I am finally proceeding with installing my rear brakes after waylaid by other projects - car has been up in the air two weeks.

I did one wheel, and then moved to the second. I had trouble right away pulling the 2nd rotor off. Unfortunately, it jammed up before I thought to align the holes for the star wheel. I saw little choice but to work it off the shoes (now I'm thinking I could have loosened the cable up front).

The faces of the shoes are not parallel with the rotor off. They taper inward at the outside edges (nearest me). If I press on the edge, the left shoe tilts to where it belongs. It doesn't look right to me, and I think the first side wasn't like this. Do these clips hold the shoes in place so they don't tilt? I have new ones the indy gave me, but I don't see how to get it disassembled to install them.

I see a small spring above the star assembly, and a thicker one on the bottom. Under the thick spring there is a (possibly) hinged metal piece.

Any thoughts on whether I possibly bent something working the rotor off? Tips on disassembly? I don't want to put it back together without advice, and find the shoes are scraping because they aren't straight.

Thanks, Don

So my Indy had handed me a couple of the clips used to hold the brake shoes when I bought the rotors and pads from him, just in case.

I got the shoes off and the clips looked decent. Visually they looked identical to the new ones, side by side. There was a difference, as when installed, they hold the shoes nice and tight.

Funny how important this thin clip is to holding the shoes so they brake right, and keeping them true so they release right. I shouldn't have thought I could just put it back together and it would work right, when the shoe was loose - I see that now. There would be no purpose for the clip to hold the shoe that loose.

It is tricky getting to the heavy spring - I used a large screwdriver wedged against the hub to pry the end into place, while a rope around the outside held the shoes together. People who have done shoe brakes probably know these tricks.

Looking forward to trying my new pads and rotors, and having quiet brakes for the first time since I purchased the car.

The 2 clips needed to be at 90 degree angles to hold the shoes next to the backing plate.

Now that it is all together, turn the star wheel until the shoes touch the drum. The parking cable must be slack.
Then back off the star wheel about 1 full turn so there is no rubbing when you move the wheel in a forwards motion.
Then set the tension on the parking cable.

All there is to it. It is a simple system. I get to do it to my car in a couple of weeks. Except I need to replace the cables due to internal rust.

Klaus
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Two good Volvos, a 220 and a V70R

OK Klaus, you make this sound simple.

When I look at the shoes, the one towards the front of the car is the one that is tilting loosely outward. The tab of the clip has a gap, maybe 1/8" or a little more. The tab on the opposing shoe has maybe a 1/16"gap. From your description, the tabs should be right up against the rib of the shoe.

If I press the shoe inward, it goes against the plate, but moves back outward when I let go.

I put it together, and here is what happens. Pull the brake on, and I can rock the wheel slightly back and forth and hear the shoe moving back and forth at the same time. Release the brake, and the wheel moves but the brake drags slightly. After a few revolultions, the shoe releases and the wheel turns normally.

I tried this on the opposite wheel, and the wheel does not rotate at all, there is no sound from the shoes. When I release the cable, the wheel turns normally.

I assume the clips need to be replaced. I don't believe the cables are hung up.

My next question is how to disassemble the brake to get to the clips. Is it simply removing both springs, and take off stuff as it loosens? I found the chapter in the electronic manual, but it only covers the hydraulics, not the parking brake. Also, do you check the slack up front?

I will look at the links LilHelp posted also.

Don

I think I am moving forward with this, but I am still interested in comments. The left shoe is out about 10 degrees until I press on it.

I found by adjusting the wheel I can get the rotor on and it sounds about the same as the first side. I'll try to adjust it and see how it acts when I pull the brake on. I may be overthinking this - I don't see what I could have bent other than this clip made of spring steel.

Here's what I have on brakes. Some might not still be active. Did you get a new shoe set? It would come with springs. I remember they are not as visually precision looking as some 850 parts, and fit together kind of loosely. The star wheel is a pain.And if after all the adjustments it still doesn't seem right, then there's a strong chance that the e brake cable itself is rusted out. Good luck.

http://www.freewebs.com/dacvolvo/brakediscsandpads.htm

http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/chat/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6774

http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/chat/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=26225
essential for removing rear disk under adjusting the parking brake shoes

Haynes guide

http://volvospeed.com/Repair/jackingpoints.php
http://volvospeed.com/850fbrake1.php
http://volvospeed.com/850rbrake1.php

http://au.geocities.com/ozbrick850/brakes.html

http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/tech/service/850/BrakeSystem.pdf

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'97 855na, Mobil 1, K&N, various IPD's and eBay's