Brakes: How do you fix a sticking handbrake?

[ww1dm1]

A really annoying problem came along with spring. My handbrake started sticking. Took off the rear wheels, cleaned off the handbrake "hooks" holding the cable, exercised them a bit, lubed them up the best I could. Was alright for a few days, now it's sticking again (not as bad as before, though).

How do you get to the handbrake assembly? There is a nut on the back of the cable "hook", but taking it off didn't allow me to get anything off. Unless it needed force, didn't try to pry it as I don't know if it should come off. Do I need to take the caliper off?

Any tips are appreciated, the only knowledge Haynes manual can offer is tensioning the handbrake cables. Thanks for nothing, Haynes.

[ilikewatch]

Originally Posted by ww1dm1

A really annoying problem came along with spring. My handbrake started sticking. Took off the rear wheels, cleaned off the handbrake "hooks" holding the cable, exercised them a bit, lubed them up the best I could. Was alright for a few days, now it's sticking again (not as bad as before, though).

How do you get to the handbrake assembly? There is a nut on the back of the cable "hook", but taking it off didn't allow me to get anything off. Unless it needed force, didn't try to pry it as I don't know if it should come off. Do I need to take the brake disc off?

Any tips are appreciated, the only knowledge Haynes manual can offer is tensioning the handbrake cables. Thanks for nothing, Haynes.

Most handbrake problems on these cars are caused by the mechanism in the rear calipers, and whilst cleaning and lubricating can often delay the inevitable, sooner or later replacing the calipers is the only sensible option. With a pair of recon calipers being available for a net cost of about £65 it's not too expensive to fix.

[cheshired5]

If the problem is restricted movement of the cable or the mechanism on the piston, everything can be cleaned up and oiled in place so it reaches full travel again.
I've freed up a few by just getting someone to quickly and repeatedly pull up and release the handbrake whilst I blast the area with a jet wash and oil the pivot points.

Car on level ground, wheels chocked.

[ww1dm1]

Originally Posted by ilikewatch

Most handbrake problems on these cars are caused by the mechanism in the rear calipers, and whilst cleaning and lubricating can often delay the inevitable, sooner or later replacing the calipers is the only sensible option. With a pair of recon calipers being available for a net cost of about £65 it's not too expensive to fix.

Well, I'll keep replacing for the last resort, can't be too hard to get them back to shape.

Originally Posted by cheshired5

If the problem is restricted movement of the cable or the mechanism on the piston, everything can be cleaned up and oiled in place so it reaches full travel again.
I've freed up a few by just getting someone to quickly and repeatedly pull up and release the handbrake whilst I blast the area with a jet wash and oil the pivot points.

Car on level ground, wheels chocked.

The cable movement isn't restricted. The metal "hook" thing is lubed up, so it must be somewhere deeper. How do I get deeper?

[cheshired5]

Deeper in the piston?

[ww1dm1]

I'm not really certain how this kind of parking brake works, can't find any schematics. So deeper into wherever the sticking point could be. The brakes themselves don't stick, so it's not the piston sticking.

[cheshired5]

If you're certain everything is free moving and the cable is adjusted correctly, it sounds like a caliper off job and maybe replacement.

[v40alex]

You can't really get into the handbrake arm mechanism without completely disassembling the caliper.

If it's sticking, the best thing to do is crack the arm nut off half a turn, give it a good squirt of silicone spray, work it in, then tighten back up gently. You will see instantly if this frees it up, otherwise it's new caliper time. If it does work, give the whole area a good coat of rubber grease to keep the crud out.

[ww1dm1]

Originally Posted by v40alex

You can't really get into the handbrake arm mechanism without completely disassembling the caliper.

If it's sticking, the best thing to do is crack the arm nut off half a turn, give it a good squirt of silicone spray, work it in, then tighten back up gently. You will see instantly if this frees it up, otherwise it's new caliper time. If it does work, give the whole area a good coat of rubber grease to keep the crud out.

If you're talking about the nut seen in the attachment of the first post then that didn't get me anywhere. I thought I would be able to at least remove the lever, but it's not moving.

Anyways, found a schematic for this type of handbrake mechanism, I guess either there's rust/dirt between the lever and the caliper itself or dirt somehow got into the threads.

EDIT: According to this thread cracking the lever bolt a little looser helps some people with the sticking. I know I tightened mine well, that's another thing to try. But still would be nice to give it a better clean.
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=109801

So my question: did anyone succeed taking off the lever in the first post? As I mentioned, I unscrewed the bolt but it seems to be holding tight, does it need a good knock or is it not that simple?

[v40alex]

If that hasn't worked, then complete stripdown/replacement caliper is your next step. Have a look at this thread for refurb guide... http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=209721