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[martin341]

Looked at handbrake shoe replacement guide, is it difficult or manageable with patience?

Make the tool for springs or it'll be knuckelbraker and needs balls nerves of steel

It's hardly difficult with a decent pair of needle-nosed pliers, but using a small hook isn't as fiddly.

...if you've done it before. I remember my first time and OP has not done it before.

[johnnydog]

I have found replacement handbrake shoes take a bit longer to bed in than the pads, and the handbrake isn't as efficient as you would expect until bedded in. I presume this is because the shoes only contact the inside of the drum when the handbrake is applied, whereas the pads contact the discs every time the brakes are applied and bed in quicker. With new shoes, I have driven slowly on a quiet piece of road gently applying the handbrake which helps to bed the shoes to get a reasonable handbrake from the off.
Make sure the shoes are adjusted equally or the handbrake will pull unevenly. I would also check the return springs on the backplate as they corrode and become weak. The locating hole in the backplate can also corrode.
You will have to unfasten the caliper to get the disc off; just be careful with the metal brake pipe when unclipping it from the swinging arm, and support the caliper so that the pipe isn't under tension whilst doing the job.
Don't forget that if your rear discs are vented, the retaining pins are longer than on solid discs, and not every motor factors will supply the correct ones.
It's not a difficult job - but the right tools always help!

[johnnydog]

When doing the front pads, don't forget it's worth buying a new pad wear sensor - they can be carefully removed from the old pad if your pad warning light is not on, and refitted to the new pad but equally can quite easily break, and then your job will be on hold until you get one!

[05omegav6]

As Nick says, fully back off the adjusters, then the discs should come off, though there is often a lip of rust built up where the shoes have not rubbed, which hinders removal. I have found Vx genuine shoes expensive, so bought pattern, but suspect they are not so grabby as original. Have other members found this?

Not degreasing the drum adequately

Could be. I use petrol. What do you recommend? Brake cleaner aerosol?

Brake cleaner, carb cleaner or even washing up liquid, but certainly NOT an oil derived substance