Handbrake query

U

un1eash

Active member
Had my Z4 since January, i have a steepish driveway at home. Everytime i put the handbrake on the car rolls an inch or two before the handbrake locks on, is this normal?

Also when i get out theres a squeek from the drivers side rear, this doesnt happen all the time but most times.

Cheers
 
Mine squeaks sometimes, has done since it got it (three years).

Mine doesn't roll when you lift off the footbrake, but it does move a little (not inches) as the suspension compresses/extends due to only the rears being braked.
 
Sounds normal to me. The car won't roll if you leave it in gear.


I always set my handbrake as well as leave it in 1st gear.
 
Yeah i always leave it in reverse as it points downhill. It just seems like the handbrake doesnt lock straight away.
 
Squeak is normal, just the handbrake. Easy to verify: Handbrake on with squeak = handbrake, Handbrake off with squeak = other problem.
 
Next time you park it on a slope check if the wheel is rotating after the handgbrake is applied, which is a fault; or simply the suspension moving as the car settles to being held on the handbrake - normal.
 
The car is definitely moving a few inchs with the handbrake on. Its like when you release the brake and the car is in gear and the gears catch the car and stop it.

The handbrake still holds the car aswell though but it makes my partner jump everytime as i turn the engine off , put the hand brake on, release the foot brake and the car moves forward slightly.
 
un1eash said:
The car is definitely moving a few inchs with the handbrake on. Its like when you release the brake and the car is in gear and the gears catch the car and stop it.

The handbrake still holds the car aswell though but it makes my partner jump everytime as i turn the engine off , put the hand brake on, release the foot brake and the car moves forward slightly.
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Yes it will always do that as you are holding the car on the footbrake and since it's on a slope there is a weight transfer that as you release the front wheel braking and the rears take it all. If you look out the door next time you do it you will see the wheel barely rotates.

Another good way to see this is watch a car come to a stop on a steep hill, apply the handbrake then release the footbrake. On soft suspension the rear will go up in the air by a few inches and whne it pulls away back down even more.
 
my old 1-series used to do this as well, personally i dont think its anything to worry about and would assume its caused by having a small amount of play in the handbrake pads, if you think about it even a very small amound of play on these pads, which they need to stop them binding, will produce a lager movement at the tire. that handbrake pads operate like an old style drum brake inside the rear discs so only have a very small diameter to work within, combine this with the size of your wheel and you can see how a very small movement is translated into a movement you cn feel. as long as the handbrake is actually holding te car i wouldnt worry about it.
 
Mine also used to do this, then I had the rear shoes replaced and it all adjusted up (several times as BMW seem unable to do anything right first time :roll: ) - providing you ratchet the handbrake on snug it doesn't roll anymore. The are two points of adjusment, on the rear brakes itself both side and also on the lever. Adjusting the rear brake adjusters till they bind on and they backing off (8?) turns springs to mind, repeat for both sides. Then adjust the handbrake lever to remove any slack.

My manual also suggests gently applying the handbrake when coasting to a stop occassionally to clean up the hand brake pads, worth a try next time you are out.
 
I don't find my handbrake particularly effective, but always park cars in-gear anyway regardless of flat/slope - 2nd nature now.
 
Adam D said:
Mine also used to do this, then I had the rear shoes replaced and it all adjusted up (several times as BMW seem unable to do anything right first time :roll: ) - providing you ratchet the handbrake on snug it doesn't roll anymore. The are two points of adjusment, on the rear brakes itself both side and also on the lever. Adjusting the rear brake adjusters till they bind on and they backing off (8?) turns springs to mind, repeat for both sides. Then adjust the handbrake lever to remove any slack.

My manual also suggests gently applying the handbrake when coasting to a stop occassionally to clean up the hand brake pads, worth a try next time you are out.
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It's adjust up until you can't rotate the wheel then undo by about 8 clicks, not turns. Of course it's a royal pita to do it through a wheel bolt hole, so I take the wheel off for marginally better access.

Once the wheel is done the handbrake lever can be tightened down to about 5 clicks until it's full on.

Of course new rotors or pads need the handbrake bedding in. Somethign like 400m with the handbrake pulled on.
 
My handbrake is pretty rubbish too.. i find the best thing is to pull it up (holding the button), release it, then pull it up again. Seems a lot tighter on the second go.
 
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