MOT Failure - Foot brake 'efficiency'

[drjarmin]

Hello All

Took my 2013 XC90 for its first MOT on Monday and has failed due to a braking efficiency on the foot brake of 13%.

Spent a while on the forum and on Google / Youtube and if I've been reading correctly this could be due to 2 things:

1. Adjustment of the cable via an adjuster somewhere near the front passenger seat underneath the trim

2. New shoes required on the rear wheels.

Is this correct? If I need to get it up to 16+% do I need to replace the shoes (might not be able to get the parts before the retest)? Is there anyway to tell if its the shoes or not?

The brake pedal does require quite a few clicks to fully engage. Is that relevant?

Sorry for the novice questions but this is new to me.

[S60D5-185]

Very common problem and loads on here have had the issue including me.

Search Parking Brake in the XC90 section you will find lots of info.

Get the manual adjusters that replace the H bar in the rear drum assembly and then follow the info in this thread.


The internal adjuster is under the left hand side transmission tunnel trim which just pulls off. Read up on how to do this adjustment. It's easy but the procedure must be followed.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PAIR-VOLV...IAAOSwJclZpx9g



https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showt...ake+adjustment

[john langrick]

Yup, I agree with that.

Mine had observations each year, for the last few years, re ineffective handbreak, until my indie fitted adjusters.

Last year, had adjusters fitted prior to mot and delighted there was no mention of hsnxbreak and it actually does work well.

Also use genuine Volvo shoes.

I understand the ideal fix would be to get it working without the adjusters, which, I understand, were designed for another Volvo model. But you will be surprised at how they improve efficiency on an XC90.


But do use the break occasionally as far too easy just to leave it in park.

Oh l

[Clan]

Originally Posted by john langrick

Yup, I agree with that.

Mine had observations each year, for the last few years, re ineffective handbreak, until my indie fitted adjusters.

Last year, had adjusters fitted prior to mot and delighted there was no mention of hsnxbreak and it actually does work well.

Also use genuine Volvo shoes.

I understand the ideal fix would be to get it working without the adjusters, which, I understand, were designed for another Volvo model. But you will be surprised at how they improve efficiency on an XC90.


But do use the break occasionally as far too easy just to leave it in park.

Oh l

By a bodge which does not support the shoes properly, the adjusters get past other inadequacies in the parking brake mechanism ...
The original H bar has close fitting slots which hold the two shoes squarely to the surface of the drum so they act as one ...
The Brake works fine when it has it's original parts correctly fitted and bedded in and in proper working condition ..

[S60D5-185]

Clan, when these cars were new they had a parking brake which was adequate but that was as good as it got.

As you very well know these adjusters were fitted as standard to many models throughout the Volvo range.

On a 10 plus year old Xc90 why replace a load of components with new when for less than £15 you end up with a very efficient parking brake.

As you know, I value your opinion greatly but in this respect I think that you are being pedantic and asking people to spend a small fortune in parts and labour based on an unsupported personal opinion as to whether these adjusters are up to the job.

[owenfackrell]

The oddest thing is the drum in a disc is not unusual, in fact our Qashqai also has them but use a normal hand brake lever to operate them. The difference in the amount of hold that gives is huge. To me the foot lever is where most of the problem lies. I have thought about experimenting with it to see f I can increase the mechanical advantage that it gives.

[gmonag]

Agree with above.

It really helps if you always use the Parking Brake when you park. Also occasionally drive for a few yards with the Parking Brake half-on. That will wipe off corrosion in the drum.

Use it or lose it!

[Just Phil]

As well as whats been said above I always on the way to the MOT drive with the food brake on a Cpl of clicks to clean up the shoes, works a treat.

[S60D5-185]

Originally Posted by Just Phil

As well as whats been said above I always on the way to the MOT drive with the food brake on a Cpl of clicks to clean up the shoes, works a treat.

Good move and something that I do very briefly as a matter of course every few weeks.

I have New Volvo shoes , springs and manual adjusters as well as a correctly adjusted interior one and the handbrake is adequate and passes an MOT comfortably.

I think that the overall design is just poor.

Ok when new but not when a few years old.

[XJSDriver]

Great advice from Just Phil - I also put aside some time a few weeks before the MOT is due to check the parking brake and make adjustments as necessary. This year I bit the bullet and bought new disks as one side very rusty - got away with it last year using the adjusters as suggested but never happy with the result but it passed (easily!!). Now, with new disks albeit using the original pads I can park the beast on our sloping drive with 3-4 clicks. Splendid.