Expensive Handbrake Woes :-(

[patstan]

like you MOT failure hand brake, garage replaced everything, new discs, pads, hand brake cable and the garage issued new PASS MOT. drove home and found the hand brake failed to hold car on a small incline. went back to garage and they put it back on test machine and it registered FAIL. The garage tried everything to correct the hand brake fail. They ended up replacing all the money paid in LABOUR Charges and I paid for all the new parts. Left the garage with faulty rear hand brake. Read many an entry on these after market adjusters and decided to purchase them off an auction site and waited for delivery. Next morning car on axle stands and wheels off ready for new parts to be fitted. Took me about 15 minutes per side and then with the rear drumb's back on set about adjusting the new parts. very easy job done. Replaced the wheels and took the car out for test drive. I found two hills that always caused me holding problems, I applied the hand brake three clicks only. the car held firmly. Job done so impressed with this after market product that cost less than 14 pounds. Would I recommend this part replacment YES !! Showed my garage mechanic the fix and they placed my car on the brake tester he was very impressed and took the details of the item and supplier. He now holds the adjusters on his shelf as he provides the service to many a Volvo owner that visit him. Just had my car's MOT done again and NO FAIL brakes working fine and my hand brake still holds well on three clicks until my wife drives my car she can get it up to six clicks and drive me MAD !!! If you are having this holding problem with your handbrake and have become sick and tired of replacing the so called stretched cables get hold of the adjusters you will cure the problem, save lots of cash and know your car will hold tight on any hill.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by patstan

like you MOT failure hand brake, garage replaced everything, new discs, pads, hand brake cable and the garage issued new PASS MOT. drove home and found the hand brake failed to hold car on a small incline. went back to garage and they put it back on test machine and it registered FAIL. The garage tried everything to correct the hand brake fail. They ended up replacing all the money paid in LABOUR Charges and I paid for all the new parts. Left the garage with faulty rear hand brake. Read many an entry on these after market adjusters and decided to purchase them off an auction site and waited for delivery. Next morning car on axle stands and wheels off ready for new parts to be fitted. Took me about 15 minutes per side and then with the rear drumb's back on set about adjusting the new parts. very easy job done. Replaced the wheels and took the car out for test drive. I found two hills that always caused me holding problems, I applied the hand brake three clicks only. the car held firmly. Job done so impressed with this after market product that cost less than 14 pounds. Would I recommend this part replacment YES !! Showed my garage mechanic the fix and they placed my car on the brake tester he was very impressed and took the details of the item and supplier. He now holds the adjusters on his shelf as he provides the service to many a Volvo owner that visit him. Just had my car's MOT done again and NO FAIL brakes working fine and my hand brake still holds well on three clicks until my wife drives my car she can get it up to six clicks and drive me MAD !!! If you are having this holding problem with your handbrake and have become sick and tired of replacing the so called stretched cables get hold of the adjusters you will cure the problem, save lots of cash and know your car will hold tight on any hill.

Pleased to hear it's worked for you - clearly you're pleased!

BTW - whilst aftermarket parts are an alternative, genuine Volvo parts are available to do this upgrade. However, as it's essentially a nut and bolt, this isn't one of those instances where I am saying you need the genuine parts.....