I've been neglecting work on the emergency brake in my 68 145 since I purchased her in February, and given I don't 100% trust the primary brakes (for another post), it's high on the list now.

The problem is that pulling the brake handle up as far as I can does essentially nothing. At speed it is a barely perceptible grab. Standing still, the car will roll forward down a hill with very little additional resistance, and will roll backwards down a hill, but with much more resistance, sometimes almost enough to keep the car stationary. In fact, the only thing normally keeping the car parked is that it's left in gear (manual).

I've seen how the cable linkage makes it way to the rear, then splits so there's one for each rear tire. Beyond that, I don't know much about this system. What are the common points of adjustment, if that's what I need? How can I check for other possible issues in the system?

Thanks!

I have a new 69-70 brake cable. Contact me offline please.

Joel
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Antique Swedish Steel 71 142E color V#102

Jason, I sent you a note in reply to your note to me. Let me know if you recieved it. When I hit reply it did a weird thing and addressed it to me-not you--I had to substitute your address. -- Dave

QUOTE: "In many cases, the brake cable is rusted inside the sheath and will not move. The only answer to that problem is replacement of the cable."

On Saturday, I took apart the entire system. What I found was that the driver's side of the sheathed cable was totally frozen in its sheath, so that the driver's rear drum was stuck engaged, and has been dragging to some degree on that wheel. (That may explain my poor fuel economy).

At any rate, I couldn't get the thing unstuck, so the next question is, where can I find a replacement cable?

I have a 69-70 brake cable to unload,....brand new. Interested?

Joel
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Antique Swedish Steel 71 142E color V#102

I've always purchased the parking brake cables from Volvo--replaced the one in my '69 144 a couple of years ago. The cables are very well made with the cable itself running through a plastic sheath enclosed in the armored outer sheath. It's important to route the cable so it doesn't rub against the lower trailing arm which will wear the outer most plastic sheath. Follow the suggestions already offered regarding cleaning/lubricating/adjusting the inner workings of the shoes/linkage. Your '68 should have the cable mounted to the upper area of the backing plate/dust shield with the adjusting star wheel at the lower end. Be sure to get the cable for the early 140 ('67,68,69---and maybe '70). Later 140's have the cable mounted at the bottom with the adjuster at the top. The early cable is longer. You can definetly use an early cable on a later car but not the other way around.-- Dave

I don't want to sound mean but I tend to use the BB when I can't find something via Google or all of the other fine suppliers of old Volvo parts that I can call up from my Favourites list. A small notebook for making notes about alternate parts has served me well over the years. Start one now if you like. I'm in the UK but I can still find sources in the USA easy enough. I wouldn't dare post on a UK forum asking where I could get an oil filter for a Chevvy small block......
Google "buy amazon handbrake cable" to find it available a few entries down.
Good luck.

I don't want to sound ungrateful, but part of the reason I posted that was because my Google searching was not nearly as fruitful. Your suggested search term brings up one link to propartssweden.com, which is broken.

My searches for Volvo 140 handbrake cable and emergency brake cable brought more results, but nothing definitive. Volvo World comes up, but doesn't carry the cable. Swedishautoparts.com comes up, but their listing is totally incorrect. They list one style for years 67-74, and claim there's a left and a right. The actual cable is one piece, and is a different length for years 67-69 and 70-74. IPD comes up, but they don't stock the cable for 140's at all. Swedish Treasures comes up, but after a quick phone call to confirm, they don't carry anything for the 140 either. Autoguide.net looked the most promising, but it appears they only carry the shorter cable for 70 and later 140.

So I guess my original question still stands. If anyone else has a good confirmed source, that'd be nice.

Wow. Checked all my usual suspects. Can't find one either.
Did pull a number off a spare though. Maybe it will help.
Gembo or Gemo
438 130 4600

Looks like the last one I bought was about 6 years ago.
Good luck with the search.
If you get desperate, try GCP or CVI or Scandcar. They're all overseas.
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Lubricate your distributer!

Hello,

The parking brakes are inside each rear rotor and are a set of brake shoes that has a star wheel adjuster for each side.

You can access each star wheel via a whole in the face of the rear brake rotor.

Use a screw driver to adjust the parking brake shoes.

I believe the star wheel is mounted above the center of the axle.

But before you do, give the parking brake cable some slack at the long threaded rod attached to parking brake handle linkage under the car as this is NOT the place to adjust the parking brakes.

After you have loosed the cable and properly adjusted BOTH star wheels inside each rear brake rotor, then re-adjust the parking brake cable under the car.

If the star wheels are frozen, you will have to pull the rear calipers and rotors to gain access.

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Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502

Adjustment is made through the hub with the wheel removed.
It is a drum brake inside the rear rotors.
Pull the rotors.
Take it apart, clean and lubricate the parts that move.
Make sure the shoes have lining left.
Don't get grease on the shoes.

In many cases, the brake cable is rusted inside the sheath and will not move.
The only answer to that problem is replacement of the cable.

Oh yea. Please don't call it an "emergency" brake. It really should be referred to as the "parking" brake. Although some refer to it as the "hand" brake.
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Lubricate your distributer!

Mine in my 69 164 have never been very good either.
BUT if they are together right they do work.
You'll probably have to pull the rear disks to check them out.
Are both cables going in and out of the rear wheel when you work them?
Often they rust up and no motion gets to the brake itself.
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George Downs, Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!