T5R Parking Brake Not Working After Cable Replacement

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 03 Jul 2018, 10:04

A few winters ago I came home from work to find that the driver side rear wheel was dragging. It turned out to be seized parking brake so I loosened the adjuster to permanently 'deactivate' that side until I had time to look into it.

On Sunday I finally got that chance and I replaced both cables. After the replacement, the passenger side seems to be working normally but the driver side shoes don't seem to engage at all.

After inspecting the e-brake 'spreader' mechanism I'm still not entirely sure how it works. It looks too simple to break. Does anyone have any thoughts on what might be causing this?

Thanks!

Post by **scot850** » 03 Jul 2018, 10:39

It is not that complex a part, so can only suggest that an error on assembly is the issue or the system may now need adjustment after initial use. Cables can stretch initially or perhaps one of the springs has broken or detached.

Does the cable 'tension' when you pull the parking brake lever? What brand of cable did you use? I have had issues with aftermarket parts from being weak cables to cables that were too short and jammed on the rear tires and could not be tied back to the trailing arm as they are supposed to be just at a point about level with the front of the rear tire.

I would suggest dis-assembling that side again and have a look.

What parts were replaced other than the cable?

If you have not replaced the shoes, remove them and roughen the surface of the brake material with sandpaper, and clean the inside of the rotor drum. I use a fine emery/wet and dry paper to de-glaze the contact surface.

Finally check the lever arm had not lost the little dowel pin that holds it to the cable. It wears and can fall out but not easily. Also check the clevis pin in the spreader had not come lout or jammed.

When setting up, tighten the adjuster fully up so the tire can't be turned, then back off 2 clicks. Then adjust at the brake lever in the car to give a max of 5 'clicks'.

Volvo finally also give a bedding in process. You will need to confirm, but as I recall it requires slowing the car from about 30kph to stop using the parking brake only.

Neil.

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 03 Jul 2018, 12:29

Thanks Neil for the quick response. You brought up a lot of good suggestions so I'll just reply to each one:

I took the driver side assembly apart a couple of times to check everything over. Both springs are seated and intact.

There's tension in the handle when I pull up on it and the cables are Pro Parts Sweden, not the best quality but I checked that the cables moved freely in their sleeves before installation so I don't think one cable would stop moving after installation. The cables are bolted and riveted at the correct anchor points.

The brake shoes were replaced 2 years ago and the cables were done Sunday. Nothing else was replaced.

The pin in the lever arm/handle is in place as far as I can tell. If it wasn't then I wouldn't be able to adjust the tension with the T50 bolt at the handle, correct? And the pins in the spreader looked ok since the spreader joints moved freely.

In Lee's write up for replacing the parking brake shoes he mentions that when the brake handle is pulled you should be able to see the shoes move outwards. When I did that I didn't see any movement so I think that means bedding the shoes isn't the issue.

I will try adjusting the driver side again using your procedure. If that doesn't fix anything I may try replacing the spreader. I'm hesitant to blame the new cable as the culprit since the driver side parking break didn't work before the cable replacement. The only left over part that hasn't been replaced is the spreader arm.

Post by **scot850** » 03 Jul 2018, 12:52

Pro Parts cables were the one I got from FCP and junked as they were way too short and bound on the tire preventing fitting. Fitted OE at 3 x price but they worked. Also found they were way more difficult to adjust as they seem to stretch more.

You will get tension on the brake lever as long as one side is still attached at both ends. The balance bar at the front is to allow for differences in cable length.

Remove the rear rotor on that side and have someone else gently pull the parking brake lever and see if everything moves as it should and then retracts when tension is released.

As I am not impressed of the Pro-parts quality, check that the collar at the lever end is not loose, as well as the one as the cable leaves the cabin under the floor and finally the one at the back plate and they all stay where they should when tensioned and are not slipping.

Good luck!

Neil.

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 05 Jul 2018, 12:09

Thanks Neil. I'll take a look at those items.