Had a scraping noise from the rear brakes, long story short the garage pulled the rear brake shields around and noise is no longer there.
Took it out for a 10 mile test and all seems ok, but as I’ve been driving the Mrs car for 3 months (Audi), the TD6 seems extra sluggish and boat like Can’t tell if the handbrake is sticking slightly or not, is there any easy way to test it?

What makes things worse is I thought I could smell a slight burning smell from the rears when I parked the TD6 up. But can’t be sure (my sense of smell was decimated by covid 2 years ago and never returned properly)

Any way to test its releasing fully?

Brakes turn mechanical energy into heat therefore if the brakes are binding the wheels will be very hot. In normal use the rears do very little work so after a run they will be warm at best and cooler than the fronts. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

If you have burning smell at rear the chances are one or both rear brake callipers are stuck on. The handbrake is generally so rubbish even when it works correctly that l doubt it could even make the rear brakes luke warm.

Also jack up the rear so both wheels are off the ground and check they both rotate freely. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Thanks guys

JayGee, will the rear wheels turn freely if only the back is jacked up? Arent they all linked via the diffs and transfer box?

Genuine question

It 'should' rotate on the diff as this is necessary when changing the rear disks and aligning the adjuster holes but there should be also enough slack in the drivetrain to feel if the brakes are binding. I'd say the hand test for heat is your best and quickest way to tell. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Another way of telling is that the rear brake disc(s) will have a blue/green tinge to them where they've been getting hot.

Interesting that you got a scraping sound. I have a terrible scraping sound from my offside rear and can't get to the bottom of the issue - the splash guard is secure, I've greased the shims, new pads and discs, new shoes and still the terrible metal scraping sound.

...and that's from a caliper which isn't binding. 2015 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 SDV8