So I went outside this morning to start up my volvo 850, and everything seemed normal until I put it in reverse. As it reversed, I felt the rear end lift up a little, as though I were going through a pothole or something. I put in in drive and pulled back up my driveway about three feet and the same thing happened. I got out to take a look, and there was a pretty decent gouge in the gravel driveway. I had my buddy pull forward in it a little bit so I could observe the wheel myself, and it wouldn't move. It would drag along the ground, but not move.

Any ideas? As far as what I can discern, the back wheels are freemoving so it has to be something with the brake calipers, the e-brake, or the wheel bearing. Everything was running just fine until I let it sit for two nights, I've never had break problems or anything like this ever happen before.

 

E-Brake lock up. The cable snaps at times and then the brakes lock. Also, sometimes the e-brake pads come apart and jam in the hub. My guess is the cable snapped. Did you set the brake?

Jack the car and see if both are locked. Then pull the wheel and hub to get it unstuck.

 

I've never actually used the ebrake while I've owned the car.

And thanks for the advice!

 

I try to avoid using mine for that reason.

 

I've now used the shiftlock override button in order to change gears (instead of the normal "press break down" to change gears) and the wheel actually ended up turning. This sounds more like something isn't letting the breaks un-break on that particular wheel. Could this be an electrical problem instead?

 

NO.

As for shift locking to release the key, is the ignition in good shape? If you giggle the key, does it shift then? Does the windows work with the shifter is locked?

 

I must have not explained something incorrectly, my bad. The key releases just fine. I don't need to shift-lock to remove the key.

I only used the shift lock button after I started the car so I could avoid pressing on the brakes in order to shift.

 

The shift lock doesn't have anything to do with the brake system so it's out.

Not pressing the brake shouldn't make a difference unless when you press the brake to shift out of park the caliper is hanging up and it's more noticeable in one direction and releases when you change direction. That I've seen.

Like Rspi said it could also be parts of the parking brake floating around inside the disc drum and jamming.

Pretty much need to pull both wheels and see and feel how the calipers are applying and releasing. If one's starting to have a problem the other likely isn't far behind. Might be time to pull the caliper mounting pins, clean, lube and reassemble.

 

I'll second (or third) the parking brake. Mine did exactly what you described last year. The adhesive on the brake shoe had failed and the brake material had fallen off en masse and locked my wheel up. Bought new shoes and did both sides and good as new.

 

That picture is mine and the material was missing when I pulled the rotor/drum off. From the looks of the shoe it had been a long time gone.