Handbrake on 480s

Brakepads, discs, handbrake. The brakes are crucial for your Volvo 480. Use this category to learn all you need to know!

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Mark 480s
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Handbrake on 480s

Post by Mark 480s » Mon Nov 01, 2004 10:28 pm

Hi All
I have no handbrake on one side of the car. looking at the caliper there appears to be no adjustment. is it automatic? and if so is it easy to un seize. The haynes is next to useless and does even show the rear disc caliper properly.

regards

Mark
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rpruen
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Re: Handbrake on 480s

Post by rpruen » Mon Nov 01, 2004 11:00 pm

Mark 480s wrote:Hi All
I have no handbrake on one side of the car. looking at the caliper there appears to be no adjustment. is it automatic? and if so is it easy to un seize. The haynes is next to useless and does even show the rear disc caliper properly.

regards

Mark
There is a allen head cap on the rear caliper that allows the adjuster to be backed off for pad changes. I don't know if that helps at all?

As far as freeing it up if stuck.... I don't know. Hopefully someone else can help.

Richard
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Oh yes there is!!!!

Post by catgroom » Mon Nov 01, 2004 11:01 pm

Hi Mark!

You may have a seized rear handbrake on one side.You could try the manual adjusters though,this may free it.

If you get under the car,look at the back of the caliper.You'll see a plug which comes out with a small allen key.Behind that is the adjuster sunk in a bit.That manually winds the piston in or out,using an even smaller allen key!!!!

It could be that the linkage for the h'brake is seized and your primary ans secondary handbrake cables need replacing.Its very common with 480s!

It is a couple of hour DIY job though and you can get the cables from a motor factor.If the caliper is eized,which they often do you can get a 2nd hand one from a Volvo breakers.

Good luck!

Steve. :hopping:
I'm No Longer Here :(

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pol
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Post by pol » Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:02 am

The rear caliper adjusting mech is a pretty poor one if you ask me. As catgroom said, the cables are often the problem. I replaced mine with non-volvo ones and they have been ok since. They rust up inside, causing the cable to stick. Along with sticky / seized calipers, you hav a nasty combo for poor handbrake. Even with all that replaced, I still need to adjust mine every month in order to make nick parking manouvres!?

pol

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Mark 480s
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Post by Mark 480s » Tue Nov 02, 2004 1:14 pm

Hi All
thanks for the response. I have ordered two handbrake cables (As I'm under the car I might as well do both of them) I can't see any where an allen key would go to adjust the caliper. Any one have a picture?

regards
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No,but!

Post by catgroom » Tue Nov 02, 2004 5:02 pm

Mark,look under the car at the caliper.The handbrake clips onto the bottom of it.Look higher up on it and you'll see a plug probably rusty.I think its a 4 or 5 mm allen key needed to remove it.Take that out,it'll need some strength,and sunken in to that hole is a 3mm I think worm drive adjuster as its known.Wind it in to wind in calipers,and vice-versa.Use a torch mate,and if necessary a wire brush as it may be a tad clagged up back there!!!!

Dont forget to adjust your handbrake up at the front on the front cable mainly,under the handbrake on the floorpan yeah?

Im on 07771 633289 if u need step by step phone advice-type rabbit!!!!!

Good Luck Captain Ferodo!!!!! :lol:
Last edited by catgroom on Thu Jan 27, 2005 8:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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johnd
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Post by johnd » Tue Nov 02, 2004 5:04 pm

Hi guys,

Gotta do mine this week and not really had a look yet aside from the Haynes. It's slack so I just need to tighten the the adjuster.....I hope!!

Whereabouts is the exhaust heat sheild it is meant to be under?
Do you need to take the exhaust off :angry: ?

Cheers

John
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94 480 Turbo - now the missus's car!

