can handbrake lever be made smoother?

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

Moderators: jifflemon, coyote1980, Rachel

Post Reply
fely
480 Newbie
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:51 pm
Location: Netherlands

can handbrake lever be made smoother?

Post by fely » Sat Sep 03, 2005 9:30 pm

the handbrake lever requires quite much force, I don't know if this is normal or wear, anyway can I make this go smoother? I have back problems, so it's hard to put the hb on. I wish it could be like the v40 handbrake :D

User avatar
Brasco
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2400
Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:27 pm
Location: Sat in a barrel of tits, sucking his thumb.
Contact:

Post by Brasco » Sat Sep 03, 2005 10:43 pm

No, it's not normal.

Is the lever stiff when you first start lifting it or does it get stiff quite suddenly? It could be the rear brakes are too tight?
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v302/Brasco480/myelan3.jpg[/img][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v302/Brasco480/SV400024rip-1.jpg[/img][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v302/Brasco480/fc85e36c.jpg[/img][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v302/Brasco480/SV400044-1.jpg[/img]

User avatar
pol
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2794
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2003 10:48 pm
Location: Eastbourne

Post by pol » Sun Sep 04, 2005 9:41 pm

Maybe you could make a hydraulic handbrake?? That would be nice.

pol

User avatar
Brasco
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2400
Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:27 pm
Location: Sat in a barrel of tits, sucking his thumb.
Contact:

Post by Brasco » Sun Sep 04, 2005 9:48 pm

pol wrote:Maybe you could make a hydraulic handbrake?? That would be nice.

pol
....if it's the lever that's knackered...
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v302/Brasco480/myelan3.jpg[/img][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v302/Brasco480/SV400024rip-1.jpg[/img][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v302/Brasco480/fc85e36c.jpg[/img][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v302/Brasco480/SV400044-1.jpg[/img]

User avatar
felyx
Advanced 480 rookie
Posts: 594
Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2004 8:13 pm
Location: BRIZZTOL

Post by felyx » Thu Sep 08, 2005 2:06 pm

it will be seized handbrake cables most likely so i would have a look to see if they are split near the caliper end which is common, you can by them from scantech suppliers for about 20 euros each.

cheers felyx
140mph for £175 just test the brakes

User avatar
SanPhire
480 Rookie
Posts: 402
Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:33 pm
Location: Birmingham, UK
Contact:

Post by SanPhire » Thu Sep 08, 2005 11:20 pm

Fitting a hydraulic handbrake would be a touch more than 20 euros...
:)
But you would be able to kick every other 480's arse at handbrake turns in the Tesco car park!
Greta - 1994 2.0 480 GT
Herbie - 1972 1.3 VW Beetle Deluxe
Kochanski - 1982 1.7 340 GLE - Gone, but not forgotten

fely
480 Newbie
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:51 pm
Location: Netherlands

Post by fely » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:09 pm

uhm, sorry for my late reaction. Thanks for your answers.
The lever starts pulling the cable after 1 cm lifting it (absolutely no force required), then it moves stiff regularly throughout the range.

I will do some research into those brake cables.
Is is harmfull to the gearbox that I regularly put it in 3rd gear instead of handbrake? It's on a small grade. Enough to make the car drift.

User avatar
pol
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2794
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2003 10:48 pm
Location: Eastbourne

Post by pol » Fri Sep 09, 2005 4:50 pm

Have the adjuster erm... adjusted on the rear calipers. Then see if you still have handbrake complaints. The cables do rust up also, as others have said so worth having them changed also.

pol

User avatar
Brasco
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2400
Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:27 pm
Location: Sat in a barrel of tits, sucking his thumb.
Contact:

Post by Brasco » Fri Sep 09, 2005 6:04 pm

pol wrote:Have the adjuster erm... adjusted on the rear calipers. Then see if you still have handbrake complaints. The cables do rust up also, as others have said so worth having them changed also.

pol
Yeah, I wouldn't recommend trying to reach the cable adjuster with a bad back! :?
Almost certainly the cables tho. Just back the brakes off at the caliper... (is it a 9mm allen key? The one that's never supplied in a pack anyway... :angry: )
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v302/Brasco480/myelan3.jpg[/img][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v302/Brasco480/SV400024rip-1.jpg[/img][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v302/Brasco480/fc85e36c.jpg[/img][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v302/Brasco480/SV400044-1.jpg[/img]

User avatar
guitarcarfanatic
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1782
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2005 12:31 am
Location: Taunton, Somerset

Post by guitarcarfanatic » Fri Sep 09, 2005 7:18 pm

It's a 5mm for the dust cover and a 4mm for the actual adjuster. slacken the adjjuster off(with the wheel jacked up) and then spin the wheel while tightening the adjuster slowly When it starts to tighten let it off a tiny bit so it's loose again. Then repeat procedure on the other side. This will make sure the calipers are adjusted correctly. You can also tighten the cable(where the cables from each rear wheel meet the single piece). This can be done with a 10 mm spanner holding the adjuster nut and and 10 mm socket on the end of the cable to keep it straight. Tighten it up. If problems still persist just buy new rear cables.
1996 Saab 9000 CSE 2litre EcoTurbo

Previously...
Peugeot 406 executive TD - The devil!

1991 Red Turbo - Great condition and surprisingly un-rusty!

1989 Light Blue metallic Turbo - Sold!

1993 Steel grey S - Bought for parts

1990 Red ES - Now resting in car heaven!

1989 Black ES - Great runner

1989 Black ES - Spares Car. I murdered it!

User avatar
martinholmesuk
Friend of Club 480 Europe
Posts: 10049
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2002 9:43 pm
Location: West Sussex

Post by martinholmesuk » Fri Sep 09, 2005 7:26 pm

adjuster under the car on mine is a 13mm nut. Ratchet spanner is very handy
Volvo 940 Turbo 19T (real Volvo :P)
Audi TT

User avatar
guitarcarfanatic
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1782
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2005 12:31 am
Location: Taunton, Somerset

Post by guitarcarfanatic » Fri Sep 09, 2005 7:28 pm

Yeh it was 13mm come to think of it. And yes a ratchet spanner is extremely useful - it takes long enough with one so I wouldnt want to imagine what it would be like without!!!
1996 Saab 9000 CSE 2litre EcoTurbo

Previously...
Peugeot 406 executive TD - The devil!

1991 Red Turbo - Great condition and surprisingly un-rusty!

1989 Light Blue metallic Turbo - Sold!

1993 Steel grey S - Bought for parts

1990 Red ES - Now resting in car heaven!

1989 Black ES - Great runner

1989 Black ES - Spares Car. I murdered it!

User avatar
martinholmesuk
Friend of Club 480 Europe
Posts: 10049
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2002 9:43 pm
Location: West Sussex

Post by martinholmesuk » Fri Sep 09, 2005 7:30 pm

ratchet spanner is ace, Of course you should use a ring spanner to undo them first then ratchet it up.
Volvo 940 Turbo 19T (real Volvo :P)
Audi TT

fely
480 Newbie
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:51 pm
Location: Netherlands

Post by fely » Mon Sep 12, 2005 12:26 am

When the time is right I will read your info's again and (try to) fix the handbrake, for now there are other priorities :) I hoped it was only something with the lever (yeah shortsighted I know :wink: ).

Post Reply