HandBrake in Volvo 340

I drive a old (1991) 340 two weeks ago.

HandBrake don't work and rear wheels are softly brakes (rims hot in few
dozen meters). Cable is untautens, but if I tauten it and pull at the top
the handbrake, hardly stops the car in soft slope. I don't understand how
work. I think that someone asembled it badly. What happen here?

Thanks!

 

If the rims are hot in such a short space they must be jammed on, or the
fronts are not working well.

Cable is untautens, but if I tauten it and pull at the top

Presumably the car will roll down a hill or the fronts will get overworked,
and it will fail the MOT.

Probably the hinges on the self adjuster are seized. The brakes need
dissassembled and handbrake levers worked loose with WD40 or similiar.

Other problems can be seized wheel cylinders, incorrectly assembled levers
and self-adjuster. There is not usually any problem that can be fixed
easily and cheaply DIY, but a minimum requirement is a workshop manual.

 

Thanks for answer Tony. I have take off brake drums and the hinges on the
self adjuster was seized, I don't know why. Now wheels turn on, but not 100%
free, transmision friction + brake friction (perhaps shoes not round-shaped
after all). Handbrake work finally but not ful effective still. I'll tauten
cable a little.

Whay is MOT?

 

Its the required test for road worthyness. Comes from Ministry Of
Transport, even though the name was changed everyone still calls it the MOT
test.

Anyway, if the brakes have been neglected for a long time, it may be
worthwhile going for a full overhaul. -Wheel cylinder, shoes, drums, pins,
clips etc. Sometimes the adjuster plates get rusty and weak and don't
adjust.

 

ok!, MOT must be a ITV equivalence. ITV in my country, spain, means Vehicle
Technical Inspection. To pass it is obligatory for vehicles more 4 years old
(and cause of my question). Really, the brakes have been neglected for a
long time but wasn't rusty or weak, it looks very well state. Thanks.