S60 Brakes: Rattling Handbrake Shoes / Handbrake Questions

[ilmiont]

At low speeds with window down I notice a rattling sound from the rear offside (can't tell if the nearside does the same), almost like a little tinkling sound.

Pulling the handbrake up a click and it goes away so I think the noise is the rattling handbrake shoes described in many other threads on this forum.

Handbrake was useless when I bought the car (in May); local Volvo specialist tightened the cable and said all's good and after visual inspection of the brake/handbrake components said they're alright which I believe to have included the shoes.

The car now holds on the handbrake from about 4 clicks depending on gradient (keep meaning to check this and actually determine how many, might actually be stronger than that).

I've been driving periodically <10mph with the handbrake on with the intention of cleaning the drums as also described on these forums; if I use more than a few clicks there's a very nasty squealing sound. Is the squeal to be expected given the drum is most likely surface rusted/dirty, hence why I'm doing this periodically in the first place?

Handbrake does stick occasionally when left parked, previous owner warned me about it, I've only had it do it a couple of times so far after sitting all week with damp weather; get a squeal-bang-bang upon pulling away. Garage said "it's normal" and "they all do it" apparently with their cars doing it after a spell sat on the forecourt. Presumably binding to the surface rust on the drum which I'm attempting to keep at bay by driving with the handbrake applied?

Anyway question really is does this all sound normal/acceptable or do the shoes need another inspection. Not sure how closely they've been looked at to be honest and the horror threads of shoe delamination have me worried. Car's going in again soon, hopefully, to get the ongoing Anti-Skid/SAS issues sorted so would be the natural opportunity to have a second look.

Handbrake does hold the car comfortably, concerns really are the rattle, and the squeal if it's up several clicks and moving.

Never had a car with a handbrake system like this before and I've been reading extensively about it and its issues but still trying to work out if mine's "normal" or not. Having to park on a steep hill each day this shoe+drum system is... not my favourite P2 Volvo "feature" to say the least.

[cheshired5]

No-one's going to be able to reassure you that everything is ok without getting in there and inspecting properly.
I did a 2004 handbrake last week which had had new Volvo shoes and discs and it still needed me to fit new cables to get it back to factory fresh operation.
It now holds on one click and 3 clicks is the maximum as it should be.

The P2 handbrake isn't bad. It just needs fixing properly which isn't unreasonable after 15 years service.

My own S60 handbrake was fully refreshed at 14 years.

[ilmiont]

To come back to this post, car going in this week again with a thorough handbrake inspection now requested.

A few times now I've ended up with a persistent extremely loud and high-pitched squeal after releasing the handbrake, which I've been unable to remedy by applying and releasing again, even after doing so several times.

It happened in standstill traffic at the weekend... I'd been using the handbrake to hold it each time after creeping forwards for miles, then suddenly there we were squealing, audible to all around with other motorists looking. No amount of pulling and releasing the handbrake or driving with it lightly applied appeared to alter it.

The noise seemed to disappear above about 15-20mph; at 5mph it was dreadful.

After about a mile of this, came to a halt again, pulled the handbrake, and upon moving away again the noise had spontaneously vanished. I've not heard it again since (100 miles) and it behaved all the rest of the way home but it's not the only time it's done it.

Handbrake does actually hold the car well, slightly contrary to my OP, but after some more thorough testing it holds securely 3 clicks, maybe 4 on an extreme gradient. This new erratic squeal is rather alarming though. I wonder if maybe it doesn't always release properly and ends up dragging as the sound is similar to what happens if I (intentionally) drive with it applied by a couple of clicks. Not sure if it should squeal even in those circumstances though?

When I got the car, the handbrake was completely ineffective to the point it would barely hold even when pulled through the roof on anything but the most mild gradient. My garage tightened the cable which AFAIK is the only actual change done to the system; wondering if there's more at play here and I'm not sure how the cable adjustment ended up in such a state or why it hadn't been done before, if that really was the root cause.

I also definitely have the light rattling/tinkling from the rear end still, which I suspect is play in the shoes but that seems to be fairly common - and while sat on a seafront last week I heard a V70 come by behind me with the same sound from its rear wheels!

