Brakes: Improve your handbrake efficiency for £26.22.

[dwaine dibbley]

I was browsing last week and came upon this subject about retrofitting adjusters to the handbrake shoes, I have always been disappointed with the efficiency of the handbrake on my XC90, even at the last MOT it just got through with new shoes fitted.

So I thought I would give it a go, even though the subject didn't apply to the XC90. Ordered the parts from FRF and with delivery it came to just over £26.00.

Very easy to fit, you don't even need to remove the shoes they can be levered apart just enough it pop out the "H" shaped piece, and the new adjuster slotted in, the spring does touch the new adjuster (see pics), but it doesn't interfere with the adjusting process. When the drum is back on the adjusting wheel can be turned with a little screwdriver through a wheel bolt hole.

I am really impressed with the difference, it will now hold the car on an incline even with a caravan attached! But don't expect to be able to do handbrake turns though!

I think the shoes are now operating across their full diameter, instead of just grabbing at one end when the handbrake is applied.

My procedure was briefly: slacken off adjustment out of cable (don't drop the circlip out of the adjuster down under the floor of the car like I did, it took longer to luckily retrieve by removing passenger seat and flexible magnet to find it than doing original job) - fit new parts - take the opportunity to clean shoes and inside of drum whilst in there - refit drum and adjust up until slight resistance, then back off 3 clicks, small torch to shine through wheel bolt hole is useful - put handbrake on 1 click, then adjust cable by chosen method, I used a 7 & 10mm open ended spanners on the adjuster, then used a big f--k off screwdriver in between the spanners and twisted which forces the adjuster out, and so tensions the cable - release off handbrake and spin wheels to check not binding and Bobs your uncle, and Fannys you're aunt! Welcome to the world of efficient hand brakes, mine is now on pretty tight at second click, it will go to third click but my mechanical sympathy takes over.

Hope you find this useful, I don't know why adjusters weren't fitted by Volvo when the car was designed.









Original article here;

http://forums.t5d5.org/topic/18857-a...-to-handbrake/

[Yosser]

Excellent! - it's good to hear that it works for the XC90 too

[Funky Diver]

Or £24 if you go direct to a local stealers for them. Mine arrive tomorrow

[Shadeyman]

Originally Posted by Funky Diver

Or £24 if you go direct to a local stealers for them. Mine arrive tomorrow

Please give us an update, I think this is another thing to add to my "to Do" list.

[Funky Diver]

Yup £24, but that included the two disc retaining bolts... So the actual cost was £18 from Mill Stockton.

I haven't fitted them yet as strained a ligament in my knee.

[BestGear]

Thanks for this post - I have just ordered them for our XC.... anything will be an improvement as it could not get much worse!

[Shadeyman]

Originally Posted by Funky Diver

Yup £24, but that included the two disc retaining bolts... So the actual cost was £18 from Mill Stockton.

I haven't fitted them yet as strained a ligament in my knee.

Originally Posted by BestGear

Thanks for this post - I have just ordered them for our XC.... anything will be an improvement as it could not get much worse!

Do either of you have a part number? Will be much easier when I order them.

[Jerm66]

This was a fantastic post. I was able to fix the handbrake myself with extremely limited mechanical knowledge or tools after failing Northern Ireland's infamous MOT test with a 10% score for efficiency. £24 well spent ( my colleague paid £481 to sort his at the main dealer last month). Thanks Dwaine Dibbley

[poisondart]

I think this could be the best purchase I make this year. I've failed the NI MOT TWICE in the last 3 weeks!!! On her full test handbrake was only at 11%, so I had the shoes replaced, and I thought she was ok, but then on retest she was only at 7%!!! Nightmare. Now I'm past the 21 day mark, so she'll have to have a full test again.

Will fit these and see how I get on.

[Mooosey]

Thanks for info on the adjusters. I shall include them when I change front and rear discs/pads/shoes.