Handbrake woes

[stuart bowes]

I have replaced my handbrake bits and at it didnt quite go to plan.. I was holding off from posting until I've had a few goes to make sure its not just me but here it is..

attempt 1
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replaced shoes (Pagid) and discs/pads (Brembo)
used existing springs, didnt clean out properly and grease high points behind shoes
all fitted ok but handbrake loose. tighened nut all the way.
wheels sort of locking but not enough.
also handle/cable jams sometimes and goes really loose then 'pings' a bit later and then you can feel tension again

discs/pads totally fine and work well

attempt 2
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took all apart again
replaced springs (cheap ones did seem badly fitting, didnt like them but used temporarily) and cleaned out a bit more
refitted, same

attempt 3 (till dark last night)
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took apart AGAIN
replaced springs with genuine volvo, everything feels snug and tight
added the adjuster piece, tightned up a little bit
scrubbed the damn things top to bottom, pulled out expander, greased, refitted

still no improvement. kicking myself because they were fine albeit aged and I should have just left them the hell alone

thursday I have a day off so I'm gonna take out the centre console, check the cable at that end, and try tweaking the adjusters to see if I can make them tighter.

possibly adding a spacer tube at the handle end to get more tightening up there?

also try and see what is making it sticky. but I'm suspicous of the fact the cable is wound up so tight at the handle end. hoping I havent somehow stretched the cables

it's done less than 60k and it was totally fine before

[JoeNinety]

Sounds like a sticky cable or two and stretched also, in to the bargain. If you get the cables out you may be able to free them up with lubrication and wiggling, but once you have them out....

suggest replace all three cables, then you know what you have. I did this (it is a fun job!) and handbrake is perfect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTLZuz70nEk

[T5R92011]

Personally I would just bite the bullet and buy a set of cables.

You've done the rest so might as well finish it off.

[stuart bowes]

i was really hoping that wouldnt be the answer

you're right no doubt. I suppose I was hoping someone might say that's a known issue with Brembo their discs are very slighty too large or something

wishful thinking I suppose lol

thanks anyway though

[stuart bowes]

Originally Posted by JoeNinety

Sounds like a sticky cable or two and stretched also, in to the bargain. If you get the cables out you may be able to free them up with lubrication and wiggling, but once you have them out....

suggest replace all three cables, then you know what you have. I did this (it is a fun job!) and handbrake is perfect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTLZuz70nEk

that's the video I was watching last night .. that woman is good isn't she

best get them ordered up today then I suppose

luckily weather is getting warmer i was thinking about starting to bike to work again anyway. so I can do it in stages

[damageandy]

Id also fit the manual adjusters while at it, a few say they are not needed and its a bodge, but most people who live in the real world think they are great.

[BlueRubber]

Agree with what others have said, replace the cables.

[LPTJoe]

I did the handbrake fairly recently and honestly, to get both brakes working properly took me longer than it did to change the timing belt several weeks before. I would consider myself pretty competent, and still found it an annoying job.

My tips in your situation would be....

Make sure the small pivot arms the cables attach to are sitting properly on the shoe side of backing plate, from memory they're slightly recessed.

Get a set of the adjusters as others have mentioned

Without fitting the disc/hub, have a helper work the handbrake whilst you look at the brake/shoe end of the job, check the shoes are actually moving apart when the handbrake is pulled. You can take up slack in the cable by adjusting at the handbrake end of things and then fine tune at the braking end with the adjusters.

[Simmy]

get some genuine volvo h brake shoes they are shaped different to after market ones this helps them have more contact on the drum ask me how i know. buy cheap buy twice i also made this mistake

[stuart bowes]

thanks for the replies

I have already fitted adjusters, but at this point havent taken the time to actually play with them much. I basically tweaked them until the disc didnt fit, then backed them off until it did fit, but then when turning by hand i noticed I can hear a swishing sound like it's rubbing on pad so i backed it off a notch again. this is with the cable end fully released and slackened. then tightened the cable. no dice

I did wonder whether it was the geometry of the shoes (or disc) causing the issue.. I did hold old and new side by side and they 'seemed' to be ok. but it only takes a mm or two.. maybe this is why people like the adjusters

I have ordered cables. I'm gonna do my best but I'm not overly fond of being underneath nearly 2tonne of car with basic equipment, so i might give in and let the local garage (with a proper lift) do it. I can keep labour costs down by removing rear seats and centre console for them I suppose. and I always buy my own parts so they can't sting me there either