Failed on handbrake- how to adjust cable itself (not lever)

[JoeNinety]

Looking at the picture, the swivel seems to be tucked in behind a metal plate on the body. It should be free and above that....

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by mjk164

Yep, tried that this morning just before that picture. Tightened up as far as the the nut will go, it still doesn't hold the car but the pivot remains level.

Sounds like mine was 5 years ago @14 years old and yours is a similar age.
I changed everything in one go so both cables, the central cable which join them to the handbrake lever, rear discs, pads, handbrake shoes and springs.

As it worked out of the factory and I was restoring factory operation, no additional adjusters were fitted or needed and the handbrake still works perfectly after 5 years with a 5 minute tightening of the lever adjuster nut every couple of years.

[mjk164]

So I've just had the discs off and watched both sides while the handle was operated and both expanders seem to be working fine, with the shoes top and bottom on both sides moving well.

That would suggest the cables are working fine so I'm totally stumped, unless I'm missing something?

The drums do have a small lip on them so that could be the problem, but a set of adjusters would take that up wouldn't they?

Still happy to buy new discs pads and shoes though!

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by mjk164

both expanders seem to be working fine, with the shoes top and bottom on both sides moving well.

That would suggest the cables are working fine so I'm totally stumped, unless I'm missing something?

You're missing that the point of the cables isn't just to move the expanders but to move the expanders with enough outward force to hold the car.
The lever nut eliminates an inefficient handbrake pull by expanding the shoes to the point where they're just off making contact with the drum.
Pulling the handbrake lever then forces and locks the shoes in position with minimal dead movement.
Correctly adjusted, the car holds on one click and as little as 5 clicks becomes difficult to achieve.

You're out of adjustment on 16 year old cables so will no longer get the strong action which tells me that you need cables as a minimum but given the disassembly required, you may as well change everything and be done.
Adjusters could take up the dead air but you're still on 16 year old cables so not ideal.

I've read a lot of handbrake threads and all too many seem to contain attempts to half do the job in one form or another and most end the same way by either doing the job properly or deriding the P2 handbrake which is actually very good.

[stuart bowes]

in terms of actually replacing the cables I'm assuming it's the same as the V70 in which case.. you do need to pull out the bottom cushions of your rear seats, and lift up the carpet which also means popping off the plastic side trims, but it's really not that bad a job

the messing about with the shoes and drum and the fiddly b@s5£$% springs was way more time-consuming for me

I watched this first and then found it to be a very easy job https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTLZuz70nEk
you've already got the console out so skip to 4:45

just in case you're being put off by it seeming like a bit of a nuisance to do

[mjk164]

So in the time since my last update the pair of adjusters arrived, so I fitted them (a 5 minute job with the discs alreadyoff) a d as was said elsewhere on this forum, adjusted through a wheel bolt hole. They made an instant difference and it now holds on 3 clicks, not 12! Can't get the free retest until Wednesday but on those figures, I'm pretty hopeful.

And yes, Cheshire and Stuart are both absolutely right, the correct way to do this is to change the cables and the rest of it (they're on order) and having removed all the trim for the centre console, the rear carpet doesnt look too daunting now!

Thanks all for assistance and I'll let you know how the retest goes.

[stuart bowes]

well in all fairness I should deflect that kudos back at Cheshired who has had this debate with me in the recent past and is far more knowledgeable

yes it is the 'right' way to do it, let's not go down that rabbit hole again lol

but sometimes, a bodge can be just what you need for a short term solution

[cheshired5]

In fairness to me, I have had my car for 9 years and intend to keep it forever so that dictates the longevity of any fixes I carry out or advise others.
If there's an option to restore factory spec on any part of the car, that's almost always my first choice but I do like a cheap or free workaround if it's going to last.

Short term fixes, bodges, whatever we call them all have a very valid place depending on personal circumstances or how long the car is intended to be kept.

[mjk164]

Update- it passed the retest. Those adjusters clearly do the trick!

[barrybritcher]

it'll be glazed shoes, change the shoes as a minimum, also bear in mind the disc has a minimum thickness!