V70 Brakes: Handbrake Woes!

[Yorky Steve]

Originally Posted by harveys

When you are in there get the adjusters and fit them.
Number 17 & 18


Here they are fitted.

My first post here. I bought an immaculate 52 V70 two weeks ago with FSH. I got onto this thread (and the one about the destroyed hub) because the handbrake is at about 30 degrees before the shoes bite the hubs. I just thought it was just a quirk of the car (The handle is a bit too high in the car for my comfort, but I digress) until I came on here to see how to adjust it.

I will take the wheels off to take a look next week I think, but am I reading the above correctly, that there's no adjuster on the shoes and I need to get an aftermarket one? I've had two Saab 9000's and that was a doddle to adjust the handbrake using the pads.

I'm not getting any undue noises, clunks or clicking from the rear wheels, but after reading the threads, it's worried me somewhat-as the handbrake shoes don't seem to be on the service schedule which is unbelievable. The car has just clicked over to 113000 miles.

Thanks in advance for clarification.

[Paul240480]

^^^^ Correct, no adjusters on these, just a flat 'bar'. My 850 has the adjusters.
You'd probably get them from either Volvo, Parts for Volvo, or from an 850 in a yard.....
I really should get and do the same on my 70......

[Yorky Steve]

Originally Posted by Paul240480

^^^^ Correct, no adjusters on these, just a flat 'bar'. My 850 has the adjusters.
You'd probably get them from either Volvo, Parts for Volvo, or from an 850 in a yard.....
I really should get and do the same on my 70......

Thanks for the quick reply Paul; does this mean the shoes can't be adjusted at all? I'm confused.

[Paul240480]

As far as I know the only adjustment for the handbrake on these is at the leaver end of the system. You have to remove , carefully the trim surround thing and then lift a little flap.
If you retro fit those adjusters into the handbrake gubbins then you can adjust the shoes at the hub like on 850's.

[Nick44]

I've always found the adjuster nut at the rear of the handbrake lever to be enough.
Remember these are not service brakes, and unless used as an emergency assist to the foot brake, the shoes will almost never wear down.
They are only applied usually when the car is already stationary, so no wear takes place.
It's a good idea though to give the handbrake a gentle tug when moving from time-to-time to clean the drum face and shoe surface.
It's deterioration of the shoe/carrier adhesive that causes the issue, or a stuck handbrake Bowden cable.
PS, it is in the Volvo service checklist now.

[coaster22]

With 30,000 views and 114 ish replies this is a common problem it seems and well summed up by the previous post. I am having similar problems with my 2004 S60 2.0t so have ordered new rear discs and shoes from PFS. After a wash the handbrake and or pads stick on and only come off with a bit of a crack.
My question is this , when pushing the Pistons back to fit
the new pads after fitting new shoes should you 1. Clamp brake hose and bleed fluid out of nipple when pushing caliper Pistons back or 2. Take fluid out of master and just push Pistons back. Some say the former is correct re: avoids getting crap in ABS. Any thoughts ?

[RM955I]

Never had a problem just pushing the Pistons back in and, if needed, removing fluid from the reservoir.....but I'm sure someone will have read something in a book or heard from a bloke down the pub why that's the wrong way

[coaster22]

Thanks, that's the way I have always done it with every car I had. Just done the 240 rear shoes and they were very straightforward. Cheers.

[coaster22]

Finally got round to this job today, took longer than expected and still working on the offside. Drum was really stuck on , released adjustment screw at handbrake 23 clicks and finally it came off. Original pads seemed ok, no de-lamination and they were the Volvo ones, bugger to refit new pads and suspect the handbrake cable a bit seized, pity they stopped putting grease nipples on cables ! Not sure of the equalizer arrangement yet. Drum in old disc very rusted. Couple of pics of car and job, might be selling the S60 later in year but reluctant as its so good, another Volvo will take its place. Cheers.

[coaster22]

Sorry pics haven't appeared !