v70 2004 change handbrake

[qwertyjjj]

The garage doing the brake job said the handbrake was almost unusable and seized. However, they could not change the current one as they nor the garage dealer had any parts for it.
How easy is this to change as a DIY job and is there any reason I couldn`t just tighten the handbrake instead?
It does work, just not very well. I have to pull up extremely far on the handbrake to get it to hold the car.

[nsjames]

so what's the problem then? They're saying that the hardware inside the rotor is wasted?

If that's the case adjusting the cable will only lead to you stretching or breaking the cable, or when the parking brake bits finally let go inside the rotor it will cause more damage.

Replace the parking brake bits inside the rotor. They're a known failure point anyway. The shoes delaminate and then bad things happen. They are common parts. I can have them today if I drove 30 minutes, or tomorrow if I waited for them at my local parts store.

this is what happens when the shoes fall apart
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =9&t=60954

[qwertyjjj]

so what's the problem then? They're saying that the hardware inside the rotor is wasted?

If that's the case adjusting the cable will only lead to you stretching or breaking the cable, or when the parking brake bits finally let go inside the rotor it will cause more damage.

Replace the parking brake bits inside the rotor. They're a known failure point anyway. The shoes delaminate and then bad things happen. They are common parts. I can have them today if I drove 30 minutes, or tomorrow if I waited for them at my local parts store.

this is what happens when the shoes fall apart
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =9&t=60954

That's what they're saying but the dealer has a habit of replacing stuff for completely new rather than making do or fixing up as best he can.
So, it could well just need some cleaning up, maintenance, etc. but can't be sure.
It does work, just not very well.

[nsjames]

because it's cheaper to buy new parts than it is to pay a guy $60 an hour to clean up your old stuff, and customer bring backs cost them money, so they'll always opt for new parts to minimize the issues.

get the shoes, pull the rotors, clean and lube all contact points and the adjuster.
Basic drum brake stuff. What happens is that it doesn't get used that often, so the adjuster gets seized up. It may not need new parts, but I'd replace the shoes anyway given the history of delamination.

Springs get old and rusty and break, hardware kit is cheap. The adjuster and other hard parts usually just need cleaned with a wire wheel and lubed.

This is a good opportunity for you to DIY some stuff that's not difficult and save some money. you'll not need anything other than a basic 3/8 socket set to get at any of that stuff, especially since it's all recently been taken apart.

Pull caliper, pull caliper bracket, pull rotor.
TAKE A PICTURE BEFORE DISASSEMBLY.
serious. because after an hour you'll look at the pile of springs and start to wonder where they went.
use a pair of locking pliers to pull springs. Do the horizontal ones first, then pop the shoe retaining springs. you push them in and give them a twist to unlock them from the slots.
once the springs are popped the shoes will fall off.
Pull the adjuster at the top. It's the round screw looking bit with a star wheel on it. It's likely to be stuck. Unstick it with some pliers. Unscrew it all the way, clean threads with wire brush, lube generously with some neversieze or brake grease.
The "expander" is at the bottom and is what the cable actuates. Clean it up and shoot some lube in it's pivot points.
Assembly is the reverse process. The spring will be the fun part. It's helpful to have another set of hands to hold the shoes in place while you hook the spring, but it can be done by yourself.

Make sure everything is where it needs to be, then put the rotor back on. Adjust shoes using the star wheel until they just clear the rotor.

[abscate]

Brakes - one of the highest margin things in the garage and one of the easiest to DIY - go figure..