Originally Posted by cheshired5

My own S60 handbrake was fully refreshed at 14 years.

What do you consider a "full refresh"? New shoes/drums/cables? I'm somewhat reluctant to splash cash about until a cause has been established. Mine is now coming up on 16 years with an incomplete history though... Aside from my ongoing Anti-Skid/SAS woes (also to be sorted this week hopefully), handbrake is the only problem/possible problem left on my car now.

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by ilmiont

What do you consider a "full refresh"? New shoes/drums/cables?

1 x new handbrake lever cable, 2 x new handbrake cables, shoes and springs.
The drum element is part of the disc so it depends on the overall condition of the disc and the internal wear on the drum section.

On the above mentioned V70, one cable was seized so both were replaced.
On my own car, neither were seized but both were fully stretched and at the end of their adjustment range.

[AndyV7o]

Im currently having trouble with this too.
New shoes and cables 2018, new discs last year...
Spent some time yesterday gradually applying handbrake, dragging, then using it to stop from low speeds, in order to try and bed the drums and shoes into one another like brakes should be. See how it goes... I think the shoe assembly is dropping onto the drum tbh and dragging the edge of a shoe, but without stripping it all I dont really know...

[ilmiont]

Got the car back today. Handbrake is a night-and-day difference, totally transformed with a completely different feel.

The shoes were found to be in very bad condition and apparently worn out - not delaminated, which I asked about specifically, but actually with the friction surface attached but worn away. A curious and unusual situation?

Springs were also said to be poor with one of them broken and in the wrong position, likely the cause of my squeal due to the shoe being held incorrectly.

Drums in good condition, as are cables, not contemporaneous with the shoes. So I've had new shoes and new springs and suddenly I know what I've been missing.

Lever's much stiffer and won't pull above 4 clicks. Whereas before it was quite light and sometimes "soft"-feeling and easy to pull up to 4 and beyond. Finally got confidence in it and the shoes aren't even bedded in fully yet... will take it out tomorrow and do the 400m on 1 click.

[T5R92011]

I think I prefer the separate handbrake mechanism on these P2 cars vs the 'integrated into caliper' method on the S40/V50.

When the system is working, it feels like the car is welded to the spot. Whereas the integrated into caliper systems don't feel as beefy.

Anyway, the handbrake mechanism on these cars gives them a bit of personality, especially with the roll back.

[timdaw]

Rather late to comment, but the 'tinkling noise' was from the brake springs on my car. What happens is that in removing the drum/disc the shoes sometimes stick a bit, and in pulling the drum off the two small locating coil springs get stretched. When you put them back they are loose. New springs (part of the brake spring kit) solve the problem. To clarify, they are the springs which push through the hole in the shoes and locate in a slot on the backplate. Hope this helps somebody in future.

[stuart bowes]

I would add get genuine volvo springs, they're not much more expensive and the cheap ones I got first stretched out really quick when i was fiddling with them. Genuine ones even felt stronger just in the hand but also the shoes fitted snugly.

I also did a complete replacement recently (Inc discs and pads), only thing I didn't change is the short cable up the handle end

Not sure if specific just to my car, or if its because that short bit of cable is still old, or because I used Brembo discs, but I definitely needed the adjusters in my hubs to get it down to locking up on 3 clicks (surpassed mot expectations)

[Georgeandkira]

Chiming in on the "400m on 1 click' ilmiont mentioned above.

Clearing any rust is a good idea but 400m, even at dead slow, is too much in my opinion.
Try the last 10m as you slow to a stop sign on an empty street. I bet it'd be enough.
Given all the woes described, 'flimsy' might be the best adjective for the hardware.

Linings peel off shoes in non-riveted applications from being left a mere day or two so the glue must be water soluble.
Figuring it can't hurt, I've taken to applying the handbrake after long downhills (warmed rotor) once stationary to dry these absorbent cloth linings.

The handbrake on my V70 grabbed tenaciously when newly dealership refreshed. Only a few months of occasional use was needed to soften them up. Adjusters go in after front struts, brakes, timing belt and coolant.

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