Hi,
I was wondering, please, if anyone knows a way to tighten the hand (emergency) brake on a 1997 850?
Ours is loose, to the extent that when it is pulled all the way up, the car will still roll if pushed.
Thanks a lot.
Kenny

Simple. Lift up center armrest, pop out bottom plastic tray with a screwdriver. Then with a T50 driver, or a flat bladed screwdriver, turn the round looking thing clockwise.

Klaus
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Proud owner of a 220S. If I had more room, I would have more Volvos.

Wow,
Thanks!
This seems to have worked, though the brake is still a bit loose, even after quite a few turns. I stopped because it seems the tighter the "round thing" goes, the more the assembly to which it is attached scrapes on the platic of the inside front of the storage bin.
I'll try it again in daylight.
Thanks Again!!!

If the assembly in the armrest doesn't do the job all the way, your parking brake pads might be worn. If you take the rear tires off, you will see a small hole a bit higher than the lug holes. There is a star shaped thing back there you can turn with a small screwdriver to tighten the pads to the inside of the brake rotor.

Here are the intructions per Haynes:

Jack up the rear of the car and put both sides on jackstands......(chock front tires)

Take the tires off....

Release the handbrake in the car (handle down)

Next repeat for both sides...

Line up hole in rear brake disk with internal adjuster wheel

Turn adjuster wheel until brake locks up

Then back off adjuster wheel by 4 or 5 notches..make sure disk turns without any binding...

Pull up brake lever in car and make sure brakes are on with 3 to 5 clicks....if not use adjuster in armrest to get the proper adjustment.

Thanks a lot!
To Klaus C and Gwen in particular, as even though we live in pretty-flat New York, we always use the hand brake.
Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays!