Handbrake on 940 estate

[Letyian]

Hi guys

A quick question, which will probably be solved in one reply...

The handbrake on my 940 estate works, but it will roll back and forward by about 3-4 inches. No more than that, but for obvious reasons (like the black bmw that sits right up your arse at the traffic lights on a hill ), I am a little concerned.

But, my husband and a neighbour (mechanic ) say it might be normal for a big heavy car like mine to have a little 'give' in the handbrake.

I thought a handbrake is supposed to stop the car from moving. Any suggestions what might be going on here? If i tighten the handbrake cable any more, it is permanently on, so that isn't an option. Change the brake shoes??

[caveman]

my 745 did this and so does my 945 which has just had the cables replaced, so i presume its normal. my 855 stopped dead when the handbrake was applied, i dont know if this was because it was fwd?
regards
cavey

[adamsky01]

to me it sounds like u have a slight warp in the rear drum my 940 don't roll at all
u could tighten the hand brake up a little from inside the car

[niloc]

Every 7/9 series I've owned has done this. It's normal. I doubt the brake drums are warped as that would be felt on the main brake (as the disk and drum is one unit).

[ivor940]

Hi, Both my 940s have done this. I replaced the handbrake shoes and it was still the same. As the handbrake only really locks the wheel to the diff casing, the movement you see is the normal play in the large link bushes which locate the diff casing. On my first 940, I thought the bushings were worn, but the new bushings I bought had the same flats as the old ones on the car.

ivor940

[Letyian]

Great, thanks for your super fast replies! I shall stop being paranoid and get on with it! hehe

[Letyian]

Originally Posted by adamsky01

to me it sounds like u have a slight warp in the rear drum my 940 don't roll at all
u could tighten the hand brake up a little from inside the car

Yeah, mine didn't at first, but the handbrake cable needed tightening, as it only held the car after 11 clicks. Tightened it to 6 and it was on permanently, loosened it to 9 and now it rolls slightly.

Dont think there is a warp, as Niloc says, no problems with footbrake.

[Alec Dawe]

I think you may find that this happens because the handbrake and footbrake on the big Volvos are two completely independent systems, unlike most cars where the handbrake lever actually applies the main rear brake pads/shoes.

Al the Volvo's I have every had (Rear wheel drive ones that is) have had this rocking, a little disconcerting at first, but you get used to it. My present 960 auto can move 4 to 5 inches when coming off the footbrake to the handbrake.

The only Volvo I have not found this on is my work car, 2005 S40, but of course this is on the Focus C-max chassis and running gear, so different rear main/handbrake set up.

Worst car ever for rocking was the series 1 landrover, where the handbrake worked on a drum on the transmission, just behind the gearbox. The amount of backlash you could bget in that system was frightening!

[loki_the_glt]

It's not just 7/9xx models that do this - 2xx's do it as well, both manual and auto boxed. It's disconcerting when it happens the first few (thousand) times, but I only really notice it on hills, when the car takes a set and works with gravity. I'm on my 1st 9xx and my 5th 240.

If you're worried about Beemer operators (drivers ALWAYS adopt the tyres and tarmac principle), then move the gear lever into reverse with the hand brake on: that usually puts the fear of insurance bills into them!

[Letyian]

Inspiration sir! Thanks! hehe