Check out this Parking Brake Adjustment Tutorial
writer100 » My parking brake suffered from an excess of slop. Not only did the parking brake handle go up quite a bit in securing the brake, but the brake seemed to allow the wheels to rotate a few degrees before locking. In technical terms, it was Loose-y Goose-y.
940 handbrake adjustment – with photographS
This is a simple adjustment. Start by removing the ashtray in the backseat. It is spring-loaded in the bottom, and secured by two stops in the top. To remove, open the ashtray, and press down against the springs to allow enough room to clear the stops. Then remove.
Next you need to remove the plastic panel. It is secured by two tabs in the top and two plastic clips in the bottom.
Its removal, like many things in life, is simple but not necessarily easy. By depressing the clips, the bottom should release, followed by the top. Just be patient, because the plastic is fragile. After x amount of jiggling and profanity, it will come out, revealing the adjustment mechanism.
The adjustment mechanism consists of two parts: a locking sleeve, and an adjusting bolt. The adjusting bolt protrudes from the locking sleeve. If you wish to tighten up your brake cable, turn the adjusting bolt counterclockwise using a 17 mm open-end wrench while holding the locking sleeve stationary. A turn or two should do it. The Haynes manual prescribes a recommended tension of 3-5 clicks. When you’re finished, turn the locking sleeve clockwise until snug to secure.
The result is a parking brake which locks securely with minimal travel. 
While you’re in there, you may wish to replace the console light. It is a dealer only item and cost me $4.62.
940 1994: Parking Brake Adjustment
The Volvo 940
The Volvo 940/960 range was introduced in autumn 1990. The new 940 replaced the 740 which, however, remained in production as the basic 740 GL model. A 4-cylinder petrol engine or a 6-cylinder turbo-diesel powered the Volvo 940, which resembled the 960.
The Volvo 940 also launched a number of new safety features. Together with its luxury sibling the 960, a three-point inertia-reel seat belt was fitted as standard together with an adjustable head restraint in the middle of the rear seat, heralding a world breakthrough for these features. Furthermore, an integrated child seat built into the rear seat’s middle armrest could be specified as an option.
These and other safety developments gained the model many international accolades, not least among them the “Prince Michael Road Safety Award” and the “Autocar & Motor” prize for the best safety features.
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Last Updated on April 19, 2023
3 Comments
BIG NOTE*
To release the panel. You will have to LIFT UP the small pins in the ashtray compartment. then the bottom part will come out.
Great !!!!.
I thought it will be difficult……
It was so easy to follow the instructions
Thank you.
Hi, I had a mechanic recently remove the original handbrake cable of my Volvo 1994 940 sedan because the adjustment bolt (in center console) was rounded off and couldn’t be adjusted, and because the left rear cable was rusted and broken. He said it needed to be replaced with new.
They installed a new IPD revival kit for 1994 940 sedan. However, more than one mechanic said the handbrake cable is too long (slightly longer than the original) and now it can’t be adjusted to be tight, so the hand brake cable is way too loose and doesn’t function. So I paid to have a new one installed, but it still doesn’t function.
Is there a difference between the length of the center / main hand brake cable for 940 sedan and wagon? Is it possible that the OEM replacement from IPD is the wrong size? If I get a good used one from a junk yard, will it matter whether it is from a sedan or wagon? When I contacted IPD they insisted it is the right size, but multiple mechanics at different auto shops are telling me the handbrake cable is not the same length as the original.
Thank you