V70 '05 - handbrake struggling - garage recommendation

[wbd]

Hi!
I bought a '05 V70, now on around 130k, and on an incline, the handbreak doesnt hold meaning I have to park it in gear.

I read about the various potential breaks issues, and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a garage to look at it around Wells, Somerset ideally, but happy to travel a bit.
Alternatively anything near Stanwick, Northampton I can also consider.

Thank you

[Willber]

How high does the lever pull up? I just adjusted mine with the 10mm nut under the handbrake trim and it improved.

There is no adjustment at the back on my car, so new rear discs helped resolve it (the shoes were a few years old so didn't replace)

[ASt85]

There is a further option of retro fitting the 850 adjusters eg https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-850...waAotlEALw_wcB

[IMG][/IMG]

thereby removing the transfer bracket; further, it allows adjustment of the shoe clearances within the rear drums using a screw driver to rotate the pall without altering the handbrake lever throw which, incidently, can still be adjusted using the lock nut combo on the handbrake lever mentioned in the previous post to reduce/increase the number of clicks to full on.

NB

Originally Posted by Willber

There is no adjustment at the back on my car, so new rear discs helped resolve it (the shoes were a few years old so didn't replace)

Beware not replacing the brake shoes, they are prone to delamination within a few years of fitment (lining material detaches from the shoe) jamming the hub which can cause catastrophic damage. Remedy is a new hub & often a new back plate.....hugely expensive for the sake of 2 pairs of OEM Volvo shoes from FRF costing less 10% of the price of a single hub!

[stuart bowes]

this is a fairly common discussion around here, search and you'll find various threads

the adjusters are point of contention for some, I'll just point that out now and save others the effort lol the official party line is they work fine without them if installed and maintained correctly

list of bits required to do the job in full
replace cable from lever to equaliser bar (under centre console) about £15
replace 2 main cables to hubs about £30 the pair
replace all the springs in the rear hubs about £20-30 (get proper volvo ones for the shoes)
examine / regrease the expander and make sure it's clamped tightly onto the cable end (free if you don't buy new ones, about £20 if you do)
replace the shoes about £40 (everyone will tell you Volvo branded for correct friction) as advised above re: delamination and they're cheap enough why would you not

replace the disc/drum and pads if necessary (costs vary)

I will say though contrary to popular opinion I did put the adjusters in myself because I liked the extra adjustment and being able to get them exactly bang on equal both sides, and I was finding one side gets slightly tighter than that other. I didn't bother replacing the little short cable at the front and maybe that was the reason

anyway mine holds the car on anything from 1 click just waiting in neutral at the lights to 3 clicks depending how steep the hill is, I used 4 clicks once on a really steep hill in the lake district


(as to garage recommendations I would have to leave that to someone near your area obviously but the info still might be useful in case you feel like you're being mugged off)

[barrybritcher]

can you DIY it?

[Roy V70 850]

If I can put my two pennyworth in, I had the exact same problem, when I drove the car home for the first time, it wouldn't hold on the drive.

I bought new shoes, disc/drums, adjusters, all except the cable. The braking improved and it passed its MOT. However, it was never satisfactory, my wife couldn't park it on our drive because she couldn't pull the handbrake on hard enough.

After two years, I contacted Volvo parts and bought shoes directly from them, the difference was unbelievable. I don't have problem at all now. And to think I spent two years toning my left arm muscles.

I'm not saying this is the solution in your case (there may be other issues), but it definitely was in mine.

------------------------------------
V70 D5 2004 163bph 160k

[Bearintheair]

I'd start by adjusting the handbrake, and if that doesn't help replace the shoes (and inspect the inside of the drums) before you start investigating the more complex solutions. Shoes are cheap, even if you break springs and have to replace them too.

[ASt85]

If you want the brakes to perform at their best, always OEM - go to FRF Swansea, quote C and you'll get a major discount on brakes pads & shoes that actually work - the difference between OEM pads/shoes in comparison with JoeSoap specials is unbelievable - to the
point where others are very poor in comparison.