S60 Brakes: Handbrake disaster

[60041]

Having become increasingly paranoid about my handbrake as a result of the postings on this thread, I took the plunge and invested £90 in discs pads and shoes and changed the lot today. Thank God I did, the attached photo shows clearly that the brake linings are lifting from the shoes and it would only have been a matter of time before the whole lot would have fallen to bits and caused some expensive damage.
There was not any indication that they were starting to come apart, the car had only passed an MOT a few weeks before and the handbrake felt firm and held well. The car is an 04 XC70, and has done 64000 miles.
So the moral of this is get out there and have a look before it is too late!

[gmonag]

Clearly there is a quality issue here. My shoes were original Volvo parts and totally fell apart.
The warning signs were there if I had known their significance -

1. Sticking brakes when moving off (with a clonk), especially after rain.
2. Long handbrake lever travel, then normal travel for a while (obviously as the lining moved around in the drum).
3. Ineffective handbrake.
4. Rythmic knocking from the rear wheels when driving (after final disintegration)

My car had just been serviced by a main dealer - clearly they do not take the drums off as part of the service.

Ignore at your peril....

[Bill_56]

Originally Posted by Clan

Another tip change the shoes when you change the rear discs , the time period is about right to prevent any trouble in the future .. only an extra £28 or so ... The right thing to do though is to get a second hand hub , it makes sense ...

That's pretty much what I was advised by my Dealer when I got the pads changed.

My worry is that pads seem to last for ever in my S60 (60k miles, F&R), and assuming the discs get changed with every alternate pad change that means it'll be well over 100k miles before the shoes get changed (or even looked at). Is that pushing my luck?

If I'd seen this thread before getting the 60k pad change I'd have probably asked for new shoes at that time, but I hadn't.

[GEORGE72]

Ok, i've got a 54 plate S60 D5 with 63K last serviced in NOV. I am started to get a bit paranoid about this thread as i have like many of you experienced the odd clunk when reversing off the drive but i would say it happens very infrequently. I do aboout 8k /year and had planned to get my front brake pads changed and the timing belt and tensioner done at the next service,,oh yes and a set of rear tyres- this is all going to cost a fair bit, do i now need to plan to spend for new rear pads, disks and shoes?



PS i wished i knew a bit more about car mechanics so that i could some of this myself

[Diesel Convert]

If the pads and discs are OK, I'd just change the shoes. My 53 plate friction material had separated but I was one of the lucky ones with no damage.

[Brendan W]

At 93000miles I just changed the shoes and pads even though the pads had 6mm or more left on them. Friction material had partially separated from one shoe.

[GEORGE72]

Right- just been to ATS and had a full brake inspection and the hand brake shoes have been given the all clear- all in good condition.

[Chesterman]

George,
Getting as paranoid as everyone else now! (53 S60 2.0T at 51K).
How did ATS check the handbrake pads? I understood that this could only be done by removing the hubs, surely not for a brake test!

[BobS]

Hi,

I agree with Chesterman. The callipers and discs have to be removed. If ATS went to this amount of work it would be madness not to spend another 15 minutes changing the shoes?

Bob

[steveinbradford]

Mine are in need of replacement. The offside rear parking brake does not function so thanks for showing us what could happen! Glad you sorted it wilh out too much expense.