OK - it was working fine on both sides. So I adjusted the handbrake following the instructions on here which noted you take out the small tray at the rear of the centre console - you need a 10mm open ended spanner by the way. However I had to do at least about three turns of the nut in order to get the handbrake operating as I'd expect it to - biting soon after being raised and going for 4 +/- 1 clicks on an "average" pull.

Any ideas please why this might suddenly have become loose? Note I rarely use the brakes - hence pad wear is minimal - the fronts have approx 6mm pad depth remaining after 62,000 miles... Is little use possibly causing a problem?

[XLBaconDoubleCheese]

Note I rarely use the brakes

How? Do you just not stop? lol, mine is way high now, wasnt sure how to adjust it tho

Matt

[ric04vrs]

make sure the handbrake levers on the rear calipers are fully back on their stops (handbrake released) then pump the brake pedal hard a few times, then you an adjust the handbrake if necessary

due to the fact you hardly use your brakes, you really need to strip the rear brakes down to make sure the pads are not seized on the slides and that the caliper slide pins are not seized either

[DRJ]

Thanks for responding - but now the handbrake is adjusted properly everything seems to be working fine. There's no evidence of the brakes having seized - when the handbrake's operated the levers move smoothly and the brakes go on. It was the apparent suddenness of the situation occurring that's confused me.