Parking brake mechanism sticking

I have recently experienced a problem with my near side rear brake caliper, as in its handbrake mechanism keeps sticking in the semi 'on' postion (cables etc checked before), this comes to light when you go to put the handbrake on an there is no resistance till near the 'on' position.

If you remove the rear rubbish bin on the center consol, the balance bar is not at 90 degrees to the hand brake cable.

A tempory fix was to spray with WD40 and work the handbrake mech on the caliper. It returns about every 2 weeks at present and I expect it to get worse.

Has anyone had a similar problem, and can it be cured without stripping the caliper down?

I had to strip a few Sierra in my time as this was a common fault.

Regards

P.H.

V40 (2000) 2.0L (drinker of fuel)

you need to find out if its the cable or the caliper mechanism sticking.
Its likely that the caliper is sticking and its usually the near side, as thats the side that gets more muck and water over it.
You will probably need to strip the handbrake mechanism and grease it with the pukka grease,its a coarse thread inside it that makes the piston expand when you apply the handbrake and they recomend the use of the handbrake as much as possible to stop it sticking.
Also the pins and bits the caliper moves on will benefit from some brake grease on ,everything that moves except the pads lol.
The cable really shouldnt need any lube and if it is sticking then its probably the best option to fit a new one as its nylon lined and should never stick unless the rubber gaitors are nbg and letting water and muck in.
Good luck

[AAmbro]

Phammon, i have exactly the same problem and tried to temporarily fix it with WD40, but in some time it gets stuck again.

As if the spring doesn't have enough strength to pull the lever back.

How did you solve your problem? I am thinking of taking everything apart and greasing it as vinny suggested.

[motormadfrosty]

that has got to be the best thread revival ever..........over 7 years

Anyway, speaking from experience, it's a caliper change I'm afraid.

[Thassos]

I had this on my old S40, easy fix is get one from a breaker and swap it out, they seem to get sticky, you get a very similar thing on Mk3 mondeo's but those jam on nicely and you get smoking brake pads & rather lovely burning clutch type smell ! PS the jammed handbrake only reduces your mpg by about 5 , its the burning smell thats harder to live with..

[jimmyG]

Originally Posted by AAmbro

Phammon, i have exactly the same problem and tried to temporarily fix it with WD40, but in some time it gets stuck again.

As if the spring doesn't have enough strength to pull the lever back.

How did you solve your problem? I am thinking of taking everything apart and greasing it as vinny suggested.

i've had exactly the same problem and it keeps coming back - taken apart & greased - even got a new left hand brake cable, but the problem seems to be the spring - just won't return to the rest position properly - the caliper (whilst old) is otherwise sound.

anyone any idea of where i can get a replacement retaining spring or what the part number might be?

[Syd22]

This worked for me;

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showth...ight=handbrake

[jimmyG]

Originally Posted by Syd22

This worked for me;

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showth...ight=handbrake

sorry Syd but that link doesn't seem to work, could you repost please?

ta!

[Syd22]

My fault try this

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showth...ight=handbrake

[jimmyG]

Originally Posted by Syd22

My fault try this

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showth...ight=handbrake

thanks for this Syd... the caliper itself doesn't seem to be sticking - moves nicely, having given it the WD40 treatment, but the spring itself seems slacker on the near side than the far side, hence why i thought i#d look for a replacement spring.

Seems you can't get the spring on its own - or so i've been told today - but you have to buy a whole (reconditioned) caliper, which has a new spring on it... so i reckon someone must be supplying new springs somewhere....