Handbrake odd behaviour

[GreySquirrel]

Ever since I bought my Z4 last year, I have had occasional issues with odd handbrake behaviour.

Sometimes, it will hold on 2 clicks, and feel really firm and secure, even when parked on a steep hill.

Then, a few miles up the road it will need 5 clicks to hold, and even then it seems to slip a bit.

It always works, and passed the MOT fine, but it's just very odd.

Anyone else had this or have any ideas of where I should start looking?

 

[enuff_zed]

I had one did exactly this. It turned out that sometimes when I pulled it on the adjuster lever was engaging itself, then unhooking again when I released it. Why, I have no idea. Never did really manage to cure it.

 

[MikeyH]

Mine does this sometimes, I have to check it’s on properly and not rolling. I’ve pulled it to a certain height as usual but it needs more.

 

[raymond.harper]

The handbrake has brake shoes that tend to get neglected so perhaps try adjustment first

 

[BMWZ4MC]

When mine does this, a double pull always fixes it. I usually hold the button pressed whilst I apply the handbrake, then release it only once the brake is engaged. As such, it doesn’t click, but it’s still obvious when the distance travelled is greater than usual. In those circumstances, I return the lever to the fully off position without releasing the button, and immediately pull it on again. With the second pull, the travel of the lever returns to its usual lesser amount and so I’ll then release the button.
BMW handbrakes are generally pretty poor - a previous car required adjustment before every MoT test. My Zed handbrake has never let me down, at least not since I recognised the occasional need for the double pull technique.
As an aside, I made the mistake of trying to explain the merits of the “double pull” to my wife and couldn’t walk without wincing for a week or more :flyboyaj: :chairfight:

 

[1536Z4]

I made the mistake of trying to explain the merits of the “double pull” to my wife and couldn’t walk without wincing for a week or more

:rofl: :rofl:

 

[Mr Tidy]

I know it's somewhat off-topic but I've always applied my handbrake with the button pushed in, especially knowing how the teeth on the ratchet on Z4s wear out!

My Z4 handbrake has had a habit of sticking ever since I got it so now I just park it in gear. But it needs new brake pads so I'll get the handbrake sorted at the same time.

 

[colb]

The handbrake is a real pain to get set right, it needs the service mode set by latching the spring underneath the lever before doing any adjustment at the disc/drums so that the tension is taken off the cables. Getting the latch set is a mission in itself, there is a special tool for setting the latch but can still be a trial using it. If the spring won't compress you may have to back the shoes off at the disc/drum using a flat blade screwdriver through one of the wheel bolt holes to flick the adjuster up or down. The adjusters can be found at 11 o'clock looking at the front of the disc/drum right hand side of the car and 2 o'clock on the left hand side.
You probably will need to back them off to remove the disc/drum in order to clean the drum and check the shoes themselves. Rare for the shoes to need replacement by the way.
If you can remove the adjuster and make sure its clean and lubed with copperslip grease, it will assist when making adjustments.
Once the drum is reinstalled adjust the shoes up until the drum is locked then back off 5 - 7 clicks or until you cant here the shoes rubbing on the drum. Do both sides like this and when satisfied go and unlatch the service spring to retension the cables. All being well you should get a 3 click handbrake maybe 4 clicks. Cables will have stretched over time so adjustment will vary from car to car. You can make adjustments at the wheel ends with the wheel on and just one bolt removed so the screwdriver can be poked through to flick the adjusters as required, personally I always do the adjusting with the wheel off with the assistance from a torch to shine in the hole to find the adjuster teeth.

 

[BMWZ4MC]

I know it's somewhat off-topic but I've always applied my handbrake with the button pushed in...

Every time, always have - my dad made "mechanical sympathy" my first driving lesson when I was aged in single figures selecting gears from the passenger seat or sitting on his lap and steering whilst he was driving*

*strictly on closed roads in controlled conditions, don't try this at home...blah, blah, blah

 

[BMWZ4MC]

The handbrake is a real pain to get set right, it needs the service mode set by latching the spring underneath the lever before doing any adjustment at the disc/drums so that the tension is taken off the cables. Getting the latch set is a mission in itself, there is a special tool for setting the latch but can still be a trial using it. If the spring won't compress you may have to back the shoes off at the disc/drum using a flat blade screwdriver through one of the wheel bolt holes to flick the adjuster up or down. The adjusters can be found at 11 o'clock looking at the front of the disc/drum right hand side of the car and 2 o'clock on the left hand side.
You probably will need to back them off to remove the disc/drum in order to clean the drum and check the shoes themselves. Rare for the shoes to need replacement by the way.
If you can remove the adjuster and make sure its clean and lubed with copperslip grease, it will assist when making adjustments.
Once the drum is reinstalled adjust the shoes up until the drum is locked then back off 5 - 7 clicks or until you cant here the shoes rubbing on the drum. Do both sides like this and when satisfied go and unlatch the service spring to retension the cables. All being well you should get a 3 click handbrake maybe 4 clicks. Cables will have stretched over time so adjustment will vary from car to car. You can make adjustments at the wheel ends with the wheel on and just one bolt removed so the screwdriver can be poked through to flick the adjusters as required, personally I always do the adjusting with the wheel off with the assistance from a torch to shine in the hole to find the adjuster teeth.

I remember the process was similarly painful with my old 320td

 

[Mr Tidy]

Mr Tidy wrote: ↑Wed Nov 06, 2024 8:46 pm
I know it's somewhat off-topic but I've always applied my handbrake with the button pushed in...
Every time, always have - my dad made "mechanical sympathy" my first driving lesson when I was aged in single figures selecting gears from the passenger seat or sitting on his lap and steering whilst he was driving*

*strictly on closed roads in controlled conditions, don't try this at home...blah, blah, blah

That's exactly how I was taught too! :lol:

 

[MikeyH]

Mr Tidy wrote: ↑Wed Nov 06, 2024 8:46 pm
I know it's somewhat off-topic but I've always applied my handbrake with the button pushed in...
Every time, always have - my dad made "mechanical sympathy" my first driving lesson when I was aged in single figures selecting gears from the passenger seat or sitting on his lap and steering whilst he was driving*

*strictly on closed roads in controlled conditions, don't try this at home...blah, blah, blah

That's exactly how I was taught too! :lol:

Me also, l was told it ruins the ratchet if don’t use the button

 

[GreySquirrel]

I was taught the same, but I got out of the habit when I had a Vauxhall Vectra a few years ago. It had a recall for handbrakes slipping off, and the official advice afterwards was to always apply the handbrake WITHOUT pushing the button in, which seemed like odd advice. I'll start pushing it in again.

Oddly my handbrake made a loud crack noise earlier and felt like something had broken. I pulled it up again a few times and it's fine. It's done this a couple of times since I got it, I guess it's just not catching on the ratchet or something...

 

[MikeyH]

I was taught the same, but I got out of the habit when I had a Vauxhall Vectra a few years ago. It had a recall for handbrakes slipping off, and the official advice afterwards was to always apply the handbrake WITHOUT pushing the button in, which seemed like odd advice. I'll start pushing it in again.

Oddly my handbrake made a loud crack noise earlier and felt like something had broken. I pulled it up again a few times and it's fine. It's done this a couple of times since I got it, I guess it's just not catching on the ratchet or something...

This has happened to me around 3 times since I've owned the car, it happened a couple of days ago pulling up at the traffic lights going up to Paignton. So thumb on button, up down twice and all fine again. First time it happened surprised the cr*p out of me. :x