Handbrake Issue

M

Meady

Member
My Handbrake seems to be a bit iffy, occasionally when using the handbrake to stop on a hill the car will still slightly roll back. I have to then put my foot on the brake and re-apply the handbrake to ensure it's pulled up more.

Also, when parking on a hill occasionally i can hear the handbrake creaking slightly which worries me.

I e-mailed my garage about this and they suggested i would need new discs, pads and shoes (quoted £350), they said these are very common for becoming weak because the interior drum of the rear disc and the shoe’s surfaces degrade from lack of use. (Does seem to make sense as previous owner didn't use car much and the car was kept in garage with the handbrake inactive.

The garage suggest that to strip it down and clean and adjust is a false economy because it is no extra labour really to just replace the components.

What's everyone's thoughts?
 
Make sure you always park it in gear.

The handbrake is poor due to the fact the the shoes never wear to the drum and you only apply the handbrake when not moving. Might be worth finding a quiet industrial estate and driving around with the handbrake on for a while and see if that improves things.
 
I personally wouldn't replace the disks, pads and shoes. Discs and pads only need replacing when they are worn past spec.
Then again, I tend to be quite frugal with my car maintainance; I do it myself when it does need doing. Some people replace their brake components on a periodic basis regardless of condition.

I would try what RockHopper suggested and drive for afew hundred metres, slowly, with the handbrake loosely applied. Let it cool and repeat a few times.
Don't expect miracles though, the handbrake on the e85 has always been poor. :(
 
Not the best handbrake in the world, I would get the disc/drum off and give the drum a good clean and roughen it up with some coarse emery cloth so the shoes have something to bite on. When adjusting the shoes remember you have to set the handbrake cable spring tensioner below the handbrake lever to the service position, this can be achieved by pulling the handbrake gator up out of the way and setting the service clip with a long screwdrive as opposed to the BMW special tool. Once this clip is latched in the service position it takes the spring tension off the cables so you can use the star wheels in the drum to adjust the shoes so they lock the drum enough to prevent it from rotating. Once thats achieved the star wheel has to be backed off approx 9 clicks to get a good handbrake when the lever is operated. Adjustment details can be found here https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e85-z4-2.5i-roa/repair-manuals/34-brakes/34-41-parking-brake/E0pVJrZ
Adjusted mine a few weeks ago, I managed to get the lever when applied to operate with three clicks, still don't trust it and always park in gear to be on the safe side.
 
Thanks for the advice.

I've never done any work on my own car as don't have the skills/tools/space (live in flat) to try but something i definitely want to learn about when i move into house next year.

I will certainly try the suggestion to drive slowly with the handbrake loosely applied to see if this helps.

If not, it's too the garage for discs, pads and new shoes (£350 seems a lot for an issue that only happens every now and then, but then again better than it snapping or something overnight?!)

I always keep it in gear when parked but it is often parked on a hill overnight due to where live.
 
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