Brakes: handbrake disconnecting!

[toneloc]

first off - I am new to the forum, so thanks for having me.

recently moved away from Land Rovers to an XC90, thinking i would like to get a year or two without having to get my tools out!

I have an '09 XC90 D5 (manual) that I purchased 6 months ago. its generally in good shape, although a few weeks ago the handbrake cable popped off the foot pedal assembly when i released the brake.

I reattached and noticed a bot of slack which would cause it to keep popping off when the brake was released.

when releasing, it seems to release the pedal mechanism with quite a force, so any slack at all in the cable causes the cable to then drop off the ratchet (surprised it actually just loops on and does not have any mechanism to actually hold it in place rather than rely on the cable tension keeping it in place!).

anyhow, i pulled the passenger seat out and adjusted the barrel to put a little more tension in it, but the problem still happens.

if i tension the barrel /cable too tight enough to prevent it dropping off when released i am effectively engaging the brake - ahhhhh

so - has anyone else encountered this problem, if so has anyone came up with a solution.

the brakes hold fine when the cable is connected, so reluctant to believe it is the cable that needs replaced.

help is very much appreciated.
Tone