V50 Brakes : Weak Handbrake

[IainG]

Hi

Thankfully my vehicle passed its retest earlier today, but only just. The handbrake is good, but the n/s wheel is still on the weak side and passed by 0.2 over the pass mark. Everything is free and appears to work on the calliper, so I’m still a little lost as to what can be wrong.

At the beginning March I had to replace my rear section handbrake cable, so whilst I was there I replaced the rear pads too. I haven’t used the car much for the last five months due to lockdown,

Could the pads still be bedding in? What was the state of the discs? Could there be a bit of a lip?

Iain

[Lumpkin]

I replaced the pads on both side and discs were good with plenty of life left in them. I’ve now completed a couple of hundred miles, so pads should be bedded in OK by now. Again O/S performance is very good and n/s poor. I have even bleed the system through and replaced the fluid. I’m puzzled.

[IainG]

Hi
Was there any imbalance with the foot brake on the rear or is it just the handbrake with the problem?

Iain

[Lumpkin]

Originally Posted by IainG

Hi
Was there any imbalance with the foot brake on the rear or is it just the handbrake with the problem?

Iain

No imbalance. The foot brake works well and nearly even on both sides. Just the handbrake is the issue.

[LizardOfBodom]

Just out of curiosity - is there no adjustment procedure for lever/linkage in the middle console, like on old model? I always started adjusting on cables themselves first beside the lever. May need to adjust HB performance before January test and was wondering how to approach it best...

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Lumpkin

Thankfully my vehicle passed its retest earlier today, but only just. The handbrake is good, but the n/s wheel is still on the weak side and passed by 0.2 over the pass mark. Everything is free and appears to work on the calliper, so I’m still a little lost as to what can be wrong.

Did you fit non volvo pads by the way ?

[Lumpkin]

Originally Posted by Clan

Did you fit non volvo pads by the way ?

I fitted Mintex pads all round and all four corners work fine apart from the N/S rear handbrake.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Lumpkin

I fitted Mintex pads all round and all four corners work fine apart from the N/S rear handbrake.

it seems you need a new caliper , it does happen ....

[Lumpkin]

Originally Posted by Clan

it seems you need a new caliper , it does happen ....

I was presuming that would be my last resort. Thanks for your help.

[IainG]

Hi

Originally Posted by Lumpkin

I was presuming that would be my last resort. Thanks for your help.

Just worth a quick last check again the hand brake lever on that calliper is still returning fully to hit the stop. Any tension in the cable or lever not returning fully will stop the internal adjuster operating.
I actually took my calliper piston apart to see how it worked. 15 mins to take it apart and 2 hours to get it back together!!
Very simple inside, just a loose coarse thread adjuster that is allowed to turn if the piston moves when there is no tension on the handbrake lever. If there is any tension on the lever/ cable it can't turn and adjust.

Worth a one last check.
But easy to replace the calliper if needed.


Iain