Handbrake failed mot.
 

Hello my friends.long time reader,first time poster.purchased my07 xc90 lux in august 17. 80,000 on clock,full history for £8000.waited so long for a Volvo after owning a 1.4 Astra for 12 years.nuff said.this has been a great 5 months driving and understanding.read so many posts with great advice for future reference.have read how to adjust handbrake but garage advise specialist for job.would anybody know of a garage in or near Liverpool.i have searched online but trust forum views always.thanks in advance and I look forward to sharing my painful problems with you all.Darren.

Adjusting the handbrake is not a specialist job BUT the problem is more likely to be corroded drums and/or worn shoes - so it really needs stripping down, inspecting and re-assembling with new parts as required.

Many people adjust it and even fit new shoes with adjusters but if the inner drums are corroded or have been corroded in the past then it's probably wasted effort.

Search the forum for rear brake manual adjusters , available for around 20 quid , fit them and never have a parking brake problem again
Dave

Why is there a need for manual adjusters? It didn’t have them when new. Isn’t there a cable adjustment in the centre tunnel just down from the pedal? If it runs out of adjustment then it needs new cables. Isn’t fitting adjusters just masking the problem?

Thank you all for help.I am going to Southport on Monday to a Volvo specialist as they are closed over weekend.read about adjusters and comments say they fix handbrake.i don't understand how this works Graham. if I don't start at drums,I may waste money and mask problem as stated by Tannaton .the brake pedal is hard to push,not loose ,yet no hold whatsoever.as stated it needs stripping down and inspecting.just need the right garage.thank you again.

When you put the parking brake on the two ends of the shoes are pushed apart onto the drum , this is fine when everything is new , but as the linings and drum wear the pivoting end of the shoes don't act on the drum . The adjusters fit on this end of the shoes and replace a fixed plate, you can then take up this wear with the new adjusters
Dave

I just fitted the equivalent parts to my 2004 V70, and for the first time in 11 years of owning it I can do hand-brake turns! Massive improvement.
I'll do the same to my XC90 soon, as it's handbrake is pathetic.

The issue maybe that your handbrake shoes are not Volvo ones.

The non Volvo shoes are 'round' at the top. But, they need to be FLAT at the top, in order to allow full contact either side of the handbrake drum.

I realised these non Volvo parts added to the handbrake ineffectiveness after I bought mine, and had those changed to ALL Volvo parts, including the manual adjusters mentioned, that replaced the static separator bar.

They allow a finer adjustment, getting the 'extra' needed to pass an MOT. Ive had no MOT issues for the last 2 years. Everyone and again, i 'ride the hand brake pedal for a little to keep the pads bedded in. Not much to cause overheating, just a little to rub the dust off.

Paul Nut Brown at Southport is OK, if not expensive. I use a mechanic who is in Aughton. He is a one man band, but boy he is so honest and GOOD.

The adjusters give you a greater adjustment on the side that doesn't get pulled by the general cable adjustment.

Far from it masking a problem.... it's actually IMPROVING the handbrake system, and indeed, Volvo sell these parts now, that where not available when the cars came out the factory.

thank you colinbos,i am going to Southport Auto Center on monday.but would it be possible to see your man instead.its 6 clicks and nothing.checked old mot's and shoes and pads done in 2012.with 47,000 on clock.now 83,000.