On my 1998 V90, the dealer had just replaced rear pads 2,000 miles ago, at which time I asked them to adjust/tighten parking brake. The parking brake was very tight, and engages after a few notches only, and brake squeals when backing up. Went on 1,000 mile trip in rain and snow. Other driver drove a few miles without fully releasing parking brake. ABS light came on and stayed on, had garage pull battery to reset ABS system--explanation was that one wheel was spinning at different speed, so ABS sensor acted up. Everything was fine afterwards, car underbody salt from snow was washed. Squeal on backing up, took to dealer, dealer said was rust from new pads and rotor, will resolved. Problem persisted, dealer said was parking brake locking up, need replacement, $143 in parts and 7 hours labor @ $90 per hour--I thought that was excessive and thought I could defer repair and drove home. Next day the parking brake locked, lots of squealing and dragging. Went to local gas station, they released left rear parking brake from bottom of car, then said can replace cable. The gas station guy was not very experienced with Volvo and very rough, cut off left wheel cable, could not get new cable on, was rough with glove box access panel removal, so I told him to stop, and made appointment with dealer.

Question is, is the $800 repair with 7 hours labor necessary just to replace parking brake cable, and why can't the cable at the left rear wheel be replaced only. Also could this problem have originated from the misadjustment of the parking brake by the dealer when they replaced the rear pads?

Anyone with comments, please advise. Thanks