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Post by bbf » Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:32 pm

no. maybe just loosen the heatshield, that's all.
'98 S40 T4, replacement vehicle, hardcore power
'86 480 ES, RIP :(
'91 480 Turbo, RIP :(
'93 480 2.0, RIP :(
'90 480 Turbo, hailed roof, fighting wounds, 260.000km, daily bolide :)
'81 345 GL cvt, waiting for a new life, 200.000km :)
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pol
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Post by pol » Tue Nov 02, 2004 11:26 pm

Haynes does say that, but it's a lie! Nothing in the way for adjusting.

pol

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Post by bbf » Wed Nov 03, 2004 7:51 am

oh, for adjusting, yeah, i ment for changing the cable, sorry..
'98 S40 T4, replacement vehicle, hardcore power
'86 480 ES, RIP :(
'91 480 Turbo, RIP :(
'93 480 2.0, RIP :(
'90 480 Turbo, hailed roof, fighting wounds, 260.000km, daily bolide :)
'81 345 GL cvt, waiting for a new life, 200.000km :)
'82 244 GL 2.4D 250.000km restoration project
[url]http://img13.photobucket.com/albums/v37/bbfbbf/[/url]

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johnd
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Post by johnd » Wed Nov 03, 2004 12:15 pm

Paul,

Whereabout is the adjuster?

I can't park on a hill anymore without wedging the wheels :cryhard:

Braking is fine though.

Cheers

John
Citroen 2CV, lowered on 12" Wooden wheels, performance 1cm exhaust, stabilisers & chemical toilet in drivers seat

94 480 Turbo - now the missus's car!

Judas's car!! - 292BHP Celica GT4....I couldn't help myself!!

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pol
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Post by pol » Wed Nov 03, 2004 12:27 pm

The caliper adjuster should be pretty obvious. But maybe thats cos I know where it is! On the back face of the caliper. It is a size 5 allen I think for the cap, and 4 for the adjuster. As far as I can remember its the only sort of cap (sitting slightly proud) on the back of the caliper.

pol

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johnd
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Post by johnd » Wed Nov 03, 2004 1:25 pm

Hi Paul,

Is that for tightening up the handbrake or for setting the normal brakes? I thought you had to tighten the cable to tighten the h/brake. Is that if it is just massively loose?

Cheers

John
Citroen 2CV, lowered on 12" Wooden wheels, performance 1cm exhaust, stabilisers & chemical toilet in drivers seat

94 480 Turbo - now the missus's car!

Judas's car!! - 292BHP Celica GT4....I couldn't help myself!!

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pol
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Post by pol » Wed Nov 03, 2004 7:22 pm

It's quite surprising how much the caliper adjusters tighten the feel of the handbrake. But you'll probably need to adjust the cable locknut also.

pol

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Post by dabac » Fri Nov 05, 2004 9:25 am

johnd wrote: Is that for tightening up the handbrake or for setting the normal brakes?
The stroke of the handbrake is really really small, so in order for it to work as it should the adjuster in the caliper needs to be set properly. Turn it until you lock the wheel up, then back it out slightly. After that it's time to tighten the wires. The 480 is so light in the rear, and the stock brake balance favours the front brakes so much that you need to drive real hard/be very alert to notice that your rear brakes aren't performing properly.

My favourite trick to get the cap off the adjuster is to whack it a few times flat on the face with a hammer. For me that has worked much better than a propane torch.

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johnd
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Post by johnd » Fri Nov 05, 2004 11:57 am

Hi guys,

Thanks for the info. Ill give a try tomorrow as the wheels are coming off anyway.

Cheers

John
Citroen 2CV, lowered on 12" Wooden wheels, performance 1cm exhaust, stabilisers & chemical toilet in drivers seat

94 480 Turbo - now the missus's car!

Judas's car!! - 292BHP Celica GT4....I couldn't help myself!!

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Post by Murf » Fri Nov 05, 2004 1:00 pm

My favourite trick to get the cap off the adjuster is to whack it a few times flat on the face with a hammer. For me that has worked much better than a propane torch.
the caps were so soft on mine that the allen bolt heads rounded off. i hammered in a torx bit of a slightly bigger size and they came out no bother. had to get new caps and sacrafice 2 torx bits but it was worth it!!
Kia Pro'ceed GT 1.6 Turbo
1992 480 Turbo
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