Brakes: Urgent help with my parking brake needed!

[Angel]

I have a 2003 xc90 and it has always had a problem with its parking brake from new, every time it was in the garage I asked why the car would move forward when I shut the boot... I was told this was quite normal and not to worry ( from everything I read, I see it is normal but shouldnt be!!)
It passed its first NCT (MOT) to my surprise but this time it failed and I was told by the tester that this was the worst case he had seen yet! That there are always issues with this model.

Last service in Dec, the mechanic took the thing apart and installed everything new using Volvo parts (discs, calipers, cable etc), apart from the actual foot brake itself. He said he wasnt able to adjust the cable much.
It is effectively useless as it is.
He did speak to the local Volvo garage who gave him instructions and after removing the seats, flooring etc, taking the whole assembly out and showing it to the dealer.. it still is useless.

Volvo tell me that they will look at the car and sort it out but I just cant afford to send the car to them now as its cost me a fortune so far, Im devastated!
I have someone who is a mechanic who will take a look and see if there is some adjustment to be made in the cable but he said that the last one he did wasnt very successful but got through the test.

Please... does anyone know what can be done, I have a retest that I have to take in a week and after that I will have a useless car if this isnt sorted.

Many thanks.
I would really appreciate any help, Im a nurse not a mechanic : )

[RoyMacDonald]

There is a thread here with photos and costs and solutions.......http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showth...st+brake+cable

[pdrvolvo]

Originally Posted by Angel

I have a 2003 xc90 and it has always had a problem with its parking brake from new, every time it was in the garage I asked why the car would move forward when I shut the boot... I was told this was quite normal and not to worry ( from everything I read, I see it is normal but shouldnt be!!)
It passed its first NCT (MOT) to my surprise but this time it failed and I was told by the tester that this was the worst case he had seen yet! That there are always issues with this model.

Last service in Dec, the mechanic took the thing apart and installed everything new using Volvo parts (discs, calipers, cable etc), apart from the actual foot brake itself. He said he wasnt able to adjust the cable much.
It is effectively useless as it is.
He did speak to the local Volvo garage who gave him instructions and after removing the seats, flooring etc, taking the whole assembly out and showing it to the dealer.. it still is useless.

Volvo tell me that they will look at the car and sort it out but I just cant afford to send the car to them now as its cost me a fortune so far, Im devastated!
I have someone who is a mechanic who will take a look and see if there is some adjustment to be made in the cable but he said that the last one he did wasnt very successful but got through the test.

Please... does anyone know what can be done, I have a retest that I have to take in a week and after that I will have a useless car if this isnt sorted.

Many thanks.
I would really appreciate any help, Im a nurse not a mechanic : )

did they actually fit new hand brake shoes ???

peter.

[Angel]

Apparently they changed everything apart from the actual foot brake pedal assembly (if thats the correct terminology)

[pdrvolvo]

Originally Posted by Angel

Apparently they changed everything apart from the actual foot brake pedal assembly (if thats the correct terminology)

the reason i ask is because i recently had to fit new rear wheel bearings to my xc90.on removeing the rear discs i found the h/brake shoes completely knackered.i fitted new ones (only £20 a set) and refitted the discs without any cable adjustment and the h/brake was perfect.in fact it sailed throught its mot two weeks later.what i,m saying is there is very little adjustment needed when new shoes are fitted.the drum is only small and will only just fit over new shoes so new shoes should have made a significant difference to the park brake.


peter.

[RoyMacDonald]

Did you also make note of the need to bed the shoes in as stated in the thread?

[Angel]

I have found out that everything including shoes and all the cables were replaced but I think he said that he wasnt able to tighten the cable further.
Do you think its possible that it might be that simple, in that he just didnt know how to adjust the cable?
Is this more difficult on this model?
Apologies for my complete ignorance here : )

[pdrvolvo]

Originally Posted by RoyMacDonald

Did you also make note of the need to bed the shoes in as stated in the thread?

a couple of days running would bed in the shoes no problem.as regards adjusment i read somewhere that this type of handbrake was not as straight forward to adjust as the more conventional type.


peter.

[pdrvolvo]

Originally Posted by Angel

I have found out that everything including shoes and all the cables were replaced but I think he said that he wasnt able to tighten the cable further.
Do you think its possible that it might be that simple, in that he just didnt know how to adjust the cable?
Is this more difficult on this model?
Apologies for my complete ignorance here : )

its very possible.i read somewhere that the h/brake is not quite like conventional handbrakes.but at the same time it cant be that much different.

peter.

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by Angel

I have found out that everything including shoes and all the cables were replaced but I think he said that he wasnt able to tighten the cable further.
Do you think its possible that it might be that simple, in that he just didnt know how to adjust the cable?
Is this more difficult on this model?
Apologies for my complete ignorance here : )

Angel

Why don't you print out the thread from the link I posted, or at least the one with the photos and instructions for adjusting and the one on bedding the shoes in and take them to him for him to read and see what he thinks? It can't do any harm and it may be it is just his lack of familiarity with the Volvo handbrake that's the issue.

I would just add that every Volvo I've had over the last 30 years has had play in the shoes that lets the car move slightly when you release the main brake. I think it's to ensure the shoes don't get stuck to the drums in the weather conditons they get in Sweden. With my first Volvo I dismantled them only to find the play was built in and they were designed to be like that. Of course once the play is taken up they should hold.

No handbrake has the power to stop a auto D5 being driven away though, so Volvo have fitted an alarm that goes off if you drive away (as I have!) with the handbrake still engaged.

All the best.

Roy