Handbrake question

G

glastoveteran

Active member
 Bristol
When I apply the handbrake the rear of the car lifts up (why is this?) and I presume that's normal, but only one side that seems to lift (nearside) which doesn't seem normal. The car was in for its first oil service recently and I asked them to check it out but it came back exactly the same.

Does anyone know what I'm going on about, and whether this is normal? The handbrake does work, but it could be better.
 
mine is the same in terms of suspension when downhill. the right side is lower than the left. not sure if this is normal though.
 
This has reminded me that I have to pull the handbrake as high as I can possibly get it to get it to keep the car from rolling. Is there an easy way to tighten it?
 
must be hit and miss - I have no problems with mine.

Have always left the car (any of my cars) in gear as a backup.
 
Mines been sticky, rubbish and not very inspiring since brand new (the handbrake that is) , I leave it in gear and have done since after the 1st service. I was told 'its normal'.
 
You guys are spot on re useless handbrakes, indeed many accidents are caused by parking with that alone and as the system cools or it's just not on tight enough the car rolls off :thumbsdown: Actually I never rely on it and park in gear.

Adjustment is simple in theory but a nightmare in practice. Take one wheel bolt out. Raise the wheel and with a screwdriver find the hole on the rotor, click the adjuster until the wheel locks then back off until free. Repeat on other side. In reality it's near impossible to do and I adjust by removeing the wheel for better sight and leverage. Once done only then adjust the handbrake lever to 3 to 5 clicks (can't remember correct number but 3 is good enough)
 
chetalien said:
Leave the car in gear as back up. saves u the hassle.
Click to expand...

Indeed I always do, but it was just the fact that it was raising on one side more than the other that made me wonder whether something was wrong.
 
When i had my E46 320 coupe that did the same thing when i applied the H/brake and when i got the Z that was the same so just assumed that was the norm but never had any probs.
 
Thing is it happens at traffic lights, jams etc. and you wanna take your foot off the clutch and use the handbrake but the car slips back a bit which is where I find it most annoying.
I've never had trouble parking up unless it's on a slope and I'd always leave it in first then anyway.
 
Don't use the handbrake on the track after you park your car! Hot rotors + cold handbrake = bad rotors.

That said,
I usually just leave it in gear and don't rely on the handbrake unless I'm parked on a very steep slope.
 
Noticed all the handbrakes on my cars have been rubbish since the cars started having Disc's all round, so the Zed is by no means alone, like everyone else I leave mine in gear 99.9% of the time.
 
Mines never been adjusted right since BMW touched it when replacing the rear discs and pads, grrrr :headbang:
 
Mine's rubbish too! When i pull it up, 60% of the time the car rolls back a bit and i have to pull it up again even harder.
 
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