Oct 13, 2013

Fixing the rear wheel drum brakes

The Volvo 122S  rear wheel brakes are of the drum type. In order to remove the drums you need a special drum brake puller. And because I didn't had this special puller I postponed this job for months. Finally I decided to buy one of those pretty expensive pullers and last weekend the brakes saw daylight after decades of darkness...

Original Volvo 122S drum brake puller
Original Volvo 122S drum brake puller

Don't try to use universal pullers because you will certainly damage the brakes.
Instead of most universal pullers this original one has a big bolt with a flat end. Most other pullers have a center point end which can easily damage the drive shaft. I used a special hammer spanner to loosen the drums. After hammering the spanner a couple of times the drum came loose with a big bang.

Volvo 122S rear drum brake
Volvo 122S rear drum brake

Volvo Drum brake puller with 32mm hammer spanner
Volvo Drum brake puller with 32mm hammer spanner

Finally the drum came loose
Finally the drum came loose

Inside the Volvo Amazon's right drum brake
Inside the right drum brake

 As you can see in the pic above the brake shoes in the right drum were upside down. The lining of the brake shoe at the end should start on top of the shoe. If the shoes are fitted the wrong way round the handbrake won't work correctly.

New Volvo Amazon drum brake shoes
New drum brake shoes

The latest model Volvo 122S has self adjusting drum brakes. Every time you pull the handbrake the brakes will be adjusted. Unfortunately this system isn't very reliable so it's a good idea to check 'm every now and then. They can also be adjusted by hand just by putting a screwdriver into the little hole in the drum and turn the adjuster screw a couple of notches.

After taking all the old parts out I gave the brakes a good clean and took off the sharp edge of the lining before putting in the new brake shoes.

Taking off the sharp edge of the brake lining with a grinder
Grinding off the sharp edge of the brake lining

Shaved lining brake shoe
Shaved lining brake shoe
I also replaced the wheel cylinders and brake hoses, they aren't too expensive and I was pretty sure the old wheel cylinders wound't work after doing nothing for more than 15 years. The flexible hoses can be very tricky because the look good on the outside but after many years they are swelling on the inside en thus are often blocked. Don't forget the copper ring between the brake hose and the brake valve

Old flexible brake lining removed
Old flexible brake lining removed

Fitting the new brake hoses
Fitting the new brake hoses with copper ring

Left drum brake Volvo 122S with new parts
Left drum brake Volvo 122S with new parts
Make sure the big bolts are fully tightened. I used the 32 mm hammer spanner to tighten them.


Right drum brake Volvo 122S with new parts
Drum brake ready for the wheel

Time for fresh brake fluid and bleeding the brakes.

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