Handbrake

[Howard]

Hi all, had a spare hour today so I throught I would sort the handbrake out( on going maintenance as the Corsica trip is looming) nice & easy job, remove the rear wheels, remove the calipers, then caliper mounts, undo the 7mm Alan key that hold the disc on, discs came off easily, cleaned the shoes & drum up & adjusted, about 9 clicks on both sides. Replaced and checked, the Z now has a decent handbrake. About an hours work. Pity BMW didn't think to put an adjuster/ inspection hole so you don't have to remove the disc/drum.
H

 

[Grumps]

@t-tony did we have to remove anything to adjust mine?

 

[andyglym]

There is an adjuster hole to losen/tighten the drum brakes though you do need eyes like a night owl to use it.

 

[Howard]

Must be something to do with the hangover...thanks
That's the great thing with this forum, shared knowledge is great especially when your hungover
Ps to myself, don't work on the car after tooooo much beer
Thanks
H

 

[Grumps]

There is an adjuster hole to losen/tighten the drum brakes though you do need eyes like a night owl to use it.

I didn't think we'd removed anything that's why I'd asked Tony. Never mind Howard, we are all here to learn mate.

 

[andyglym]

I didn't think we'd removed anything that's why I'd asked Tony. Never mind Howard, we are all here to learn mate.

Easier on a ramp, a pain otherwise, for me anyway.

 

[Grumps]

Tony did mine on the floor. Was on axle stands at the time if I recall.

 

[mwpe]

You work through one of the wheel bolt holes. On my E46 you can do it just by taking out one wheel bolt out but on the Z it is easier with the wheel off.

 

[ZTec]

There is an adjuster hole to losen/tighten the drum brakes though you do need eyes like a night owl to use it.

Night owl Andy? Don't you mean Sh*te Hawk

 

[ZTec]

Hi all, had a spare hour today so I throught I would sort the handbrake out( on going maintenance as the Corsica trip is looming) nice & easy job, remove the rear wheels, remove the calipers, then caliper mounts, undo the 7mm Alan key that hold the disc on, discs came off easily, cleaned the shoes & drum up & adjusted, about 9 clicks on both sides. Replaced and checked, the Z now has a decent handbrake. About an hours work. Pity BMW didn't think to put an adjuster/ inspection hole so you don't have to remove the disc/drum.
H

Hour well spent.

 

[andyglym]

Night owl Andy? Don't you mean Sh*te Hawk

And that

 

[t-tony]

A couple of weeks ago me and Dave @Mint changed a broken front spring and adjusted his parking brake shoes in an hour and 15 minutes on a trolley Jack. Only "special" tool used was a pen light. We did remove the wheels but you can do it without.

Tony.

 

[ZTec]

A couple of weeks ago me and Dave @Mint changed a broken front spring and adjusted his parking brake shoes in an hour and 15 minutes on a trolley Jack. Only "special" tool used was a pen light. We did remove the wheels but you can do it without.

Tony.

Good job Tony.

 

[gookah]

Just done mine again today.
It was not holding at all very well after I had put new shoes and discs on, but I had previously done it all wrong.
I had tightened through the bolt hole until they were dragging, then backed off them a bit. I did not touch the lever end though inside the car.
The hand brake was rubbish.


Did it today by first loosening the lever end cables off completely, then doing the adjusters in the drum.(Tighten then back off a bit). Then I adjusted the cables at the lever end. Now it holds very well indeed.

 

[g8jka]

Did it today by first loosening the lever end cables off completely, then doing the adjusters in the drum.(Tighten then back off a bit). Then I adjusted the cables at the lever end. Now it holds very well indeed.

That was how I told you to do it when we were doing my 2.0 last year.

 

[t-tony]

Just done mine again today.
It was not holding at all very well after I had put new shoes and discs on, but I had previously done it all wrong.
I had tightened through the bolt hole until they were dragging, then backed off them a bit. I did not touch the lever end though inside the car.
The hand brake was rubbish.


Did it today by first loosening the lever end cables off completely, then doing the adjusters in the drum.(Tighten then back off a bit). Then I adjusted the cables at the lever end. Now it holds very well indeed.

That's how any parking brake system should be adjusted Pete, most people ignore slackening the cables off because it's easier to leave it.
It's all about leverage inside the drum. Same applies to callipers with H/B levers on them.

Tony.

 

[gookah]

Yes was thinking it would be quicker,..... but it would hardly hold even with me pulling hard on the lever.
Its totally different now.. Its all about where the lever starts acting on the mechanism.

 

[gookah]

That was how I told you to do it when we were doing my 2.0 last year.

OOOH nows who's an expert...?


besides the wording says it all:

That was how I told you to do it when we were doing my 2.0
whats this 'we' word you use?

 

[t-tony]

Yes was thinking it would be quicker,..... but it would hardly hold even with me pulling hard on the lever.
Its totally different now.. Its all about where the lever starts acting on the mechanism.

Absolutely. I see this all the time at work Pete.

Tony.

 

[Howard]

Hi, must read the form before starting work.