Handbrake "squeak" and excessive handbrake travel?

[bobthomas911772]

Hello, I hope you can help a newish owner of a 2009 X Type Sovereign estate?
I bought this model in Chilli Red and I love driving it!!
Currently I can hear a "squeak" from the (it seems) the nearside rear when going over any bumps. I realised when I apply the handbrake slightly when driving the squeaking stops, without fail. The rear pads have been replaced but the sueaking persists...
ANY advise with this will be MOST welcome.
Also, our drive is on a slope and I need to put the handbrake on what must be it's full extent. I counted the "clicks" and I counted eleven in total, if this makes sense!! Any less and the car will start to move by itself, not desirable!
I have a Haynes manual but I don't know if the handbrake is a manual adjustment or automatic, not having done this work before it would be nice to know. To finish I would add that a mechanic has looked at the handbrake and said that it's OK but I do feel that something could be done but not sure, hence my questions!
I would like to add that "he" is called Teddy as there seems to be a few smiling faces in the walnut veneer!!
Any advise would be great, thank you!!!

[Astromorg]

Squeaks are difficult to pinpoint! Some swear by spraying WD40 at every pivot point in the suspension system one by one until the squeak stops and that's the squeaky bush identified, but your garage team should be able to make some progress using a good car lift to transfer the weight between the wheels and the body lift points to simulate the suspension movement.

As the handbrake is working and has only long travel, it could be just a stretched cable.The adjustment in normal use is automatic within the rear brake calipers, however, over time the handbrake cable can stretch and result in excessive travel of the handbrake. I just checked mine: It comes up about 30 degrees to the first click, then 3 more clicks for normal use and another click or two to be really full on, 45 degs all told. Yours might adjustment or maybe a new cable is required.

Cable adjustment is at the yoke (If an adjuster is fitted! Not always?) where the single cable from the handbrake meets the loop from caliper to caliper. The required socket should be a deep one to reach the adjuster nut. Access is a pain in AWD models, but your FWD might be OK.

[Dave Eynon]

Hi,
The only time I have known the handbrake to come up so far before "holding" the car was due to incorrectly fitted rear brake pads. They are single wind back piston calipers and if the pads have not been correctly engaged with the piston the handbrake does not adjust to the pad wear. While that and the cable stretch is being checked the rear hub bearings could be inspected for wear as the disc may consequently be running "out of true" due to a worn bearing which the application of the handbrake would silence.
So glad you are enjoying the car otherwise.
Dave

[bobthomas911772]

Many thanks for the reply folks!!
I've now got a Haynes manual... And WD40!!!!
Thanks again!