2012 D5 parking brake

[Ajc411n]

Hi guys hope somebody can shed some light on the issue I’m having.

Car failed mot with parking brake less than 50% efficiency. So I bought new shoes and thought whilst I’m at it may aswell change the rear discs and pads

New shoes on and it’s worse than before, I read somewhere that the handbrake cable needs adjusting in the centre console so did that. Then the brakes were binding.

I’ve adjusted the shoes countless times and it’s either binding and they get hot or the don’t hold the car at all

Is it just a case of perseverance and adjust the shoes bit by bit or should I be looking somewhere else?

Appreciate the help as a first time Volvo owner

[Simmy]

did you fit genuine volvo shoes ? its a well known fact that aftermarket shoes don't work well... volvo shoes have a softer compound and are a slightly different shape. ask me how i know.

[Lancee]

Did you use Volvo OE handbrake shoes ?

In my experience aftermarket can be somewhat problematic.

I had issues with aftermarket, I then fitted Volvo OE, with no further issue/s.

[Lancee]

Originally Posted by Simmy

did you fit genuine volvo shoes ? its a well known fact that aftermarket shoes don't work well... volvo shoes have a softer compound and are a slightly different shape. ask me how i know.

Simmy (just) beat me to it !

[Ajc411n]

No I didn’t. Aftermarket shoes were put on.

I’ll get some genuine ones if it’ll be a lot less hassle

[Simmy]

its always worth consulting the forum before doing any work on your car there are thousands of posts covering most common things. if in doubt ask. it can save you making mistakes and spending cash twice ps check the handbrake cables are not stiff or sticking and the springs which hold the shoes to the backplate are on and not missing.

[AB-UK]

I recently posted that I had tried the "Upgrade" route and bought the parts from That auction site.
I too found them worse than the shoes I was replacing.
Had my Indie fit genuine ones.
He showed me the shoes I had fitted myself only 2 weeks before, and although they looked and felt pretty abrasive when new, they were already worn shiny.
Also, genuine shoes have a flat spot which he explained aided the bite.
After a month of wearing in, the parking brake works well now.

[ltec]

It must have been less than 16% to fail on park brake. Have you got the adjuster kit in the shoes? You need to loosen the cable off inside the car and adjust the shoes up as far as possible without being too tight and then adjust up the cable.
Check the cables aren't sticking first and the lever at the shoes needs to be really free.

[Ajc411n]

Cheers guys

Genuine shoes have turned up today and attempting to fit them

For the life of me I can’t get the disc over the shoes, I’ve slackens the cable on the passenger side. Is there anywhere else I can loosen the cable?

[Lancee]

Adjustment is at the handbrake handle. Unclip the gaitor, adjuster is underneath.

You should be able to slacken both sets of shoes enough from here.

Unless you have automatic adjusters at each wheel ??

Perhaps search youtube for videos on how to do ?