Hi Guys,

I have a strange problem with our G reg 340, the rear brakes do not work with the pedal!

The car failed the MOT on handbrake efficiency, so I unseized the adjuster and now the handbrake works fine. But when I took her for the retest, the rear brakes had stopped working and the pedal was hard to push.

I have had a look at the brake lines and can find no excess corrosion or any leaks. There does not appear to be any leaks from anywhere in the system and the fluid level in the reservoir is good. I have had the offside rear drum off while the brakes are being operated and the there is no movement from the cylinder when the pedal is pressed.

Both of the front brakes work, as the car was stopping ok on the way home and not pulling to one side. Could it be the pressure conscious reducing valve on the passenger side of the engine bay?

Any suggestions or help gratefully received!

Alex.

Have you bled your brakes? It doesn't take very long, just get a friend to help you.

i'd be looking at the wheel cylinder.

I have had the offside rear drum off while the brakes are being operated and the there is no movement from the cylinder when the pedal is pressed.

looks like time for a new one or 2..

Well, turns out that it was totally unrelated to the handbrake issue!

There was some particles of stuff inside the brake line going to the offside rear wheel cylinder virtually blocking it, this line then broke as I tried to undo it!

So as the fluid was not getting to the offside cylinder, it was not being fed over to the nearside cylinder. Looks like I'll be hunting out a new rigid brake line and a new wheel cylinder, just to be on the safe side.

Shame the retest is booked for Tuesday...

Alex.

A good motor factors will have the cylinder on the shelf and make up brake lines for you on the spot if you take in the two halfs of old one!

The missus has just talked to the local Volvo main dealer and the brake pipes are still available, on the shelf, in Sweden!!

AND they cost less than £3. To say I am staggered is an understatement, either they made far too many or they have just not broken in the predicted numbers.

Alex.

Bargain! Can't argue with that

Bloody hell, I bought my own pipe making kit after they wanted about £20 for the cross axle piece. It is soft copper based pipe, the original pipes are plastic coated steel more rigid but don't last that well. Think I would still stick with the kit, works for the BMW too and can make up any length in minutes.

Yeah that's what my garage did when I needed a rear over axle pipe replacing on my old 343... When doing the rear brakes on the S70 we had to replace a caliper which wouldn't seperate from the line, so ended up curring through the line to get it off. It was surprisingly easy to use a brake pipe flaring tool for where it goes into the caliper for example.