Dear Brickboard,

I am in the process of repairing the hand brake (emergency brake) on my wife's 1989 240 DL sedan.

So far, I have done what appears to be a good job. I have everything cleaned up. I have new shoes and hardware on.

There is only one problem. I cant figure out how the mechanism works to open up the brake shoes. I can pull on the hand brake and see the cable is tightening, but I see no movement of the shoes.

It seems obvious that the brake works somehow using the metal thing on the end of the cable. This part is snugged up against the bottom side of the wheelhub behind the brake shoes. It is connected to the cable and pulls in when the brake handle is pulled up.

One side of this part is solid and has a notch in it to receive the bottom of one of the shoes.

The other side has a similar notch for the other shoe. But this side looks like it hinges on a pin near the outer edge. I have tried to free mine up so that it moves but have not been successful.

I am wondering if the brakes work by using this hinged side to somehow spread when the cable is pulled. If that is the case, I need to make sure my hinges are working and I will be all set.

Can anyone explain if I am correct or is there some other way this mechanism works? I would like to see my brake shoes open up when I pull the hand brake before I put the wheels back on.

Please advise. Thank you.

2OldRustyBeatupVolvos