V70 Brakes: Rear Brakes stuck on after washing wheels

[Lizard]

My 2005 MY V70 D5 Automatic recently had new rear discs and pads fitted at 117,000 miles. Since then, every time I wash the wheels and garage the car overnight, I am unable to drive away in the morning. I leave the car in PARK with the parking brake OFF so I'm pretty sure that it's the pads locking onto the discs and not the shoes sticking to the drums.

I have to floor the throttle to break the 'seal' and then the car lurches away after leaving some rubber on the deck. This is the 2nd. set of replacement pads and I had no problem with either the original equipment or the 1st. set of replacements.

The dealer recently stripped and rebuilt the rear brakes (at my expense) and reported 'no fault found'. I believe that there must be other owners with the same experience.

Anyone out there had the same problem/know the cause of the problem?

[kevvydude]

when you start it put it in reverse and let it go back a bit, id say handbrake shoes ,did they replace the clip kit on the handbrake shoes ?? does it only do when you wash wheels or when its rained aswell,

[Lizard]

I drive into the garage, have to reverse it out of the garage, and it won't budge unless I floor the throttle - then it releases with a 'bang'. Rain does not produce the same effect, only wheel washing.

Last time I washed the car, I drove it for 5 miles and warmed up the brakes before I garaged it - no problem next morning.

But, it's not always practical to drive the car before parking it in the garage especially if the local farmer has driven his herd of cows up the lane!

This seizure should not happen anyway.

[oragex]

Don't drive in reverse when it gets stuck. The handbrake shoes get stuck inside the drum. It's strange you say the drums are new, because that usually happens with rusted drums. Anyway, remove the drum and inspect the brake shoes and and the inner friction surface on the drum to be rust free.

[Bill_56]

Every recent car I've owned does this, to greater or lesser extent. The Saab would sometimes keep a rear wheel locked solid, dragging it along behind, until
I executed a series of back/forward rocking to free it. Current S60 is nearly as bad.

The problem is simply that in washing, the discs & drums get a good soaking. But unlike driving in wet weather, they don't heat up and so the moisture remains. It quickly turns to a thin layer of rust, which binds the shoes to the drums if the handbrake is on.

Avoidance is either.. take the car for a drive after washing, or (if parking in a level garage) leave the car in gear (or 'park') and handbrake off til you are ready to drive it.

Ps: Sorry, I see you are already parking with handbrake off. Not sure what to make of that.

[Lizard]

Thanks for your inputs.

The parking brake shoes were the first thing the dealer thought of. But when checked there were OK. They were replaced a couple of years ago when the linings became detached and jammed as you described. I always leave the parking brake OFF in my garage and select PARK.

I am wondering if the friction material spec. has changed and now has ferrous inclusions?

I did think that the dealer may have fitted 'after market' pads i.l.o. genuine parts but they swear not.

[Bill_56]

Just one more thing I'd add is, I experienced the same earlier this week. But although I'd not applied the handbrake hard, it was still lightly applied and seemed to stick.

One thing thats sets Lizard and myself in a minority is that we actually park in the garage. I suspect that is unusual these days, considering cramped UK housing and the tendency to use the garage for storage - plus the fact that many garages are too small to accomodate a Polo, let alone a V70.

I am convinced though that garaging the car does exacerbate the problem, all that moisture, not much air circulation, hence the film of rust.

[Lizard]

I'm sure you're right Bill_56 - garaging doesn't help the situation.

I've always thought that generally it's best to keep a car outdoors from a corrosion point of view but I live only 100 metres from the sea (salt air) and the locked garage makes a difference to the insurance premium. However, next time I wash it I will leave it outside overnight to see what happens.

I really want to know how common this problem is. The dealer rep. was evasive but the technician who worked on my car indicated that it was a known problem and widespread across the Volvo model range. I guess he would know?

[outnumbered]

Give the disc drum a short sharp tap that may free it up until you get sorted

[Lizard]

Thanks for the suggestion 'Outnumbered', that might work.

I won't be able to get under the car but I should be able to reach the disc with a long brass drift, through the wheel spokes, to give it a 'gentle tap'.