Parking Brake Failure

Post by **99TurboBrick** » 06 Jan 2022, 15:33

1999 S70 T5, 150,000 miles - My parking brake has completely failed, there is no resistance at all when pulling up the handle.

The long story: After getting my wheels powder coated, the guy brings around my car and says "your parking brake isn't working". Great. He looks under the car and doesn't see anything dangling, so that's good.

I told him it was fine when I gave him the car. He's the manager, so he says they'll take care of the cost. He seems to make it sound like it's not going to be that big of a deal, but as I search for repairs on cables or shoes, etc, I see estimates in the hundreds.

I also know from my research (thanks Matthews) that these things are going to fail at some point. However, I do wonder if he pushed them over the edge somehow, by banging on the rear wheels to get them off, or just being overzealous with the handle, combined with the sharp angle of their parking lot. Basically, I'm wondering how much I want to stick him with the bill (or maybe just part of it, maybe just the cost of a cable if it snapped, etc).

So, what do y'all think? Cable busted? Shoes worn out? I've got to get under the car tonight and have a look around. Thanks.

Post by **abscate** » 06 Jan 2022, 15:35

Very generous of them to offer anything. On.a car from last Millenium, parking brake cable can happen anytime. They were just the guys who pulled on the handle N+1 times

Post by **99TurboBrick** » 07 Jan 2022, 09:15

So, given that I have zero resistance on the brake handle, does that mean that *both* cables and/or drum components have failed? I would have expected to still have some resistance if only one has failed.

Or perhaps one failed long ago, and now it's the second one that has failed.

FWIW, both cables externally look ok.

Post by **99TurboBrick** » 07 Jan 2022, 09:27

Driver's side. Passenger side looks as good.

Post by **abscate** » 07 Jan 2022, 09:30

You are not in the Rust Belt are you?

Post by **99TurboBrick** » 07 Jan 2022, 11:18

Heh, nope. In the South. Car has been garaged most of the time since 2005. I'm amazed at how well some of my components hold up compared to others I see online. For example, I replaced all my coolant hoses last year and the old ones looked fine. The old firewall coupler came out looking fine with all plastic intact. Some of the vacuum lines and evap lines were rough, so those got replaced too.

Post by **FireFox31** » 07 Jan 2022, 18:03

I recommend evaluating the entire parking brake system (if you've never done so). I believe there are instructions by the user cn90 on the forum, so those will help you. Or, buy the British Haynes S70/V70/C70 manual which explains this all quite well. Taking the time to learn and master the parking brake system can help you avoid failures, dragging brakes causing heat and decreased gas mileage, part wear, and maintaining this safety system.

See what happens at the brake shoes when you pull the handle. Lift the rear, remove the wheels, remove the calipers (hang them from the springs), use a screw driver in the rotor hole to contract the shoes, remove the rotors. Have an assistant watch or set your phone to record video of one side as you pull up the handle and release it a few times. Does the bottom adjuster move, moving the pads? You can try to look in at the cable connection to the adjuster to see if it's still connected and if the cable is moving at that end when you pull the handle (with an assistant or phone video). Repeat for both sides.

While you're in there, check everything. Are the pads a good thickness, evenly worn? Is there excessive wear inside the rotor hat where they contact? Are the side clips holding the pads, not letting them sag down? Are both springs intact?

Then examine the handle. In the center console compartment, you could pry up the front panel to looking at that hand brake adjustment bolt. It's not easy to see though. You could remove the center console to see if the cables are properly connected to the handle. It's not that hard if you're careful not to break any plastic or drop screws into the depths. Instructions may be online and are great in the Haynes. Maybe the bar which holds the two cables somehow worked loose, explaining the sudden total loss.

When you get the system working again, be sure to properly adjust the parking brakes using a screwdriver through the rotor holes. Find the procedure on the forum (probably by cn90) or in the Haynes.

As for compensation from the powder coating company, I'll guess that the problem has been brewing for a while and they just pushed it over the edge. Finding the parts all worn out will indicate that. If that's the case, maybe they compensate you $100 if anything, because it might have been more inevitable than their fault. But if you do see solid parts mangled by them, then they won't want to know the bill...

Post by **MoVolvos** » 07 Jan 2022, 23:14

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Some people just yank the handle for all it's worth hard and fast so anything could have happened. Need to remove the cover and check the cable at the handle then work your way back.

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Post by **99TurboBrick** » 08 Jan 2022, 09:32

MoVolvos wrote: ↑07 Jan 2022, 23:14 *
Some people just yank the handle for all it's worth hard and fast so anything could have happened. Need to remove the cover and check the cable at the handle then work your way back.

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I would not be surprised if that's what happened. You can see what was left when I opened up the console.

I wonder if in his rush and overaggressive pull, he just stretched them out a bit. Cables are still attached at the handle, and at least I hear cable movement when I pull the handle. Going to attempt an adjustment today.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 08 Jan 2022, 15:58

99TurboBrick wrote: ↑08 Jan 2022, 09:32
MoVolvos wrote: ↑07 Jan 2022, 23:14 *
Some people just yank the handle for all it's worth hard and fast so anything could have happened. Need to remove the cover and check the cable at the handle then work your way back.

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I would not be surprised if that's what happened. You can see what was left when I opened up the console.

I wonder if in his rush and overaggressive pull, he just stretched them out a bit. Cables are still attached at the handle, and at least I hear cable movement when I pull the handle. Going to attempt an adjustment today.

IMG_2006 - broken by caleb at rimguard, parking brake handle housing.JPG

Wow, wouldn't want the guy to tighten lug nuts with an airgun! Hope they'll do the work and replace whatever was stressed or broken.

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